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March 9, 2010 2010 Metro Area LGBT Legal Career Fair for First Year Law Students LeGaL is pleased to announce its 2010 New York City Metro Area LGBT Legal Career Fair, to take place on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan. February 1, 2010 LeGaL Joins Amicus Brief on Judicial Compensation LeGaL joined seven bar associations, representing thousands of attorneys and judges in an amicus brief in support of fair judicial compensation in the New York State Court of Appeals in Larabee v. Governor, Index no. 112301/07. The other bar associations are the Asian American Bar Association of New York, the Bronx Bar Association, the Dominican Bar Association, the Latino Lawyers of Queens, the Metropolitan Black Bar Association of New York, the Muslim Bar Association of New York, and the Puerto Rican Bar Association of New York. December 3, 2009 Gender Policing: Legal Name Change Process and Self Assertion in the Transgender Community This CLE program covers the name change process for transgender clients and issues relating to working with members of the transgender and low income communities. The program is accredited and co-sponsored by LeGaL and co-sponsored by the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. Thanks to Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP for hosting this program. Click here for more information. November 7, 2009 From Stonewall to Stonewalled? LGBTQ Law 2009 This year the LeGaL Foundation's annual law conference was hosted and co-sponsored by the Stonewall Law Students Association of New York Law School. Thanks to McDermott Will & Emery for their financial support. Click here for more information. October 28, 2009 2010 LeGaL Board of Directors Election Results The following members were elected to the 2010 LeGaL Board of Directors - Arlene P. Bluth, Richard Costa, R. Brent English, Paul Goetz, Carlotta Griffin, Caprice Bellefleur, Michele Kahn, Thomas Maligno, Laurie Marin, Jaime Piazza and Brad Snyder. October 20/27, 2009 Planning for a Good Life, a Good Death and Surrogates Court Litigation This free two day CLE program is presented and accredited by LeGaL, and is tranistional. It is Co-sponsored By Kings County Surrogate Diana Johnson and the Metropolitan Black Bar Association. Click here for more information. October 7, 2009 Workplace Issues Affecting LGBT/GNC Employees & Their Employers Sponsored by the City Bar LGBT Rights and City Labor Employment Law Committees as well as being co-sponsored by LeGaL and the National Association of Women lawyers, this CLE examines the myriad of issues in navigating employment issues related to LGBT and Gender Non-Conforming workers. June 23, 2009 Overview of New Ethics Rules CLE This CLE program, presented and accredited by LeGaL, is tranistional and non-transitional and will review the revised ethics rules for attorneys. Registration is $25 and is for 2 ethics credits. The faculty is Steven C. Krane, Partner at Proskauer rose LLP. Thanks to Proskauer for their generous support, including hosting of this CLE program. Click here for more information. June 23, 2009 LGBT Pride Reception with City Bar The NYC Bar Association will hold its annual reception and cocktail party, co-sponsored by LeGaL from 6 -8 pm. June 23, 2009 LGBT Pride Reception with the Alliance in Brooklyn The Alliance: Gay/Straight Alliance of the NYS Justice System in conunction with LeGaL. June 26, 2009 LGBT Pride Reception with the Alliance in Manhattan The Alliance: Gay/Straight Alliance of the NYS Justice System in conunction with LeGaL . June 5, 2009 LeGaL Testifies at New York State Senate Judiciary Committee Former LeGaL President Bob Bacigalupi represented LeGaL providing testimony to the New York State Senate Judiciary Committee on the underrepresentation of the LGBT community on the New York State Appellate courts. April 30/May 1, 2009 LGBTQ Team Approach to Collaborative Practice Training for LGBTQ Collaborative professionals co-sponsored by LeGaL and the LGBTQ Collaborative Professionals of NYC (www.lgbtqcollabnyc.org). April 29, 2009 Mentor Program Kick-Off Party Kickoff party for LeGaL's Lawyer/Law Student Kick off party at Stonewall Inn from 6 -8 pm April 22, 2009 In the Best Interests of Your Pet This CLE program, designed for attorneys of all levels of experience, will review housing issues in NYC Apartments, estate planning, domestic violence, pets and orders of protection and pet custody issues. This program is accredited by LeGaL. The Faculty is Frances Carlisle, Jane Hoffman (President of the Mayor's Alliance for Animals), Natalie Reeves (Cohen Lans), and Darryl M. Vernon (Vernon & Ginsburg). This course qualifies for 2 credits in professional practice. Click here for more information. April 2, 2009 Judicial Ethics in Administrative Hearings This