Our Proud History

LeGaL was one of the nation’s first bar associations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) legal community and remains one of the largest and most active organizations of its kind in the country. Serving the New York metropolitan area, LeGaL is dedicated to promoting the expertise and advancement of LGBT legal professionals while serving the larger community.

LeGaL began as a social organization.  In May 1978, ten people met in Professor Art Leonard’s living room and formed the New York Law Group, which met on a monthly basis for informal social gatherings. Art began publishing a newsletter, the “Law Group Notes,” reporting on lesbian and gay community events and legal developments. The group grew and in 1984 incorporated as the Bar Association for Human Rights. In September 1991, the name was changed to the Lesbian and Gay Law Association of Greater New York. Over the years our name has changed to better reflect the diversity of our mission, of our membership and of the communities we seek to serve.

In 1994, the LeGaL Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was formed with Erica Bell as its founding President.  Through the LeGaL Foundation, the organization publishes Lesbian/Gay Law Notes, the most comprehensive monthly publication summarizing legal and political developments affecting the LGBT community here and abroad, conducts a weekly walk-in pro bono clinic at Manhattan’s LGBT Community Center serving hundreds of members of the community each year, and sponsors the Dr. M.L. “Hank” Henry, Jr. Fund for Judicial Internships to promote LGBT representation in the judiciary and, among its many other activities, runs the area’s only career fair dedicated to first-year LGBT law students.

Mission Statement

LeGaL and our members are committed to:

• Promoting the expertise and advancement of LGBT legal professionals;
• Educating the public on legal issues facing LGBT people;
• Fostering membership participation in pro bono activities in the LGBT community;
• Working with LGBT organizations, community groups, and other groups and individuals to gain equal rights for all people;
• Eliminating homophobia and transphobia in the justice system;
• Encouraging judicial and other governmental appointment of those who oppose discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity;
• Encouraging lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and people of transgender experience to choose law as a career;
• Promoting solidarity among LGBT in the law.