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 Here's an article we received from attorney Daniel T. Lukasik, [pictured left], managing partner at the law firm of Cantor Lukasik Dolce Panepinto in Buffalo, New York, and creator of a website for lawyers struggling with depression. He also recently launched a "depression blog" for lawyers.
Daniel is scheduled to speak at a program sponsored by the New York City Bar Association in the Fall.
The Role of Stress and Anxiety in Depression in the Legal Profession
Lawyers suffer from clinical anxiety disorders and depression at alarming rates. I have been a litigator for over twenty years and am one of them. Statistically speaking, you're likely to be one or know a colleague who suffers from or both of these conditions. A Johns Hopkins study of 104 occupations tried to determine which ones had the highest incidence of depression. Lawyers topped the list and were found to suffer from depression at the alarming rate of 3.6 times that of the other occupations studied. Other studies concluded that 20% of all lawyers suffer from depression (about the national rate). That would mean that approximately 200,000 of the nation's one million lawyers are suffering from some form of depression.
In the beginning of my career, however, I didn't suffer from depression. But I did have trouble managing the stress of my practice. Over time, this constant stress developed into anxiety. I started feeling like I couldn't control everything. I would go to bed fearing what problems and disasters were to confront me the next morning. After years of this, the pendulum swung. I went, more and more, from states of anxiety to states of depression. Why did this happen? It took me a long time to understand.
Depression develops because of a complex interplay of genes, neurochemistry, emotional history and personality. Recently, scientists have been focusing in on the connection between stress and anxiety and the role they play in producing and maintaining depression. This subject should be of great concern to lawyers who frequently report feeling stressed or burned out in their practices.
"Stress" is anything in our environment that knocks our bodies out of their homeostatic balance. The stress response is the physiological adaptations that ultimately reestablish balance. Most of the time, our bodies do adapt and a state of balance is restored. However, Dr. Robert Sapolsky, an expert on stress-related illnesses, warns: "If stress is chronic, repeated challenges may demand repeated bursts of vigilance. At some point, this vigilance becomes overgeneralized leading us to conclude that we must always be on guard - even in the absence of stress. And thus the realm of anxiety is entered." (Scientific American, Robert Sapolsky, Ph.D., Volume 289, No. 3, September 2003 at p. 88)
Stress went on too long in my own life as a litigator. I had, indeed, entered the realm of anxiety. For me, this anxiety felt like I had a coffee pot brewing twenty four-seven in my stomach. I became hypervigilant; each of the files on my desk felt like ticking time bombs about to go off. Over time, the litigation mountain became harder to climb as the anxiety persisted over a period of years.
Dr. Sapolsky states: "If the chronic stress is insurmountable, it gives rise to helplessness. This response, like anxiety, can become generalized: a person can feel they are at a loss, even in circumstances that she can actually master." (Ibid). Helplessness is a pillar of a depressive disorder. It becomes a major issue for lawyers because we aren't supposed to experience periods of helplessness. We often think of ourselves as invulnerable super hero's who are the helpers and not the ones in need of help. Accordingly, lawyers often don't get help for their depression and feel ashamed if they do.
Many lawyers do not appreciate this connection between their stress and anxiety and the risks they pose for the development of clinical depression. Indeed, the presence of co-morbid anxiety disorders and major depression is frequent and, according to some studies, as high as 60 percent. Maybe this connection helps explain the studies which find such high rates of depression for lawyers. In many ways, we are too stressed and anxious too much of the time. The human body was not designed for such punishment.
Dr. Richard O'Connor, author of the best-selling book, Undoing Perpetual Stress: The Missing Connection Between Depression, Anxiety and 21st Century Illness (Berkley Trade, 2006), states that depression "is stress that has gone on too long" and that many people with depression have problems dealing with stress because they are not "stress resilient". Not because of some central character flaw or weakness. But because of a complex interplay between genetics and one's experience over a lifetime. This interplay is played out daily for lawyers in how their bodies and brains deal with stress and anxiety.
Our bodies haven't changed much in the last ten thousand years. We have a wonderful defense mechanism wired into our nervous system called the fight-or-flight response. Dr. Sapolsky, in his acclaimed book, Why Zebra's Don't Get Ulcers (Holt Paperback; 3rd edition, 2004), walks us through the connection between this ancient defense mechanism and depression. When confronted with a threat - whether real or perceived - this response kicks in and floods our bodies with powerful hormones that propel us into action. This was an essential survival device for our ancestors who lived in the jungle and would have to flee beasts that were trying to eat them or fight foes that were trying to kill them.
Lawyers don't face these types of real life-or-death threats. Instead, lawyers perceive life-or-death threats in their battles with opposing counsel while sitting in a deposition or sparring in the courtroom. Our bodies respond as if they were being chased by that hungry lion. Accordingly, the stress response can be set in motion not only by a concrete event but by mere anticipation. When humans chronically and erroneously believe that a homeostatic challenge is about to come, they develop anxiety.
Over time, this type of chronic anxiety causes the release of too much of the powerful fight-or-flight hormones, cortisol and adrenaline. Research has shown that prolonged release of coritisol damages areas of the brain that have been implicated in depression, the hippocampus (involved in learning and memory) and the amydala (involved in how we perceive fear).
If we don't as litigators learn better ways to deal with stress and anxiety, we expose ourselves to multiple triggers that can cause and/or exacerbate clinical depression. It is in turning and facing those things which make us stressful and anxious that we provide ourselves with the best protection against depression.
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Office of the President
July 1, 2009
The New York City Bar has completed its review and evaluation of the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be a Justice of the United States Supreme Court and has found her to be Highly Qualified for that position. For those of you that sent comments on the nomination, we thank you. The Association's press release and report on this evaluation can also be found on the homepage of the Association's website, www.nycbar.org.
Sincerely,  Patricia M. Hynes
City Bar Contemplative Lawyers Group: Contemplative Listening for Lawyers
Thursday, July 16, 2009 7 pm
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
As legal professionals, we often listen to our clients and colleagues merely to try find what we are looking for and accomplish our agenda. Another way of listening could be called contemplative listening, which broadens our field of awareness and allows us to begin to understand more about our clients and colleagues. There will be a short talk, discussion, and meditation practice. No prior meditation experience is necessary.