CLE designed for attorneys of all levels of experience who appear in administrative hearings before NYC agencies will review the ethical standards that apply to the City's addministrative law judges and hearing officers. This program is accrediyed by LeGaL and co-sponsored by the NYC Administrative Judicial Institute. The faculty is the Hon. Charles D. McFaul, Deputy Chief Administrative Law Judge/General Counsel for the NYC Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). This course qualifies for 1 credit in ethics. Click here for more information. March 19, 2009 LeGaL Community Vision Award Receipients The LeGaL Foundation is pleased to announce that its 2009 Community Vision Awards will be presented at its annual dinner on March 19 to Roberta A. Kaplan (Partner in the Litigiation Department at Paul Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP) and Victoria Neilson (Legal Director at Immigration Equality). Ms. Kaplan and Ms. Neilson have distinguished records of service to the LGBT community and the LeGaL Foundation is proud to pay tribute to their acheivements. March 11, 2009 Estate Planning for the General Community The LeGaL Foundation and the Brooklyn Pride Community Center present a panel discussion on estate and family planning. Panelists include Natalie Chin, Norma Jennings, Joanna Seminara and James Whitty. March 11, 2009 Governor Paterson Appoints Rosalyn Richter and Elizabeth A. Garry to Appellate Division Long-time LeGaL member Rosalyn Richter has been appointed to the Appellate Division, First Department by Governor Paterson. Among her many accomplishments is having served as Executive Director of Lambda Legal from 1980 to 1983. LeGaL congratulates her on this well deserved appointment. Congratulations as well to Elizabeth A. Garry, also a member of our community, on her appointment by Governor Paterson to the Appellate Division, Third Department. March 10, 2009 LeGaL LGBT Career Fair LeGaL's annual LGBT Career Fair for First Year Law Students will be held at Benjamin N. Cardo Law School. For more information, contact the LeGaL office at le_gal@earthlink.net February 20, 2009 Transgender Law Forum Touro Law Center's Journal of Race, Gender and Ethnicity presents a complimentary CLE program on transgender law at Touro Law Center. This Program is co-sponsored by LeGaL. Faculty include James G. Durham, Elizabeth Glazer, David Kilmnick, Mik Kinead, Kyle Kiruo, M. Dru Levasseur, Victoria Neilson, Franklin Romeo, Katrina Rose, Beish Shah, Shayna Sigman, Michael Silverman and Jilliam Weiss. For more information contact Barbara Hakimi at bhakimi@tourolaw.edu January 30, 2009 2009 LeGaL Officers Elected The LeGaL Board of Directors Elected Jaime Piazza to be President, L:aurie Marin to be First Vice President, Paul Goetz to be Second Vice President, Richard Costa to be Treasurer, and Caprice Bellefleur to be Secretary. January 13, 2009 Lawyer/Law Student Transgender Winter Networking Event The Transgender Committee of LeGaL is hosting a winter networking event to connect law students and lawyers with groups doing transgender legal advocacy work in New York City. Organizations tabling include the West Village Trans-Legal Clinic, Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, Urban Justice Center's Peter Cicchino Youth Project, Sylvia Rivera Law Project, Housing Works, New York Legal Assistance Group, and Queers for Economic Justice. Connect with lawyers doing transgender-specific legal work and discover exciting legal internship opportunities in NYC. The event is open to LeGaL members and potential members. Light refreshments, beer, and wine will be served. Join us from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, January 13th, in room 301 of the LGBT Community Center (208 W. 13th Street). November 15, 2008 October 2, 2008 Annual Domestic Violence Conference The New York City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Domestic Violence Taskforce presents: “Real Lives, Real Survivors 2008: Intimate Partner Violence and Intersecting Identities The Third Annual Conference on LGBTQ Intimate Partner and Domestic Violence” on Thursday, October 2, 2008 from 9am – 4:30pm at the LGBT Community Center, 208 West 13th Street, New York City 10011. For more information, go to www.nyclgbtdvtaskforce.com October 1, 2008 September 8, 2008 All candidates were invited to appear before the LeGaL Judicial Screening Panel. Candidates only received an "Approved" rating upon a clear showing that they will be committed to the equality of rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and the transgendered during their judicial term. In addition, the Panel considered whether candidates possess the integrity, intellect, experience, and temperament required to sit on the bench. Candidates must have also demonstrated that they will not permit discrimination