If Socrates were around today pondering this subject, he might ask, at what point does higher learning come at too great a cost – a nettlesome question posed by someone who had to drink a cup of hemlock for constantly poking about. In medieval times, Galileo paid a high price to continue a scientific search … Continued
The New York State Bar Association is recognizing lawyers who have made an exceptional commitment to serving the public good during its 35th Annual President’s Pro Bono Service Awards on Law Day. The highlight will be a keynote address by Associate Judge Michael Garcia of the New York State Court of Appeals. The Law Day theme this year … Continued
In honor of our 150th anniversary, we asked longtime, involved members for their recollections of the New York State Bar Association. John Feerick, dean emeritus at Fordham Law School, remembered when he learned he would be honored with the Gold Medal Award in 1996. “I was stunned when I was asked to receive the Gold … Continued
For more than half a century, courts, universities and scholars have invoked academic freedom as both a constitutional doctrine and a defining institutional value. Yet despite this illusive importance, there is no stable or widely accepted legal framework governing the scope, limits and enforceability of academic freedom in the context of modern higher education.[1] Today, … Continued
Annual Meeting 2026 Thousands of lawyers attended our meeting at the Hilton Midtown in New York City. NYSBA staff came together to execute one of our biggest and best meetings ever: The Constance Baker Motley Symposium celebrated the courage and entrepreneurial spirit of Madam C.J. Walker and the guidance and wise counsel she received from … Continued
In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a final rule updating its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to specifically require that state and local government websites, mobile applications and other digital tools be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Public colleges and universities are now entering a decisive … Continued
Feelings of anticipation and redemption surround the return of the Ward-Melville mock trial team to the New York State Bar Association’s Mock Trial State Tournament following a one-year absence. The Suffolk County team prevailed over rival Northport High School this year after a tough loss to Northport last year in the regional final. “Coming off … Continued
Generative artificial intelligence has now been part of the public legal landscape for nearly three years, and one danger has consistently eclipsed the rest: hallucinations.[1] In this context, “hallucinations” are outputs that present false information as fact. They can stem from a range of causes, including gaps or errors in training data, imprecise or confusing … Continued
January 2026 marked the completion of President Trump’s first year of his second term in the White House. While the year was filled with new initiatives, Trump’s focus on immigration is perhaps the most consequential, not just because of the protests it has sparked but also because of the legal questions it has raised. Over … Continued
In honor of our 150th anniversary, we asked longtime, involved members for their recollections of the New York State Bar Association. Patricia Shevy, past chair of the Trusts and Estates Law Section, remembered how the COVID-19 pandemic changed programming. “Back in the beginning, we had CLE programs throughout the state. So, there would be speakers … Continued