Speaker:
Professor Marc Poirier
Marc Poirier is a Professor of Law at Seton Hall Law School in Newark, New Jersey, where he has taught since 1991. He teaches and writes in the areas of property theory, environmental and natural resources management, cultural property, First Amendment, and law, gender, and sexuality. Professor Poirier has been meditating regularly since 1981.
City Bar Chorus - The Scots Are Coming!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 7:15 p.m.
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
The New York City Bar has a longstanding tradition of collaborating with other bar associations around the world. On July 21, such collaboration will turn musical, as the Faculty of Advocates Choir of Edinburgh, Scotland, joins the City Bar Chorus for the first time, in a festive concert marking the 213th anniversary of the death of Scotland's legendary poet Robert Burns. The choruses, both individually and combined, will present American and Scottish songs (with some Scottish poetry added to the mix) in a program conducted by Kathryn Schneider and Neil Beynon. After the Scottish choir found their City Bar counterparts through the Internet, planning for this transatlantic event began among Ross Macfarlane, Faculty of Advocates Choir Artistic Director; Neil Beynon, Faculty of Advocates Choir Musical Director; Kimberly Tate-Brown, City Bar Chorus Chair; and Kathryn Schneider, City Bar Chorus Musical Director.
Both choruses have distinguished performing resumes. The Scottish choir's concerts raise money for charitable causes in Edinburgh, and the group has also sung at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The City Bar Chorus has performed about 200 concerts since 1993 in community outreach venues throughout New York City, and has sung at Riverside Church (for a Visiting Nurse Service hospice memorial service) and on national and local television.
All City Bar members and friends are cordially invited to attend this concert and to welcome the Faculty of Advocates Choir on its first trip to New York. Voluntary donations will be gratefully accepted to benefit the City Bar Justice Center.
 After Burkhart, Wexler & Hirschberg, LLP (BW&H) was named a defendant in a federal suit, it sued its insurer, Liberty Insurance Underwriters, because that company refused to defend and indemnify the law firm.
When the Nassau County Supreme Court agreed with the insurer's position, BW&H appealed to the Appellate Division, Second Department.
In the federal litigation, the lawyers were reportedly sued for "'wanton, willful and malicious' breach of fiduciary duty for misappropriating [a client's] confidential information and trade secrets; tortious interference with contract for using this information to attempt to convert [the client's] members and prospective members to a newly-formed competing business entity; and for 'wanton, willful and malicious' misappropriation of trade secrets."
While an insurance carrier has a duty to defend when a complaint falls "within the scope of risk covered by the policy," in this case, the parties' contract limited coverage to "negligence or malpractice" arising out of the firm's performance (or non-performance) of legal services. Since the claims brought against BW&H weren't encompassed events, the AD2 agreed the insurer didn't have an obligation to defend.
In other words, Liberty was freed by the AD2.
To download a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Burkhart, Wexler & Hirschberg, LLP v. Liberty Ins. Underwriters, Inc.
The New Case Against Immigration: Both Legal and Illegal by Mark Krikorian
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 6:45 PM (Wine and Cheese Reception, 6 PM)
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
In his new book, Mark Krikorian examines the trends and concludes that America must permanently reduce immigration or face enormous problems in the near future. Wherever they come from, today's immigrants are actually very similar to those who arrived a century ago. But they are coming to a very different America--one where changes in the economy, society and government create different incentives for newcomers. Mr. Krikorian puts forth new research intended to show why America can no longer afford mass immigration.
Speaker:
MARK KRIKORIAN
Sponsored by the Committee on Books-at-the-Bar, Francis J. Murphy, Chair.
 TWO AWARDS, A DEFICIT, AND AN INVITATION
For a $1,000 contribution to the Center for New York City Law we will provide dinner at a Chelsea restaurant on July 13, 2009, following the Municipal Art Society award.
In June the American Planning Association New York Metro Chapter gave CityLand its 2009 Journalism Award. Coming up, on July 13, 2009, at The Chelsea Art Museum, the Municipal Art Society will give the Center its Certificate of Merit for revolutionizing access to New York City's arcane world of administrative agencies by publishing CityLaw and CityLand. Our elation at such recognition is moderated, however, by the reality provided by New York Law School's accountant. The Center, she reports, operated at a deficit this year.
This letter is being sent to everyone who has benefitted from the Center's broad, award-winning programs, either by attending City Law Breakfasts to hear prominent City leaders, participating in the Center's CLE programs, attending the Center's symposia, visiting the Center's website for research or information, reading the Center's newsletters for current reports of agency actions, using the Center's library, or relying on the Center's monographs and law review publications.
The Center for New York City Law urgently needs your financial support. Despite winning two prominent awards from professional and civic organizations and a renewed City Council grant of $25,000, this year has been a tough financial year. The Center for New York City Law needs your help now to insure that the Center can continue its important work as an open window on New York City government.
Please send a contribution in any amount today. For a $1,000 contribution to the Center for New York City Law we will provide a dinner at a Chelsea restaurant on July 13, 2009, with me and other Center supporters, following the Municipal Art Society award.
For fifteen years the Center for New York City Law uniquely has expanded New York Law School's resources to provide the civic and legal world with clear, current, unbiased information. This intense focus on New York City cannot be sustained without the financial help and support by civic-minded people who see the value in such an institution.
I hope that we can count on you to make a contribution to the continued success of the Center for New York City Law.
R oss Sandler
Professor of Law and Director, Center for New York City Law
June 25, 2009
 Dear Colleague:
NYCLA's Criminal Justice Section is proud to again sponsor the Public Service
Fellowship Essay Contest. NYCLA will award two newly admitted, public sector attorneys,
who are practicing in the criminal justice field and have significant educational debt, a
financial stipend based on an essay competition. One winner will be from a prosecutor's
office and one will be from an institutional defense organization. Our topic this year is:
"Should there be a moratorium on violation pleas at arraignment?"
Your tax-deductible contribution helps to remind our profession of society's
responsibility to provide adequate funding for the criminal justice system. Please make
checks payable to NYCLA Foundation - Public Service Fellowship and mail to:
NYCLA Foundation, Criminal Justice Section Essay Contest
14 Vesey Street
New York, NY 10007.
If you are interested in discussing a naming opportunity, please call Marilyn Flood,
Foundation Executive Director, at 212-267-6646, ext. 222.