against women or any other minority group in their courtroom. Candidates who receive a rating of "Highly Approved" must possess all of the characteristics required for an approved rating to an outstanding degree and, in addition, must have demonstrated a deep commitment to fostering public confidence in the integrity of the judicial process. Candidates are rated based on a written application and an interview with the Judicial Screening Panel. Candidates who did not meet the criteria for an "Approved" rating are designated as "Not Approved," and candidates who did not appear are designated "Not Approved - Failed to Appear." September 3, 2008 LGBT Community Center and LeGaL Co-sponsor Surrogate Court Candidate Forum. On September 3, 2008 from 6:30-8:30, the Center and LeGaL will co-sponsor a Surrogate Court Candidate Forum. The program will be held at the Center (208 West 13 St). Former Family Court Judge and NYS Attorney General candidate Karen Burstein will be the moderator. August 13 JPMorganChase PRIDE and FSIX NY 2nd Annual Fall Women's Networking Event. This second annual event will be held on September 17 at 6:30 pm at Eden (Union Square Ballroom, 27 Union Square West). LeGaL is joining again with JPMorganChase Pride and FSIX NY for the hottest party in NYC for women. Bring your business cards, relax, reconnect with those from past women’s events. Please RSVP by 9/15 to www.f-six.org/event/public_eventdetail.asp?eventID=353. Cash Bar. No Cover. August 12 Trans Lawyer/Law Student Summer Networking Event. The Transgender Committee of LeGaL is hosting a summer networking event! Please join us from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12th, in room 410 of the LGBT Community Center (208 W. 13th Street). Wheelchair accessible. The event is open to trans attorneys/law students AND OUR ALLIES. Come hear about trans-specific work that organizations in the greater NYC area are doing. Find out about volunteer opportunities. Network with trans legal professionals and allies doing important work in the trans community. Light refreshments, beer, and wine will be served. Drop by and bring a friend! July 30, 2008 Fair Access to Family Court Bill Signed. The NYS Coalition for Fair Access to Family Court, of which LeGaL is a member of, has announced that Governor Paterson has signed the bill and is now law. The law expands access to Family to Court to all victims of domestic and dating violence. The coalition is staying in place to advocate for resources to handle the additional load created by the law. Thanks to Rick Landman for representing LeGaL on the coalition. July 9, 2008 BenchNotes Available to LeGaL members. LeGaL member Charles McFaul wanted to remind members that they may subscribe to BenchNotes, a free monthly newsletter from the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. BenchNotes summaries recent decisions from OATH and contains topical articles on administrative law. Use the following link to the subscription registration page for BenchNotes: https://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.7b99ac5249d7e0c0453e571076a09da0/ July 1, 2008 Hank Henry Internship Program A $4,000 stipend will be awarded to a qualified law student to support a 10-week summer judicial internship in New York City under the auspices of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Law Association Foundation of Greater New York The program will be designed to give the intern exposure to a variety of courts or tribunals. The Fund for Judicial Internships was established in memory of Dr. Henry, whose ground breaking work encouraged openly lesbian and gay lawyers to seek and achieve judicial office in New York City. The internship is intended for students with a demonstrated interest in, and commitment to, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights. The Dr. M.L. "Hank" Henry, Jr., Fund for Judicial Internships values diversity. All interested students are encouraged to apply. Click here for details June 27, 2008 Manhattan Pride Event LeGaL and the Alliance (Gay-Straight Alliance of the NYS Courts) will celebrate pride month at 60 Centre Street. Hon. Ann Pfau, Hon. Rosalyn Richter, Hon. Jacqueline Silberman, Hon. Renee Roth and Hon. Fern Fisher will be among the speakers. June 27, 2008 Trans Justice March The Transgender Committee of LeGaL has endorsed the 4th Annual NYC Trans Day of Action for Social and Economic Justice. This day of action was initiated by TransJustice of the Audre Lorde Project. June 19, 2008 NYC Bar Association Pride Week Reception LeGaL is once again joining with the NYC Bar Association's LGBT Rights and Sex and the Law committees to present a reception during LGBT pride week at the House of the Association (42 West 44 Street). June 2, 2008 Lawrence v. Texas Five Years Later: Civil Rights Milestone or Promise Unfulfilled LeGaL, the NYCLA LGBT Issues Committee and the NYC Bar Association LGBT Rights Committee present this symposium including Arthur Leonard (Founding President of LeGaL and Editor of Lesbian/Gay Law Notes, Dean Erwin Chemerinsky (UC Irvine School of Law, Hon. Doris Ling-COhan (Author of trial court decision in Hernandez v. Robles), and Sharon McGowan (Staff Attorney at ACLU LGBT Project). May 13, 2008
