Member Spotlight: Tyler Rexhouse
8.31.2026
Tyler Rexhouse (she/her) is chair of the New York State Bar Association LGBTQ+ Law Section’s Emerging Leaders Committee. In this member spotlight, Tyler discusses the launch of the new Emerging Leaders Committee, sharing plans for statewide networking events and opportunities for law students and new attorneys to step into leadership roles early in their careers.
How did you decide on your practice area, and how did mentors support you on that path?
I fell into representing labor unions by accident. I had a part-time internship doing patent work for the state university system my 1L summer and needed a second one to fill out full-time hours, and the union job gave me a wonderful team, real mentorship, and the chance to serve individual clients. I get to use my technical background too, since AI and surveillance technologies are reshaping the workplace faster than the law governing them develops.
What inspired the launch of the new Emerging Leaders Committee, and what is its core mission?
It’s easy to get caught in the whirlwind of practice in those first few years after law school, and we don’t want new attorneys to lose sight of the value of building a network or to leave opportunities on the table. The Emerging Leaders Committee gives them a mechanism for mentorship and an established pipeline to leadership roles, so they can bring fresh perspectives to the profession early.
New York has an incredibly diverse legal landscape. How do you envision the committee engaging and supporting early-career attorneys across the entire state—from Upstate and Western NY to Long Island and NYC?
We’re planning events in multiple locations across the state where law students and new attorneys can connect with experienced practitioners. We also hope law students will serve as committee members and start planning events and taking on leadership roles now rather than later, so they can build a professional network and learn to lead early in their careers.
Who are your heroes in the legal world?
Daniel Kaffee, maybe. In earnest, the practitioners I admire the most are the principled ones who never lose sight of the role lawyers play in making the world a better place.
If you didn’t become an attorney, what career path would you have pursued and why?
I love stage acting, so I would probably try my hand at that professionally. I sometimes find the lines blur between the two professions as it is.
What is a favorite spot or hidden gem of yours to visit in New York State when you are off the clock?
We frequent the Roxbury in (of course) Roxbury, New York. It’s a wonderful hotel with cute, themed rooms built around aesthetics like the Wizard of Oz and Dracula. It’s a great place in the mountains to turn off my phone and relax.
What is the best life lesson that you have learned while training as an attorney?
To stand up for myself and others, even when it’s scary and difficult.
Interested in joining the New York State Bar Association LGBTQ+ Law Section’s Emerging Leaders Committee? Contact Mercedes Peno (mpeno@nysba.org) and Carra Forgea (cforgea@nysba.org).
