Author: Rebecca Melnitsky

Can You Get Fired For Speaking Your Mind Online?

Employees are free to express their opinions, but their employers may hold them responsible for the content of what they say. With the widespread use of social media and the blurring of the lines between work and home, many workplaces are dealing with these contentious issues. The New York State Bar Association hosted a Continuing … Continued

New York State Bar Association Event To Examine Issues Related to Social Media and Free Speech in the Workplace

What happens when political speech causes friction and disputes in the workplace? What rights do employees have when speaking about current events on social media? Many businesses and employers are struggling with these issues due to the recent conflict in the Middle East. An upcoming New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Course, “’Free … Continued

Confronting Antisemitism With Historical Knowledge

Antisemitism, or hostility toward Jews, has a long history – going back thousands of years and before the advent of Christianity. And while the hatred can manifest from the subtle to the overt, it has sadly persisted though the millennia, causing violence and harm to Jewish people. At a recent Continuing Legal Education course hosted … Continued

Alternative Guardianships Protect the Rights of Vulnerable Clients

Vulnerable clients need not submit to traditional, restrictive guardianships. When individuals are unable to make their own decisions, a proxy or a guardian can make decisions on their behalf. At a program presented by the New York State Bar Association, experts detailed three alternatives to traditional Article 17-A guardianships. The panelists were: Kristin Booth Glen, … Continued

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor Will Speak at the New York State Bar Association Civics Convocation

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor will speak at a New York State Bar Association Civics Convocation designed to explore how to ensure New Yorkers understand what the U.S. Constitution guarantees and how our democracy works. After delivering her remarks virtually to an audience at the Bar Center in Albany on May 9, Justice … Continued

New York State Bar Association To Launch Anti-Bias Training With Free Program on Antisemitism Feb. 27

As antisemitism rises worldwide following Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel, the New York State Bar Association is offering free training to combat hatred against Jews. The antisemitism training will be the first in a series of anti-bias programs. The association also plans to offer programs on Anti-Asian hate, Islamophobia, and related topics as part of … Continued

LGBTQ+ Asylum Seekers Face Extra Challenges

LGBTQ+ asylum seekers have a rough road to travel. Aside from the in-depth requirements that face anyone applying for asylum, government policies, red tape and changing administrations can leave would-be asylees in a holding pattern for years. A recent Continuing Legal Education course, hosted by the New York State Bar Association’s LGBTQ Law Section, delved … Continued

New York State Bar Association Calls for More Offenses To Be Added to Hate Crime Statute in Face of Rising Antisemitic, Anti-Asian Hate

In the face of an alarming rise of hate crimes across the state and nation, the New York State Bar Association is calling for a much-needed update of New York State law through the Hate Crimes Modernization Act. The act would expand the list of hate-crime-eligible offenses to include charges such as graffiti, criminal obstruction … Continued