LeGaL Co-Sponsors Forum Entitled Are LGBT Rights 'Civil Rights'?: Intersections and Disconnections in Movements for LGBT, Racial, and Ethnic Equality LeGaL co-sponsored a forum held at the City Bar by its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Committee addressing the intersections and tensions among movements for racial and ethnic equality, on the one hand, and for LGBT rights, on the other hand, from the 1960s to the present. The forum addressed the relationships between communities of color and LGBT communities, and how these relationships affect LGBT people of color, particularly in political and legal contexts. May 1, 2008
LeGaL Contributes to Law Day Edition of New York Law Journal LeGaL President Brad Snyder authored a column entitled “Recognizing When the Law Needs to be Changed” in connection with the Law Day edition of the New York Law Journal. A copy of the article can be found by clicking on the link - 2008 Law Day Article
April 9, 2008 LeGaL is a co-sponsor of this CLE program on April 15 from 6 – 9 pm at the City Bar. LeGaL members are entitled to City Bar member rates. For many years, the LGTBQ population in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems was simply ignored. Today, there is a growing awareness that to serve these youngsters effectively, we must identify and address their specific needs. This program will give attorneys the tools to advocate successfully for LGBTQ youth in out-of-home placements. Panelists will present information from both the national and local perspectives. Reduced rates are available for those who work at non-profit criminal law and family law agencies. For registration and further information, please go to https://www.nycbar.org/CLE/show_course.php?cnameid=1770. April 9, 2008 Second Annual Women’s Networking Event LeGaL will be joining with JPMorganChase PRIDE and FSIX NY on the 2nd Annual Spring Women's Networking Event at Eden on Wednesday, May 7 – networking begins at 6:30 pm. DJ starts at 8pm through the evening. Relax, reconnect with those from past women’s events and meet our colleagues from Merrill Lynch, MetLife GLBT Marketing Advisory Council, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP and more. Location: Eden @ the Lounge below The Coffee Shop, 29 Union Square W., at 16th St combined with Union Square Ballroom, 27 Union Square West, NY. Cash Bar, No Cover. April 1, 2008 Coalition for Fair Access to Family Court continues effort The Coalition for Fair Access to Family Court, which LeGaL is a part of, is working to get the Senate to pass S.6783 (the companion bill of recently passed A.6060-A) which would improve state policy to allow fair access to civil orders of protection in NYS. Currently, many victims of violence in our state cannot obtain a civil order of protection because they do not have access to the Court that grants them - NY's Family Court. Current law limits access to Family Court to "members of the same family or household" which is defined as people who are married, divorced, related by blood or marriage, or have children in common. Without access to Family Court, victims are not eligible to use the well-resourced Integrated Domestic Violence Courts, now available in 35 counties across the state. NYS is the only state not to offer more civil protection to victims of domestic violence. If you want to get involved with the coalition, please contact LeGaL’s representative to the coalition, Rick Landman, at rick.landman@nyu.edu.
April 1, 2008 LeGaL to hold second Chelsea Art Gallery Tour. LeGaL is once again joining with the NYGLP/GLPNY (that’s the gay and lesbian physicians and psychiatrists of New York) for a private tour of some of the best art in the City. The last tour was well received and we invite you to discover great art and socialize. The tour will be on Saturday, April 26 from 3:30 - 5:30. Please RSVP early via e-mail to le_gal@earthlink.net. Cost is $20. Checks payable to “LeGaL Foundation.” MasterCard and Visa also accepted. We will gather at 526 West 26th St. (b/w 10th & 11th Aves.) Additional details on cocktail hour following tour will be announced. April 1, 2008 LeGaL to participate in National Law Day. LeGaL will be participating in National Law Day (May 1) activities. As part of activities organized by the City Bar, LeGaL will be tabling on April 29 at Brooklyn Borough Hall from 11 am – 2 pm. If you are interested in helping, please contact the LeGaL office.