The stipends help recognize the financial sacrifice our newest colleagues make by
entering public service despite overwhelming educational debt and help educate our
profession about the astounding obstacle new lawyers from all sectors face because of
educational debt.
The stipends will be awarded at a public ceremony on September 24, 2009, at
NYCLA's Public Service Awards Reception. I hope you will join us at this free event and
thank you for your continuing support.
Very truly yours,
Susan J. Walsh, Esq.
Member, Former Co-Chair
NYCLA Criminal Justice Section
Claimants Denied Unemployment Benefits:
A Pro Bono Opportunity for Hard Times
Fordham Law School
140 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023
McNally Amphitheater
Monday, June 22, 2009
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Unemployment Insurance Benefits are more important than ever for New Yorkers who have lost their jobs in this time of severe economic distress. Please join us for a colloquium for the legal community to discuss how we can increase pro bono representation by attorneys for claimants denied these essential benefits at the hearing and agency appeal levels. The keynote speaker will be Leonard D. Polletta, Chair of the NY State Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board. Invited participants include law firm pro bono coordinators, legal services and legal aid programs, other entities with unemployment practices, law schools and bar associations.
Purpose: This Colloquium brings together members of the legal community with an interest in Unemployment Insurance Benefits cases to address how better to organize around this issue; how to increase pro bono representation for claimants denied benefits, and what is currently being done to address increased representation in UIB cases.
Opening Remarks - Chairman Leonard D. Polletta, Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board
PANEL #1: An Overview of Unemployment Insurance Law
- How the system works
- The need for Pro Bono attorneys in Unemployment Insurance Cases
- Common grounds for denial
- Administrative hearings and appeals before the Board
PANELISTS
Lynn Kelly, Executive Director, City Bar Justice Center - Moderator
Andrew Stettner, National Employment Law Project
Goethy Guareno, Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board | | | | |
Panel #2: What is the current state of Pro Bono representation in Unemployment Insurance Benefits Cases? |
- Assessing whether pro bono representation, as it stands, is sufficient to address the current UIB crisis?
- Barriers to Pro Bono involvement
- Models of Pro Bono involvement
- Law student involvement in unemployment insurance benefits cases
- How can we best use the resources that we currently have?
PANELISTS
Bill Dean, Volunteers of Legal Services - Moderator
Jennifer Brown, Pro Bono Counsel, Morrison and Foerster
Carol Neiditch, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley
Julia Rosner, Legal Services of New York Manhattan
Robyn Weinstein, Outgoing Regional Co-Chair of Unemployment Action Center/Incoming Director of Volunteers of Legal Services Unemployment Project.
For further information concerning this colloquium or to RSVP, please contact Jessi Tamayo, Associate Director, Fordham Law School's Louis Stein Center for Law & Ethics at (212) 636-6988 or jtamayo@law.fordham.edu.
Planning Committee: Fordham Law School Cooper Family Chair on Urban Legal Issues, City Bar Justice Center, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, Legal Services NYC, Manhattan Legal Services, MFY Legal Services, Inc., National Employment Law Project, NYS Office of Court Administration, The Legal Aid Society, Pro Bono Net, Law Help, The Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board, UAC, Volunteers of Legal Services, Workers Defense League
Here's an invitation to a "Lawyers for Gioia" event on Wednesday, July 8, 2009.
The suggested minimum contribution is $100. 
EMPIRE JUSTICE CENTER
Representing Homeowners
at Mandatory Settlement Conferences
Dates: June 23, 2009
Time: 9:00 am--1:00 pm
Location: The Legal Project
Stuyvesant Plaza, 1475 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
Cost: FREE OF CHARGE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!
Registration required
By registering, you agree to accept at least one pro bono case annually from The Legal Project
Trainer: Kirsten Keefe, Esq., Empire Justice Center
Who Should Attend: Lawyers interested in representing homeowners in mandatory settlement conferences.
Training Description: Mandatory settlement conferences are a new integral component to the foreclosure process for subprime loans. Pro bono lawyers have been approved to represent homeowners for the limited capacity of these settlement conferences. This training will address important considerations for lawyers willing to represent homeowners in this capacity. Topics covered will include an overview of subprime lending, the NYS foreclosure process, common legal claims and defenses, as well as evaluating longterm affordability, loss mitigation options, working and negotiating with lenders, working with housing counselors, and a review of realistic and successful settlements.
Co-sponsored by:
The Legal Project
Legal Aid Society of Northeastern NY
Albany County Bar Association
Schenectady Bar Association
The Capital District Black and Hispanic Bar Association
New York State Bar Association
This course has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of 4 transitional and non-transitional credit hours: MCLE credits: 3.0 Skills, 1.0 Professional Practice.
Empire Justice Center is certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education in the State of New York.
For registration information: Contact: Michelle Peterson, Empires Justice Center mpeterson@empirejustice.org or call 585-295-5729.
 |
This training is a part of the NYS Subprime Foreclosure Prevention Services program, developed to help New York homeowners facing default or foreclosure by providing counseling and legal services. The program is administered by the NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal/Housing Trust Fund Corporation. The Program provides training and support for housing counselors, mediators and lawyers who are assisting residents with subprime or unconventional mortgages. Information on the program can be found at www.nysdhcr.gov. |
These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
48% Say It's Too Easy To Sue Doctors, 44% Favor Caps on Jury Awards
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Forty-eight percent (48%) of U.S. voters say it is too easy to sue a doctor for medical malpractice in the United States today.
The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that just 19% say it is too hard to sue for medical malpractice, while 18% believe the current legal situation is about right. Sixteen percent (16%) are undecided.
Republicans are nearly twice as likely as Democrats to say it is too easy to sue a doctor in America, and a majority of voters not affiliated with either party agrees.
Forty-four percent (44%) of all voters say the federal government should cap the amount of money a jury can award a defendant in a medical malpractice lawsuit. But 36% disagree and oppose caps on jury awards. Twenty percent (20%) are not sure whether caps are a good idea or not.
Perhaps one explanation for the plurality support for caps is that 56% of voters think most money won in medical malpractice lawsuits goes to lawyers rather than the defendants. Only 19% say the defendants get most of the money won in such lawsuits. Nearly one-out-of-four voters (24%) aren't sure.
Seventy-five percent (75%) say medical malpractice lawsuits are an important factor in the rising cost of health care. Thirty-three percent (33%) say they are very important.
