As the next president, Kathleen Sweet knows the most important resource of the New York State Bar Association is its members. “Unless we maintain and grow membership, the rest of it doesn’t matter,” Sweet said. “We can’t defend the rule of law, we can’t support access to justice, we can’t defend the impartiality of the … Continued
1. Kathleen grew up in Clarence, New York, the middle child of three daughters of David and Jane Sweet. 2. The Sweets are multi-generation, diehard Buffalo Bills fans. Kathleen’s mom took her to games in any weather: rain, sleet or snow. 3. She is a member of the … Continued
“The New York State Bar Association is the place where lawyers come together to teach each other and help people understand the practice of law,” said Taa Grays, incoming president-elect of the association. “For me, there have been many people in the association over the years who have given me opportunities to learn new areas … Continued
In early 2021, the United States Congress enacted the Corporate Transparency Act, introducing significant changes to corporate reporting requirements. The primary goal of the act is to enhance transparency in business ownership and combat illegal activities such as money laundering and tax evasion.[1] The law officially took effect on Jan. 1, 2024, mandating approximately 33 … Continued
Lawyers are twice as likely to experience thoughts of suicide than other professionals with stress, isolation and mental illness as the greatest risk factors leading to suicide. Similarly, older adults are at a much higher risk for suicide than other age groups according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. These sobering statistics were part … Continued
For Helene Hechtkopf, the incoming chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Commercial and Federal Litigation Section, programming comes first. “It’s very easy to attend things from your office, but you miss out on all the interpersonal connections,” she said. “You still get the education. But you don’t get all the interpersonal stuff that … Continued
A little-known international court can give LGBTQ+ people a chance at justice outside of their local legal systems. A recent New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education course explained the Inter-American Human Rights System, its court system, and its impact on LGBTQ+ rights in the Americas. Leading the discussion was Gustavo Miranda Coutinho, a … Continued
AI Agents and the Rise of Virtual Task Makers Artificial intelligence has evolved rapidly, progressing from simple automation tools to sophisticated systems capable of independent decision-making. At its core, AI refers to computer programs that mimic human intelligence by learning from data, recognizing patterns and performing tasks with minimal human intervention. A subset of AI, … Continued
Mark Ustin, the incoming chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Health Law Section, is ready to support practitioners in a diverse and ever-changing field. “One of the things that’s interesting about health law is that it encompasses so many different disciplines,” Ustin said. “One of the challenges I think we have as a … Continued
The New York State Bar Association kicked off a free course on the calming technique known as emotional freedom in conjunction with Well-Being Week in Law and Mental Health Awareness month. Well-Being Week in Law was launched in 2020 to raise awareness about the special mental health needs of those in the legal profession. “Attorney … Continued