March 31, 2008 Partners Group urges Governor to Appoint LGBT Judges The LeGaL Partners Group has sent a letter urging Governor David Paterson to appoint the first openly LGBT judge to the appellate courts in New York State and to work towards ensuring a diverse judiciary overall. Previously, LeGaL had written then-Governor Spitzer urging him to make judicial diversity a priority.March 24th, 2008 |
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| March 12th, 2008 LeGaL Forms New Transgender Committee LeGaL is pleased to announce the formation of a Transgender Committee which will work towards fostering greater awareness of transgender issues in the legal profession and the LGB community, serving as a resource for transgender specific issues, creating forums to educate LeGaL members and the broader legal community about specific legal issues impacting transgender and gender non-conforming people, and promoting the expertise and advancement of transgender legal professionals by providing a visible source of mentorship and support for transgender law students and attorneys. The committee is open to any LeGaL member with an interest in these topics. Please contact Dru Levasseur at drulevasseur@hotmail.com if you are interested in participating. The first organizational meeting will be held on March 25th, 8-10pm at the LGBT Center, Room 412. |
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| March 5th, 2008 LeGaL and the LGBT Community Center to Co-host CLE and Networking Reception LeGaL and The Center are pleased to present a free CLE and Networking Reception for the LGBT Legal Community. The CLE, Breaking Up Is Hard To Do: Legal Issues Involved With Ending LGBT Relationships, will cover some of the legal issues confronting same-sex couples and their attorneys when a relationship comes to an end, ethical concerns facing attorneys and alternatives such as the collaborative law process, a cooperative approach to resolving the conflicts that occur when a couple is breaking up. Following the CLE panel, there will be a networking cocktail reception. Panelists include Howard Forman of Turkel Forman & de la Vega, Michele Kahn of Kahn & Goldberg, LLP, Peggy Brady, of Brady, Klein and Weissman, LLP and Katie Cole of Weiss, Buell & Bell. The course qualifies for 2 credits in professional practice and is accredited by LeGaL. Registration is only open to lawyers. Registration is required in advance. Please RSVP to Dan Schaffer at le_gal@earthlink.net. Space is limited so please RSVP early! Date: Wednesday, April 2nd / Time: CLE Presentation is from 6-8pm, networking cocktail reception from 8-9pm / Location: The Center / Cost: Free |
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| March 5th, 2008 LeGaL Conference Proceedings Published Papers drawn from the presentations at LeGaL's 2006 annual legal conference, held at New York Law School, have been published in the New York Law School Law Review, under the symposium title: LGBTQ Law: Legal Issues Affecting Ourselves & Our Families. The following articles are part of the symposium: Introduction, by Arthur S. Leonard 52 N.Y.S. Sch. L. Rev. 163; New Jersey's Civil Unions Law: A Constitutional "Equal" Creates Inequality, by Thomas Hoff Prol, 52 N.Y.L. Sch. L. Rev. 169; Informed Consent for Routine Infant Circumcision: A Proposal, by David Solomon, 52 N.Y.L.Sch. L. Rev. 215; Falling to Pieces: New York State Civil Legal Remedies Available to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Survivors of Domestic Violence, by Sharon Stapel, 52 N.Y.L. Sch. L. Rev. 247; Note: Rocks, Hard Places, and Unconventional Domestic Violence Victims: Expanding Availability of Civil Orders of Protection in New York, by Sarah E. Warne, 52 N.Y.L.Sch. L. Rev. 279. All articles are available on Westlaw. |
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| February 28th, 2008 LeGaL Foundation Board Members and Officers Elected The following individuals were elected to serve on the LeGaL Foundation Board for 2008: Caprice Bellefleur, Richard Costa Michele Kahn, Jeffrey Klein, Thomas Maligno, Laurie Marin, Hon. Charles McFaul, Matthew Merrick, Craig Notte, Jaime Piazza, Russ Korins and Brad Snyder. Additionally, Brad Snyder was re-elected President and Hon. Charles McFaul was re-elected Secretary. Richard Costa was elected to serve as Treasurer. Members of the Board of Directors of the LeGaL Foundation are chosen by the board of directors of the Association. |
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| February 27th, 2008 LeGaL Foundation Announces 2008 Community Vision Award Recipients The LeGaL Foundation is pleased to announce that its 2008 Community Vision Awards will be presented at LeGaL's annual dinner on March 20th to Richard D. Burns, Executive Director of The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, and William J. Hibsher, Partner at Bryan Cave LLP. Each recipient has a distinguished record of service to the LGBT community and the LeGaL Foundation is proud to pay tribute to their achievements. |