Just 16% say malpractice lawsuits are not very important in terms of increasing the cost of health care, and only one percent (1%) says they are not important at all.
The findings come as President Obama has signaled a willingness to consider so-called tort reform as part of his proposed overhaul of the U.S. health care system. While Republicans have long sought to limit medical malpractice lawsuits, particularly the size of jury awards, Democrats have resisted, in large part because trial lawyers are a key part of the party's base.
While 56% of GOP voters and the plurality of unaffiliateds (45%) favor a cap on jury awards in malpractice lawsuits, Democrats disagree and lean slightly in the opposite direction.
Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated voters are largely in agreement about the importance of medical malpractice lawsuits to the rising cost of health care and also that lawyers get most of the money won in such lawsuits.
However, as is frequently the case, the Political Class has a far different take on the issue than populist or Mainstream America and that gap is often wider than the one between Republicans and Democrats. While 66% of Mainstream Americans say most money won in malpractice lawsuits goes to lawyers, for example, 60% of the Political Class disagree and say most of the money goes to the defendants.
The majority of Mainstream America (54%) says it's too easy to sue a doctor, but just 40% of the Political Class agrees.
Fifty percent (50%) of Mainstream Americans say the government should cap the size of jury awards in malpractice lawsuits, but 53% of the Political Class opposes such caps.
Yet, interestingly, a higher percentage of the Political Class attributes the rising cost of health care to malpractice lawsuits when compared to the populist viewpoint.
Eighty-three percent (83%) of voters nationwide say America's legal system should apply the law equally to all Americans rather than using the law to help those who have less power and influence.
Forty-six percent (46%) of Americans have a favorable opinion of lawyers while 49% have an unfavorable view.
Eighty-nine percent (89%) of voters say they have been following news stories about health care reform at least somewhat closely, with 52% who have been following very closely.
But voters remain closely divided on the urgency for health care reform, given the troubled state of the economy. Forty-six percent (46%) believe the Obama administration should move ahead with health care reform, while 45% say it should wait until the economy improves.
Voters are evenly divided on whether the creation of a public sector insurance company is a good idea.
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To view the original report, please use this link: Let Doctors Get Away With Murder!
The New York State Trial Lawyers' Association is having its 42nd Annual Installation of Officers & Directors on Thursday, June 25, 2009, at 6:30 PM, at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society.
The ticket price is $125. (Hotel and transportation costs, not included.)
For additional information, call 212-349-5890.
Here's a copy of the event invite:
 In People v. Reed, after he pled guilty to burglary in the second degree, Michael Reed sought to rescind that arrangement.
When the New York County Supreme Court denied his request, Reed appealed to the Appellate Division, First Department, which refused to intervene because the plea had been voluntarily made -- after considering counsel's "sound advice" to accept the deal.
And, since his attorney didn't have a "conflict of interest," there was no reason to assign a new attorney when Reed's plea-related application was made.
The AD1 also didn't latch onto Reed's claim that he had been medicated and unable to appreciate the consequence of his original decision.
Think the AD1 found Reed a bit too winded?
To download a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link:People v. Reed
Getting Back in the Game: How to Restart Your Career in a Down Economy
Tuesday, June 16, 2009 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Registration:
NYC Bar Member Price : $30.00 Register
Non City Bar Member Price : $50.00 Register
Affected by the current financial crisis, many lawyers are finding themselves looking for employment. This program is designed to assist job-seeking attorneys in learning how best to market themselves whether they are looking to go to a firm, start their own practice or are considering an alternative legal career.
9:45 AM - Welcome by Patricia M. Hynes, President, New York City Bar
10:00 AM - Breaking Back into a Large Law Firm: How to Make Your Way Back into a Top Law Firm
Moderator:
BRIAN DALTON, Managing Editor, Vault.com and Editor Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms
Speakers:
DAVID LAT, Founding Editor, AboveTheLaw.com; T.J. DUANE, Principal, Lateral Link; HELEN LONG, Director Legal Recruiting at Ropes & Gray LLP; JOHN J. CANNON III, Hiring Partner, Shearman & Sterling LLP
11:30 AM - Casting a Wider Net: The Rise of the Small to Mid-Sized Law Firm
Moderator:
ALLA ROYTBERG, Solo Practitioner; Director, City Bar Small Law Firm Center
Speakers:
PAUL LIPPE, CEO, Legal On-Ramp; CORIN LINDSLEY, Managing Director, Major Lindsey & Africa; RON GEFFNER, Sadis & Goldberg
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM Lunch
1:45 PM--Alternative Legal Careers: Exploring the Range of Options With Your JD
Moderator:
MAUREEN REID, Maureen M. Reid, LLC
Speakers:
TANYA GILL, DLA Piper; HILLARY MANTIS, Career Coach, Author, Alternative Careers for Lawyers and Jobs For Lawyers: Effective Techniques for Getting Hired in Today's Legal Marketplace; LISA SOLOMON, Founder, Legal Research & Writing Pro and Lisa Solomon, Esq. Legal Research & Writing; CAROLINE CENIZA-LEVINE, Career Advice Columnist Vault.com and Partner of SixFigureStart.com.
3:15 PM--Start Up LLP: Creating Your Own Law Firm
Moderator:
OLIVERA MEDENICA, Chair, Small Law Firms Committee
Speakers:
JEREMY SALAND, Crotty & Saland; CAROLYN ELEFANT, Author, Solo By Choice, myshingle.com; ALLA ROYTBERG, Solo Practitioner; Director, City Bar Small Law Firm Center
Co-sponsored by
Registration is necessary. The fee, which includes lunch, is $30 for members, $50 for non-members.
 Earlier in the week, Above the Law published a copy of a Curtis Mallet dress code memo.
(Bet the writer of that internal missive now wishes s/he dressed up its content a bit differently.)
Here's the story in its entirety:
Monday, June 1, 2009 11:05 AM - By Kashmir Hill
As the temperature rises, so does the desire to embrace informal summer fashions. Women are breaking out their strapless dresses and short skirts, and men are starting to sport shorts. While casual summer wear is fine on the weekends, don't yield to the temptation to wear your flip flops to your white shoe firm.
