President-Elect Candidate Statement: Brian Kerr

President-Elect Candidate Statement: Brian Kerr

9.8.2025

By Brian Kerr

The New York State Bar Association, among several other bar associations throughout the United States, has been struggling to stay relevant among drastic alterations in the legal profession and society. Throughout the past several decades, the rates of voluntary bar association membership have declined, while the rates of drug and alcohol issues among lawyers and costs of attending law school have skyrocketed. What is happening to the legal profession, and where is the New York State Bar Association, among other bar associations, on these important issues and others?

I am submitting this letter to declare my candidacy for President-Elect of the New York State Bar Association for the 2026-2027 bar association year. New York and the United States of America are where a 30-year-old first generation lawyer can apply to be President-Elect of a state bar association.

Let us bring in a new era in the legal profession and restore it to its noble reputation. We can take the legal profession back and bring back the respect that it deserves. The legal profession and the public deserve better than what has occurred during the past several decades. I would be honored to have your support in bringing new leadership to NYSBA. NYSBA deserves and requires a renewed sense of energy and enthusiasm with new ideas and perspectives. NYSBA and its members deserve ideas that will increase membership instead of focusing on maintaining declining rates of membership. In order to state that it represents the legal profession in the State of New York, NYSBA has to have a membership rate of at least 50% of all lawyers admitted in the State of New York and law students as well. The future of NYSBA and the legal profession is at risk. Currently, NYSBA has rates of membership closer to 0% than 50%. These disappointing rates of membership cannot and will not be accepted.

NYSBA can be better. The possibilities are limitless, but the following are a select few. If selected as President-Elect of NYSBA, I will conduct and lead a statewide, national, and international listening tour regarding how NYSBA can assist all lawyers, law students, the legal profession, and the public. I will not take or accept any money from NYSBA either. Instead of discussing democracy and not practicing it, NYSBA could establish direct elections of its leadership. Members have to have an ability to directly select the leadership for NYSBA to instruct others on how to practice democracy. Instead of discussing diversity and not practicing it, NYSBA could create programs for individuals from all backgrounds and perspectives who are interested in entering the legal profession. NYSBA could encourage all lawyers and non-lawyers, not just those who have connections, from all backgrounds and perspectives to be involved in and advance the legal profession. Instead of increasing membership fees and labeling it as a new membership model, NYSBA could lower membership fees and give everyone an option when selecting their membership. Instead of not having any opinions on and not taking any action on important issues directly affecting the legal profession such as the bar exam and law school debt, NYSBA could be at the center of the conversation. Instead of focusing on issues having almost no direct relation to the legal profession, NYSBA could assist all lawyers, law students, the legal profession, and the public. This candidacy is not about my future but is about the future of every lawyer, law student, legal professional, NYSBA, the legal profession, and the public as well.