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| February 13th, 2008 LeGaL to Hold Fourth Annual LGBT Law Student Career Fair LeGaL's Fourth Annual New York City Metro Area LGBT Career Fair will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan. The Career Fair will be targeted specifically to first-year gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender law students. The Career Fair will begin with a panel discussion on being out in the workplace followed by the opportunity for law students to meet with representatives from major area legal employers. |
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| February 13th, 2008 LeGaL Co-hosts Valentine's Day Party Come celebrate an early Valentine's Day with LeGaL, the New York Gay and Lesbian Physicians and the Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists of New York at Opus 22, 559 West 22nd Street (at 11th Avenue). Wednesday, February 13th, 7-10pm. Members, Partners, Spouses and Friends Invited. |
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| February 6th, 2008 LeGaL to Co-sponsor Program on Formerly Incarcerated LGBT People LeGaL is pleased to co-sponsor Formerly Incarcerated LGBT People Speak Out. Come hear the voices of some queer folks who have done city, state or federal time: How jail/prison is different for LGBT people, what they encountered, how they survived, and what needs to change to honor the human rights of queer prisoners. The panel will feature a "Where We're At Now" perspective from NYC activists working in support of LGBT incarcerated people, and an overview of case law/litigation involving LGBT prisoners from the editor of the national magazine Prison Legal News. LGBT Community Center * Tuesday, February 12th at 7:00 PM. Co-sponsored by LeGaL, The LGBT Community Center, and Books Through Bars (NYC's volunteer books-to-prisoners group. This event is free. Paperback dictionary donations welcome. |
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| January 30th, 2008 2008 LeGaL Officers Elected The LeGaL Board, at the January 29th Board meeting, re-elected Brad Snyder as President, Laurie Marin as First Vice President, and Jaime Piazza as Secretary. Caprice Bellefleur, who served as Treasurer and did not seek re-election, was thanked for her service by the Board and will be continuing on the Board but not serving as an officer. Richard Costa was elected Treasurer. |
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| January 10th, 2008 LeGaL Seeks Nominations for Community Service Award LeGaL is pleased to invite nominations for a community service award to be presented to a LeGaL member at the Foundation's annual dinner on March 20th. Nominations for the award can be made by any LeGaL member by e-mailing the office at le_gal@earthlink.net. The e-mail must contain the name of the nominee who is a LeGaL member and a brief statement explaining the nominee's contributions to the community. Relevant professional or volunteer activities of the nominee, and any other information, should be briefly described. Deadline for nominations is February 18th. Award recipients will be invited, along with a guest, to attend the annual dinner on March 20, 2008, where the award will be presented. |
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| January 2nd, 2008 LeGaL to Co-sponsor Diversity Event at NYSBA's Annual Meeting LeGaL is pleased to announce that it will be joining many minority bar associations to co-sponsor the diversity reception at the annual meeting of the New York State Bar Association on Monday, January 28 at the Times Square Marriott Marquis from 6 - 8 pm. Watch for more details. | |
| December 27th, 2007 LeGaL to Co-sponsor LGBT Asian American Attorneys Meeting and Reception hosted by Cadwalader LeGaL is pleased to co-sponsor this event with the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, Gay Asian and Pacific Islander Men of New York (GAPIMNY), Lambda Legal, South Asian Bar Association of New York (SABANY), QWAVE, and South Asian Lesbian & Gay Association. The event will be held Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2008 at 7 PM at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP (One World Financial Center). Light refreshments will be served. For more information contact Glenn D. Magpantay at 917-439-3158 or gmagpantay@aaldef.org. RSVP to Justin Ruaysamran at 212-504-6457 or justin.ruaysamran@cwt.com. |
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| December 19th, 2007 LeGaL Advocates for a Diverse Judiciary in Letter to Governor Spitzer LeGaL has written to Governor Spitzer encouraging him to expand the diversity of the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court. The letter notes the benefits of a diverse judiciary, particularly for the residents of New York City, and implores the Governor to use the relatively large amount of openings in the Appellate Division as an opportunity to ensure the appointment of well-qualified candidates from underrepresented communities, including our own. If you are interested in the issue of judicial diversity or other issues of concern to the judiciary, our Judiciary Committee could use your help. Please contact the office at 212-353-9118. | |
