President-Elect Taa Grays: Advancing the Mission of the Association
6.1.2025
“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 of the law and sharpen my skills.”
For more than 20 years, Taa Grays has worked on behalf of the New York State Bar Association on issues from police reform to strategic planning and corporate governance. She also sharpened her leadership skills during her years as a delegate, committee member, section leader and as the association’s secretary. Those leadership roles have given her a rich background of experience that she will draw upon in her new role as president-elect, especially as she chairs the House of Delegates and co-chair the President’s Committee on Access to Justice.
A Personal Commitment to Service
Encouragement to serve was ingrained in Grays from an early age.
“My parents really shaped my commitment to service,” said Grays. “They were public school teachers. Their influence around helping others, bringing people from behind along with you, instilled in me a commitment to service.”
She shared her parents’ passion for teaching, but they encouraged her to pursue a law degree rather than one in teaching. “My parents grew up at time when African Americans were denied access to justice. Going to law school was a way to be an advocate for those who could not advocate for themselves.” That led her to Georgetown Law School.
Armed with a desire to help others, she started her legal career at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office. While learning how to be a trial attorney, she also saw how the role of the district attorney can be integral to advancing access to justice.
“We are all looking to achieve justice and the district attorney’s office has to make sure the police follow the rules to protect people’s rights,” she observed. “I learned that access to a fair system is important for both sides.”
Supporting the Association’s Commitment to Access to Justice
Her early personal and professional experiences along with her decades of commitment to the association will serve her well in the coming year as the chair of the Committee on Access to Justice.
Advancing justice is an integral part of the association’s mission. The mission statement reads: “The New York State Bar Association will continue to be the leading voice for the legal profession by advancing the professional success of our members, equal access to justice, and the rule of law.”
The Committee on Access to Justice advances this mission by considering and implementing methods for enhancing access for the indigent to the civil legal system. Grays feels that access to justice extends beyond race to encompass socioeconomic and geographic factors and should ensure the availability of lawyers in rural counties as well as in densely populated urban areas.
Grays has already worked on these issues. Shortly after the death of George Floyd in 2020, she was appointed co-chair of the Task Force on Racial Injustice and Police Reform with Co-Chair T. Andrew Brown. Following the task force’s work, Brown, then president of the association, appointed her to co-chair the Task Force on Racism, Social Equity, and the Law.
Supporter-in-Chief
The role of president-elect is also one of a team builder and emissary for the president. Grays is focused on advancing the work of the association and supporting President Kathleen Sweet’s agenda.
“As part of her team, I am here to assist her in her success,” she said. “My role is to make sure her initiatives are successful, including supporting her efforts with our new all-inclusive membership model.”
Grays also looks forward to connecting with the volunteer leaders as chair of the House of Delegates as well as members at association-wide events and those held by the sections, which are divided by practice areas and demographics. Grays is a member of the Business Law, Women in Law and Corporate Counsel sections, and was the chair of the Business Law Section Diversity & Membership Committee.
“By working on the strategic plan for the Association,” she said, “it highlighted for me the valuable role of the sections. I look forward to attending many section events and connecting with members in the coming year.”