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle conveyed that message to its New York office with a memo sent out last week. In its e-mail making the case for "business casual," the firm reminded associates that pecs are not to be admitted into evidence:
By all means resist the urge to acquaint us with your chest hair. If you think it necessary to impress the ladies with your efforts at the gym over the winter, think again - we are not a particularly good demographic for that.
After that, the memo's author reminds the gents that loose-fitting suits can help hide pounds. We're not sure what that has to do with business casual exactly, and suspect the firm just wanted to try to give equal attention to men and women so as not to appear to be solely lecturing females guilty of summer-slutty fashion sense. (As the Seventh Circuit did last month.)
After the jump, we bring you the full memo, which advises the ladies to "save it for the clubs or the beach." According to the tipster who sent this along, the advice "wasn't well received."
Curtis has a reputation for being a traditional firm, with formal attire expected. Over the summer, the firm is business formal every day but Friday, when associates can let loose... per the specifications below.
Our tipster tells us:
it has been the topic of conversation since it went out--no one found it funny in the least--patronizing and condescending seem to be the words most frequently used.
Here's the memo, with our thoughts on particular points that might not have been well-received.
MEMORANDUM
May 29, 2009
TO: All U.S. Attorneys and Paralegals
FROM: [REDACTED]
RE: Business Casual
As summer approaches it is useful to remind all of what is appropriate to wear on business casual days.
For the guys, simple rules for simple minds.
Apparently, the firm expects formality in dress but not in firmwide memos.
Take your regular formal business wear, remove the tie and if you have a wild streak that clamors for expression drop the jacket. Instant business casual. Stray too much from that and you risk humiliation.
If you dare to wear a polo shirt at Curtis, massive humiliation awaits you. Possible tar and feathering.
You will notice I said nothing about changing shoes. And there is a reason God created collared shirts.
Hail Mary... and Thomas Pink.
By all means resist the urge to acquaint us with your chest hair. If you think it necessary to impress the ladies with your efforts at the gym over the winter, think again - we are not a particularly good demographic for that.
We're not sure whether this means Curtis men are unlikely to have anything to show from their winter gym efforts or ladies at Curtis aren't into muscular types.
A special note for the mature man. American-cut business shirts and suits are effective disguisers of the extra pound or two accumulated honorably during the client dinner wars. Without them you quickly reach dangerous territory so be advised.
For the ladies, the situation is a bit more complicated, pitfalls abound and I need to be circumspect. In brief, save it for the clubs or the beach. If you have any doubt whether an item of apparel is appropriate, it most assuredly is not. If you need gentle guidance, the more seasoned women are happy to impart their wisdom.
Does being called "more seasoned" rather than "old" really make the senior female attorneys feel better about the adjective? And at what age do Curtis associates become "mature men"?
So how do you know that you got it right:
• if your roommate or significant other who works at that chic gallery in Soho smirks and says you are a capitalist tool, you got it right
• if your spinster aunt who works at the library remarks that little Jimmy or Jane has become a real grownup and she is proud of you, you got it right
• if you look like the most professional yet stylish dresser in the office who comports with your gender, age and body type, you got it right.
If you look in the mirror, and your conformity depresses you, you got it right.
I would hope there is enough common sense out there that I do not have to talk about denim, sandals, flip-flops, sneakers, tee shirts (yes, even designer ones), tank tops, form-fitting or faded or tattered clothes, and other eccentricities.
A special word for the young'uns. You may think we are a step away from walkers and the rest home, but the reverse is that the older group needs to be convinced you are not pimply faced kids. After all, you could be our kids, which is generally good but not if you want to be taken seriously at the job. Business wear is effective lacquer that ages you in our eyes and those of our clients. Casual wear - well, you get the point.
Enjoy the summer.
Welcome to Curtis, pimply-faced summer associates!
# # #
 To view the original article, please use this link: Keep Yourself Under Wraps!
Lawyers are more likely than the general population to experience depression. Depression is serious and debilitating. Hope lies in the fact that depression can be successfully treated.
If you think you might be depressed please call the Lawyer Assistance Program
helpline at 1.800.255.0569 for confidential assistance.
New York State Bar Association Lawyer Assistance Committee member, Dan Lukasik, has just launched a blog for lawyers, judges and law students who struggle with depression. Dan plans to update the blog weekly. The blog will supplement the Lawyers with Depression Web site www.lawyerswithdepression.com which is updated regularly to remain current. You can access the blog through the Web site or directly at http://lawyerswithdepression.wordpress.com/.
| PETTY THIEVES AND SANDSTORM PERFORMANCES |
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| UPCOMING SHOWS |
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Date & Time: JUNE 4, 2009 @ 8:00 P.M.
Location: RED LION
151 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10012
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David A. Kaminsky is playing with two bands, Petty Thieves and Sandstorm
Catch Sandstorm at 8:00 p.m. and the Jammie Award Winning Petty Thieves at 9:00 p.m.
Sandra Lagerstom-Lead Vocals
John Carucci-Guitar
Phil Dunn-Bass
Bob Adelman-Drums
David A. Kaminsky-Keyboards
Petty Thieves Features:
David A. Kaminsky-Keyboard & Vocals
Hank Goldsmith-Guitar & Vocals
Mike Marinic-Lead Guitar
Phil Dunn-Bass Guitar & Vocals
Fernando Menendez-Drum Kit | |
Help the Hungry
Dear Colleague,
From June 11 through June 19, NYCLA's Women's Rights Committee has partnered with the New York Women's Bar Association (NYWBA) to assist the Food Bank of New York City in collecting canned goods for hungry New Yorkers. As you all are aware, the economic downturn has led to an increase demand on food pantries in the New York City metropolitan area. Nearly 4 million New York City residents are at risk of going hungry. The majority of them are women and children, the elderly, people with disabilities and the working poor. Children are particularly at risk over the summer months when they are out of school and no longer have access to the free or subsidized meals provided through school meal programs. In an effort to help, NYWBA is coordinating a citywide, 8-day-long effort to collect non-perishable food.
Food drive bins will be located in the lobby of the NYCLA Home of Law, 14 Vesey Street, starting on June 11. Please join NYCLA's Women's Rights Committee and NYWBA in stopping hunger in New York City by bringing in nonperishable food donations and placing them in the bin. The most-needed items include: canned or dried beans, milk, fruit, vegetables, juice, meat, fish, soup, stew, peanut butter, rice, cereal and pasta.