| December 13th, 2007 LeGaL Joins New York Statewide Coalition for Fair Access to Family Court LeGaL is pleased to announce that it has joined a statewide coalition in formation that will be working to win full access for survivors of violence to civil orders of protection. Currently, many victims of violence in our state cannot obtain a civil order of protection because access to Family Court is limited to "members of the same family or household," defined as people who are married, divorced, related by blood or marriage, or have children in common. Planning for the campaign is in its preliminary stage and LeGaL representatives are needed. If you wish to volunteer your time to this important effort, please contact the LeGaL office at 212-353-9118. | |
| December 5th, 2007 LeGaL and the Center Host Free CLE on Protecting LGBT Couples and Families LeGaL and the Center, with the generous support of Merrill Lynch, presented a free CLE and networking reception for the LGBT legal community. The free CLE was entitled Protecting LGBT Couples and Families: Legal Issues and Recent Trends and was geared towards attorneys interested in helping same-sex couples secure their legal protections or in learning more about protecting their own families and relationships. Panelists included Christopher Goeken of the Law Office of Christopher S. Goeken, Judith Turkel of Turkel Forman & de la Vega and Professor Jay Weiser of Baruch College's Zicklin School of Business. | |
| November 28th, 2007 LeGaL Announces Opening of Hank Henry Jr. Internship Application Process LeGaL announced that applications are now being accepted for the Dr. M.L. "Hank" Henry Jr., Fund for Judicial Internships, LeGaL Foundation's long-standing summer internship program. The internship is designed to give law students exposure to a variety of courts and tribunals. The intern will receive a $3,500 stipend to support a 10-week judicial internship. Applications are due by January 4, 2008 and are available by contacting the LeGaL office at 212-353-9118 or by emailing to le_gal@earthlink.net. |
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| November 19th, 2007 LeGaL and Fordham OutLaws Host Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Law 2007 LeGaL's annual LGBT Law Conference was held on November 17, 2007 at Fordham Law with the generous financial support of Thacher Proffitt and Wood LLP. The LeGaL Foundation, in conjunction with the Fordham OUTlaws, hosted the conference that was free for law students and open to all attorneys for $25. The four plenary panels covered Family, Marriage & Adoption, Immigration Law, LGBT Rights, Race, Poverty, and HIV/AIDS and The Role of Bar Associations in LGBT Rights. Panelists included representatives from many organizations, including, among others, Immigration Equality, Gay Men's Health Crisis, Housing Works, NYCLU and South Brooklyn Legal Services. | |
| October 31st, 2007 LeGaL's Judicial Screening Panel Announces Judicial Ratings for Civil, Surrogate and Supreme Court LeGaL is pleased to announce its ratings for Civil Court, Surrogate Court and Supreme Court judicial candidates in NYC for the November 6th election. To view the ratings and for an explanation of the ratings system, please click here. | |
| October 26th, 2007 LeGaL and Wachtell Lipton Host Networking Reception LeGaL and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz hosted a networking reception last evening for members of the LGBT legal community. More than one-hundred fifty attorneys from both the private and public sectors and law students from area schools attended the reception at Wachtell's midtown offices. | |
| October 18th, 2007 LeGaL Announces Results of Election for 2008 Board of Directors The Hon. Arlene P. Bluth, Richard Costa, R. Brent English, Caprice Bellefleur, Michele Kahn, Lynn Kotler, Thomas Maligno, Laurie Marin, Jaime Piazza, Brad Snyder and Jennifer Wilson have been elected to the 2008 LeGaL Board of Directors. LeGaL thanks outgoing Board members Natalie Chin, Virginia Goggin, and Jack Scheich for their service on the LeGaL Board. | |
| October 15th, 2007 LeGaL and FSIX Sponsor a "A Walk Through History" Members of LeGaL and FSIX (LGBT professionals in the Financial Services Industry) attended a private walking tour of historic sites of interest to the LGBT community in Greenwich Village. The tour featured many facets of lesbian and gay history and traced the development of Greenwich Village. Stops included The Stonewall Inn, The Duplex and sites associated with Bayard Rustin, Willa Cather, Eleanor Roosevelt and Audre Lorde. | |
