Profiles in Leadership: Vivian Wesson
12.3.2024
Describe your journey to becoming a NYSBA leader?
I became more actively involved in NYSBA in 2013 through an appointment to the Committee on Attorney Professionalism. Marion Fish was the outgoing chair and Lillian Moy was just beginning her term. I knew immediately that I had joined the right committee. Lillian included me in the conversation from the onset. She listened to my views and encouraged me to participate more in NYSBA activities.
As Lillian’s term was ending in 2017, she submitted my name as possible chair for the next term. However, I was an unknown quantity. NYSBA leadership felt I was too “green” to take over a chair role when I hadn’t been in a position of leadership to date. But Lillian was insistent. She saw in me the potential to influence and make an impact. And so I became vice chair of the committee, serving under chair Drew Oringer with the expectation that I would chair the committee the next term.
Drew’s leadership style was very different from Lillian’s and equally effective. He too was inclusive and fueled with perpetual energy and enthusiasm. Not only did he help me hone my own brand, but served as an invaluable mentor and became someone I consider a dear friend.
When I took the helm in June 2020, COVID-19 was raging. With no choice, we reverted to virtual meetings, not knowing when we could be in one another’s company again. I capitalized on our new remote only world by introducing other voices to our membership table, inviting guest speakers on a variety of topics. I still vividly recall receiving an email following one meeting from Drew in which he stated how thrilled he was about the speaker series. Receiving that praise from my mentor inspired me to continue innovating and finding new ways to engage our committee members.
How have you grown as a NYSBA leader?
From chairing my first committee, I have gone on to chair a task force (the Task Force on Artificial Intelligence) and participate as a member on several other task forces and working groups, including one focused on racism and social equity, one responding to antisemitism and anti-Asian hate, and one addressing abuses in facial recognition technology. In 2022, I accepted an appointment to the Committee on Leadership Development and the Membership Committee.
In addition to my committee and task force work, I have published several articles, lending my perspective on issues affecting our community. I used the COVID lockdown period to highlight social justice concerns that lawyers are specially equipped to address. From the climate gap to systemic racism reform, I advocate for increased attorney involvement to champion those causes.
What do you see as the greatest challenge for the legal profession in the next five years and how have you tried to address that challenge as a NYSBA leader?
Artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, represents the greatest challenge for the legal profession in the next five years. The speed at which this technology has infiltrated almost every aspect of life presents specific risks to the legal profession. While some are concerned that the technology will replace lawyers, the greater threats are the avoidance, misuse, and abuse of the technology.
If attorneys fail to properly adopt the technology into practice, they risk failure in competently representing their clients. They also expose themselves to potential claims of ineffectiveness as counsel because they have not employed tools that support tasks, such as research, analysis, and document production. By avoiding adoption, they may unreasonably charge their clients fees that might be reduced if a tool was used.
We have already witnessed how spectacularly the technology can be misused. The Mata v. Avianca underscored our need to use discretion while deploying any new technology and our continuing duty to supervise. We have also seen ways in which bad actors abuse the technology, infringing civil liberties, violating privacy, and committing cybertheft.
As a NYSBA leader, I have worked with the House of Delegates to adopt a report that highlights the risks and proposes some solutions. I will continue working with leadership to convene a standing commission to investigate new risks as they arise and propose new or enhance existing legislation to address them. In addition, I serve as faculty on continuing legal education programs to educate lawyers about generative AI and encourage them to leverage the technology in ways that may enhance their practice and expand access to justice.
What mark of leadership do you wish to leave as a legacy at NYSBA?
I love that I am part of an effort to grow NYSBA membership now and into the future. I accepted an appointment this year to serve as vice chair of the Membership Committee. And what a year to begin that service! We are in the process of launching a bold, new membership model, changing the way in which lawyers can extract value from their NYSBA membership. There is an untapped pool of legal talent whose voices we need in the collective. I hope that the new model engenders greater participation and retention. My goal for NYSBA: to be the organization that supports a lawyer from law school through retirement.
What advice would you give to future leaders?
My first word of advice: get involved as early in your career as possible! Second, I encourage young lawyers to not just join a section in their chosen field of practice, but explore others about which they may be passionate as well. Third, find a good mentor and advocate as you develop along your legal journey. Lastly, always remember to pay it forward. If you experienced any grace, compassion, and sponsorship in your life, the greatest gift is passing that on to the next generation