If you prefer to contribute financially, NYWBA is sponsoring a "Virtual Food Drive" that allows you to donate money online. If you would like to provide financial support for this cause, please click on the following link: help.foodbanknyc.org/site/TR/Events/General?team_id=2370&pg=team&fr_id=1200.
The Food Bank distributes food to more than 1,000 emergency community food programs and helps to provide more than 300,000 free meals a day. To learn more about the Food Bank, visit www.foodbanknyc.org.
Thank you in advance for your contributions.
Susan L. Harper, co-chair
Mollie O'Rourke, co-chair
Women's Rights Committee.
 Here's an e-mail we received from the New York City Bar Association:
As is our practice, the Executive Committee of the New York City Bar will be evaluating the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the United States Supreme Court. If you have any views or information you would like to present to the Executive Committee regarding the nomination, please respond by reply email, by Friday, June 12th. Thank you.
 In Estate of Saul Schneider v. Finmann, Saul Schneider supposedly transferred his life insurance policy from a limited liability partnership to himself, upon the advice of Victor Finmann P.C.
A year later, Schneider died and his estate representative sued Finmann for malpractice -- alleging the policy's transfer triggered an increased tax liability.
After the Nassau County Supreme Court dismissed the case, Schneider's representative appealed to the Appellate Division, Second Department, which held an attorney isn't liable to "third parties" for harm caused by professional negligence, unless there is "fraud, collusion, malicious acts or other special circumstances."
Because Schneider's estate wasn't in privity with Finmann, and none of the governing exceptions applied, the estate couldn't maintain the case.
The AD2 explained that, even when alive, Schneider wouldn't have had a claim because any alleged damage -- that is, any increase in estate tax liability -- could only occur after his death.
What a tangled web ....
 To view a copy of the Appellate Division's decision, please use this link: Estate of Saul Schneider v. Finmann
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Tuesday, June 16, 2009 |
Location: NYCLA Home of Law - 14 Vesey Street
Time: 6:00pm
Dedication of the Glickman Library Balcony in honor of the late Gladys Glickman, a long term NYCLA member, who bequeathed $2.9 million to NYCLA. Ms. Glickman was a creator and editor in chief of the Lexis/Matthew Bender treatise, Franchising: Legal, Business and Tax Considerations of Modern Franchising. There will also be a dedication of the Glickman NYCLA Authors Display.
Sponsor: NYCLA's Library Committee
FREE
RSVP: dlamb@nycla.org and write 'Glickman Dedication' in the Subject line |
Running Out of Water? The Future of Water Supply, Quantity, and Quality
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 6:30 - 8 pm
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
Water scarcity, supply, and quality are critical issues facing the United States and the world. Population growth, energy needs, and climate change put increasing demands on finite water resources for drinking water, agriculture, endangered species protection, and other uses. The panel will discuss water supply, quality, and use at the local, state, national, and international levels, defining the key issues and how they might best be addressed.
Moderator:
Kathy Robb, Hunton & Williams LLP
Speakers:
Jon Freedman, GE Water and Process Technologies
Kathryn Garcia, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Strategic Projects, NYC DEP
Doug Miller, General Counsel, Central Arizona Water Conservation District
David Sunding, University of California at Berkeley, and the Berkeley Water Center
Sandra Allen, Director of the Clean and Safe Water Initiative, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Sponsored by:
Committee on Environmental Law, Kathy Robb, Chair; Committee on Energy, Edna Sussman, Chair; Committee on International Environmental Law, John Rousakis, Chair; Committee on Project Finance, Ernest Chung, Chair
Co-Sponsored with the Environmental Law Institute, Washington, DC
This program is free of charge. Please register online
Members of the Association, and their guests are all welcome.
Thursday, June 25, 2009 |
Location: 14 Vesey Street
Time: 6:00pm
No need to arbitrate? Go to court. Practical suggestions to recover your fees from former clients who refuse to pay. Covers discovery, motion practice, pretrial conferences, inquests, trial, and more. Based on actual experience.
Speaker: Doron Zanani
OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE SERIES:
Great Tips for Building a Successful Practice - July 2
RSVP: cfragliossi@nycla.org |
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
 *** Con Edison and the Fire Department will conduct an emergency preparedness drill this Saturday, May 30, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, at two locations: First Avenue and 20th Street, and First Avenue at 36th Street. Streets will remain open. Residents should expect to see FDNY and Con Ed staff at the sites, as well as machine-generated fog -- which is not harmful to people or animals -- to simulate a real incident.
*** The New York City Department of Sanitation reminds you to pick up after your dog -- it's the law. Along with the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Sanitation Department is launching a coordinated "spring offensive" aimed at catching violators and giving them newly increased fines of $250.
*** In order to help small businesses gain access to credit during the economic downturn, the New York City Economic Development Corporation has launched a revamped Capital Access Program.Through the program, micro- and small businesses, including not-for-profits are able to apply for loans, which are guaranteed up to 40 percent by the City. For more information, or to apply, visit www.nycedc.com/capitalaccess.
*** The New York Junior Tennis League is offering free tennis lessons for youth, ages 6 to 18, at Wagner Middle School (75th Street between Second and Third Avenues) now thru June 26. Lessons take place Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Loaner racquets and balls will be provided. There is no cutoff date for registration, and players can sign up on site. For more information, visit www.nyjtl.org.
*** The New York City Council and New York City Central Labor Council have launched a new, free job training source for New Yorkers who are unemployed or underemployed (making less than $10.70 per hour). Jobs to Build On will direct job seekers to information on workforce preparation courses, industry specific training and job placement services. For more information, visit www.jobstobuildon.org.
*** The Urban Justice Center will hold its next free monthly legal clinic on consumer debt on Tuesday, June 23. Attorneys will be on hand to help New Yorkers who are facing consumer debt problems including harassment by collectors, lawsuits, or the hardship of a frozen bank accounts or garnished wages. The clinics take place at the University Settlement / Project Home at 189 Allen Street (between Houston and Stanton), from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. To make an appointment, or to find out what documentation you should bring, call (212) 505-1995.