| September 26th, 2007 LeGaL Foundation's Walk-In Legal Clinic Launches Law Firm Pro Bono Network LeGaL is pleased to announce that its walk-in legal clinic has established relationships with several area law firms that have agreed to consider pro bono referrals directly from the clinic. Clinic volunteers have been referring select cases to law firms in recent months and several organizations and individuals have already received help through the program. | |
| September 12th, 2007 LeGaL Announces Free CLE Programs Sponsored by State Bank of Long Island LeGaL is pleased to announce several free CLE programs sponsored by State Bank of Long Island. The fall programs are to include "Due Diligence: Buying a Building with Residential Tenants," "Equal Employment Opportunity - Issues and Updates" and "Escrow IOLA - Ethical Responsibilities." | |
| August 29th, 2007 LeGaL's Judicial Screening Panel Issue Ratings for Civil and Surrogate Court LeGaL is pleased to announce its ratings for judicial candidates for Civil and Surrogate Courts who are facing a primary on September 18, 2007. To view the ratings and for an explanation of the ratings system, please click here. | |
| July 18th, 2007 Morrison & Foerster to Sponsor Law Sudent Internship at LeGaL's Walk-In Clinic Morrison & Foerster LLP has generously provided a stipend to support LeGaL's walk-in legal clinics. LeGaL will be devoting the funds to the creation of two new law student internships. | |
| Week of July 9th, 2007 LeGaL was mentioned in this past week's edition of the Washington Blade. The article highlighted the work done by LeGaL volunteer clinic attorneys in assisting a long-time lesbian couple in preparing the necessary documentation to protect their relationship prior to their recent marriage in Massachusetts. To read the article visit, washingtonblade.com. The couple spoke at a program in which LeGaL was mentioned in a front page photo and caption in an issue of the New York Law Journal. The event was co-sponsored with The Alliance: the Gay Straight Alliance of the New York State Court System. The program honored NYS Court of Appeals Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick and NYS Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau. LeGaL's grant from the New York City Council for $10,000 was renewed. Thanks to Speaker Christine Quinn, Finance Chair David Weprin and Council Member Rosie Mendez for their support and efforts. Also thanks to Frank Nervo for his invaluable assistance in making the renewal possible. The grant supports the Tuesday Walk-In Clinic at the LGBT Community Center, Lesbian/Gay Law Notes and the Hank Henry Internship Program. LeGaL Member James Hough has been named to serve on the Manhattan Democratic Screening Panel to review candidates and incumbents for New York State Supreme Court positions. | |
| June 3rd, 2007 LeGaL and NYGLP/GLPNY Sponsor Private Art Gallery Tour in Chelsea LeGaL and NYGLP/GLPNY (the Lesbian & Gay Doctors and Psychiatrists of New York) held a private art gallery tour of Chelsea's finest art galleries on Saturday, June 2. The tour, led by Prof. by Rafael Risemberg of New York Gallery Tours, brought more than 60 members of the organizations together for an afternoon of art followed by a happy hour at a local bar. | |
| April 25th, 2007 LeGaL's Partners Group Hosts Strategies for Success for Mid-Level and Senior LGBT Associates The Partners Group of LeGaL and the New York City Bar Association's Committee on LGBT Rights hosted a panel discussion geared towards providing professional guidance for LGBT law firm associates. The event, held at the offices of Proskauer Rose LLP, featured panelists from Proskauer Rose, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Bryan Cave LLP, and McDermott Will & Emery LLP and was followed by a cocktail reception. | |
| March 15th, 2007 LeGaL Foundation Annual Dinner LeGaL Foundation Annual Dinner at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park. >> more | |
| March 5th, 2007 LeGaL's Brad Snyder Appears on here! Podcast LeGaL President Brad Snyder recently appeared on a here! podcast called "here! with Josh and Sara." here! is a gay television network that was first established in 2002. >> more | |
| March 5th, 2007 LeGaL Member Janet Ford Appointed to Serve on Judicial Screening Panel LeGaL Member Janet P. Ford has been appointed to serve on the independent screening panel established by the New York County Democratic Committee to evaluate candidates for the New York County Supreme and Civil Courts. >> more | |
| February 20th, 2007 LeGaL Names New Officers We are pleased to announce that new officers were elected at the February 20, 2007 meeting of the LeGaL and LeGaL Foundation Boards. >> more | |
| February 5th, 2007 LeGaL Cited in QEJ Victory for Homeless Domestic Partners Queers for Economic Justice is pleased to announce that due to the hard work of many community members and organizations (including LeGaL), and the support of the New York City Council, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) has finally changed its domestic partner policy >> more | |
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