*** Applications are available for 78 affordable, studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments under construction at 312 Eleventh Avenue. Rents for these units will range from $449 to $740. To be eligible, applicants must have incomes between $19,920 and $38,400 depending on family size and the unit requested. Applications will be selected by lottery. Current and eligible residents of Community Board 4 will receive preference for 50 percent of the units. Applications may requested by mailing a postcard to:
312 Eleventh Avenue Apartments
303 Park Avenue South
PMB 1047
New York, NY 10010
Applications may also be downloaded at www.phippsny.org/housing_app.html. Completed applications must be returned by regular mail only (no priority, certified, registered, express or overnight mail will be accepted) to a post office box number that will be listed with the application, and must be postmarked by June 14, 2009. For more information, visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/downloads/pdf/chelsea-area-manhattan.pdf.
*** Applications are available for 119 affordable, studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments under construction at 320 West 38th Street. Rents for these units will range from $383 to $631. To be eligible, applicants must have incomes between $17,294 and $38,400 depending on family size and the unit requested. Applications will be selected by lottery. Current and eligible residents of Community Board 4 will receive preference for 50 percent of the units. Applications may requested by mailing a postcard to:
38th Street West Towers
One Penn Plaza
Box 6108
New York, NY 10119
Completed applications must be returned by regular mail only (no priority, certified, registered, express or overnight mail will be accepted) to a post office box number that will be listed with the application, and must be postmarked by June 19, 2009. For more information, visit http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/downloads/pdf/38th-Street-West-Towers.pdf
Second Annual Breakfast Panel on Women and Leadership:
Overcoming Gender Perceptions in Achieving Leadership Success
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Registration:
NYC Bar Member Price : $15.00 Register
Non City Bar Member Price : $25.00 Register
Panelists will draw on their experiences in the public and private sectors to address how women can and do employ a variety of leadership styles and techniques to overcome subconscious stereotyping, gender-based perceptions and other challenges to their leadership success.
Moderator:
BETTINA PLEVAN
Partner, Proskauer Rose LLP
Speakers:
DALE CENDALI
Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
ESTA STECHER
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
MARISSA WESELY
Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
LAI SUN YEE
Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Studies Distinguished Fellow, and former Assistant Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security for New York State
This event is sponsored by the New York City Bar Association Committee on Women in the Profession, Brande M. Stellings, Chair.
Fee & Registration Information: $15.00 for Bar Association members; $25 for non-members. Fee includes breakfast.
For further information, please contact Robin Alperstein at (212) 888-3033.
Thursday, June 04, 2009 |
Location: 14 Vesey Street
Time: 6:00 pm
A practical approach to managing relationships in the legal profession so as to maximize the results for your clients and your business. Attendance is limited to 20.
Speaker: Clyde Eisman
OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE SERIES:
What Every Lawyer Needs To Know About Part 137 Fee Dispute Resolution Program - June 11
Litigating Your Fee Dispute - June 25
Great Tips for Building a Successful Practice - July 2
RSVP: cfragliossi@nycla.org |
Here's a story that appeared last week in Am Law Daily:
 May 18, 2009 12:10 PM
Cleary Partner: "Out-of-Office" Replies Not Acceptable
Posted by Zach Lowe
The "out-of-office' reply--the final confirmation that you are going on a real, actual vacation where you will be free of work responsibilities for a brief, fleeting time. Only, one partner at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton thinks such automatic replies are inappropriate and send the wrong message to clients, according to this item from the Australian publication The New Lawyer.
Raj Panasar, a partner in Cleary's London office, apparently sent an e-mail to London-based lawyers suggesting that they should always be available to answer e-mails or at least arrange for a colleague to answer messages when a lawyer is truly unreachable. The only time an "out-of-office" reply might be acceptable is when a lawyer is on a long flight, Panasar wrote.
In that case, the "out-of-office" reply should indicate which time zone the lawyer is traveling to and when he or she will be able to respond to the message. At The Am Law Daily, we find that such detailed "out-of-office" messages are already typical among oft-traveling partners, but we had never heard of a near-blanket prohibition on "out-of-office" replies.
Panasar and a firm spokeswoman did not immediately reply to messages seeking comment.
# # #
To view a copy of the original report, please use this link: "I am out of the office ...."
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Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 6 - 8 PM
House of the Association, 42 West 44th Street
Registration:
This program is free of charge, however registration is required. |
The Legal Aid Society has issued a proposal for reforming New York State's criminal discovery rules, including enactment of a new discovery statute. Our panel, which includes the proposal's author, and representatives from local prosecution offices, the judiciary, academia and the criminal defense bar will discuss the merits of the proposal and examine the impact the proposed changes would have on courts, prosecutors' offices, defendants, victims and witnesses.
Moderator:
STEVEN FISHNER, former New York City Criminal Justice Coordinator
Speakers:
STEVEN BANKS, Attorney-In-Chief, Legal Aid Society
LEROY FRAZER, New York County District Attorney!&s Office
JACK HOFFINGER, Hoffinger, Stern & Ross
PROF. JAMES B. JACOBS, Warren E. Burger Professor of Law at NYU School of Law
ANNA-SIGGA NICOLAZZI, Kings County District Attorney!&s Office
HON. JAMES YATES, New York State Supreme Court
Sponsored by:
Council on Criminal Justice, Daniel Alonso, Chair; Committee on Criminal Advocacy, Daniel Horwitz, Chair
Members of the Association, and their guests are all welcome.
SALT and Center for Diversity in the Legal Profession at CUNY Law School Workshop on How to Become a Law Professor
Event Date:
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 9:00am - Fri, 06/05/2009 - 5:15pm
Borough of Manhattan Community College
199 Chambers Street, Hudson Room New York, NY
SALT, CUNY School of Law, the Center for Diversity in the Legal Profession at CUNY School of Law, Practicing Attorneys for Law Students Program, Inc. (PALS) and the law firm Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP will be presenting a one-day workshop for practicing lawyers of color who are interested in exploring how to become a law professor. A tentative schedule is listed below. Register now for the June 5th Workshop! The registration fee is $25.00. If you would prefer registering with a check or mailing in credit card information, download this registration form.
9:00-9:25 Welcome and Introductions
9:30-9:55 Introduction to Law Teaching
10:00-11:55 Scholarship (how to develop a scholarly agenda, how to address your scholarship or lack thereof)
12 noon - 1:00 LUNCH
1:00-1:55 Teaching (what teaching package to request, discussion of pedagogical approaches)
2:00-3:45 How to Make Yourself More Attractive to Law Schools
3:45-4:00 BREAK
4:00-5:15 Introduction to AALS Faculty Recruitment Conference & Alternative Routes to Law Teaching: or How We Survived the AALS "Meat/Meet Market"
NEW!!! Closing reception at the law offices of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, One Battery Park Plaza.
Register now for the June 5th Workshop!
Stranger in a Strange Land: Cross-Cultural Issues in the Courts
Monday, June 8, 2009 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
Increasingly, immigrants are pleading "the cultural defense," invoking the traditions of their homelands. "Cultural evidence" is playing a role in many other cases--both civil and criminal. In this highly engaging presentation, attendees will use hand-held technology to "vote" on real-life cases. Should the adage "all men are presumed to know the law" apply to recent immigrants? You be the judge. Professor Renteln will be signing copies of her award-winning book, The Cultural Defense, following the program. Copies of the book will be available for purchase.
Welcoming Remarks:
PATRICIA M. HYNES, President, New York City Bar
Moderator:
JONATHAN TURLEY, Professor, George Washington University School of Law; MSNBC Commentator/Analyst; Contributor, USA Today
Speakers:
ALISON DUNDES RENTELN, Professor, Political Science & Anthropology, University of Southern California; Lawyer and Author, The Cultural Defense; RENE L. VALLADARES, Chief, Trial/Appellate Division, Office of the Federal Public Defender, Las Vegas; Editor/Contributor, Cultural Issues in Criminal Defense; MARK J. MILLS, JD, MD, Nationally-renowned Forensic Psychiatrist; HON. BERNICE B. DONALD, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee; Secretary, American Bar Association; Frequent Consultant on International Rule of Law
Program Chair:
HON. DELISSA A. RIDGWAY, U.S. Court of International Trade
Thursday, June 04, 2009 |
Location: 14 Vesey Street
Time: 6:00 pm
A practical approach to managing relationships in the legal profession so as to maximize the results for your clients and your business. Attendance is limited to 20.
Speaker: Clyde Eisman
OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE SERIES:
What Every Lawyer Needs To Know About Part 137 Fee Dispute Resolution Program - June 11
Litigating Your Fee Dispute - June 25
Great Tips for Building a Successful Practice - July 2
RSVP: cfragliossi@nycla.org |
Dear VLP Supporter,
The mission of the Volunteer Lawyers Project is the practical realization of justice for the poor. Through the pro bono commitment of the private bar, the VLP solves legal problems affecting people's fundamental rights.
As you can imagine, this year the services of the VLP are more urgently needed than ever. Your support is critical. Please join us as we honor two outstanding advocates, Mark A. Longo and Gregory T. Cerchione, on June 17th. Or, if you cannot attend, please consider making a contribution by CLICKING HERE or through the "Make a Donation" link contained in the invitation below.
Thank you.
Jeannie Costello, Executive Director
Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project
Wednesday, June 17, 2009 | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
The Palm House, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
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Dinner Reception
Live Music
Silent Auction |
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HONORING |
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Mark A. Longo
Longo & D'Apice |
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Gregory T. Cerchione
Subin Associates, LLP |
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PRESENTATIONS BY |
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Judge Theodore T. Jones
Associate Judge, Court of Appeals |
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Dr. William F. Kuntz, ll
Baker & Hostetler, LLP | |
Ticket Prices and Information:
Sponsorship Levels
BENEFACTOR - $10,000
Includes the following:
15 Tickets, Inside Cover Page (as available) or Centerfold Gold Page in Journal, Logo listed on invitation e-mail, Display of Company Banner at Event
PARTNER - $5,000
Includes the following:
10 Tickets, Gold Page in Journal, Logo listed on invitation e-mail, Display of Company Banner at Event
ADVOCATE - $2,500
Includes the following:
5 Tickets, Full Page B/W in Journal
FRIEND - $1,200
Includes the following:
2 Tickets, Full Page B/W in Journal
INDIVIDUAL TICKET - $250
I Cannot Attend, But Would Like to Contribute - please select this option if you cannot attend, but would like to contribute and type your donation amount in the available text box
**Please note that there is a $5.00 transaction fee for each on-line purchase
REGISTER ON-LINE NOW
If you prefer to send a check, please Click Here to download a PDF of the RESPONSE FORM and mail your payment to:
Volunteer Lawyers Project
c/o Empire Events Group
401 Broadway, Suite 1700
New York, NY 10013
Please click the following link to purchase a Journal Ad:
Journal Ad Purchase
Journal Ad Fees
Gold Page (5½ x 8½) - $1,500
Full Page (5½ x 8½) - $1,000
Half Page (5½ x 4.25) - $500
Booster Listing (2 Lines )- $200
We can help design your ad using plain text and/or your logo.
Electronic art (300 dpi minimum) should be in high resolution jpg format or pdf and e-mailed to: vlpevent@empireeventsgroup.com
COPY DEADLINE: Friday, May 22, 2009
If you are interested in making a donation to our SILENT AUCTION, please contact Carolyn White at 212-625-1025 or carolyn@empireeventsgroup.com
Legal and Practical Consequences of a Sex Offender Adjudication
Monday, June 1, 2009 6 PM
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
This panel discussion will advise lawyers of the many civil consequences of sex offender adjudication and discuss the hurdles faced when sex offenders return to society, including housing restrictions, employment barriers, registration requirements and parole restrictions, and possible civil commitment. The panelists have experience representing sex offenders facing legal and practical barriers to reentry.
Moderator:
RICHARD FRIEDMAN, New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate, Division of Mental Health Advocacy, Northern Regional Office
Speakers:
ROLAND ACEVEDO, Seiff Kretz & Abercrombie; ROBERT GENN, former Coordinator, Offender and Ex-Offender Services, NYS Department of Labor; SADIE ISHEE, Mental Hygiene Legal Service; ALFRED O'CONNOR, NYS Defender Association
Thursday, June 11, 2009 |
Location: 14 Vesey Street
Time: 6:00pm
Your rights and responsibilities when your client disputes your fees and the law requires that you arbitrate.
Speakers: Martin L. Feinberg and Heidi Leibowitz
OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE SERIES:
Litigating Your Fee Dispute - June 25
Great Tips for Building a Successful Practice - July 2
RSVP: cfragliossi@nycla.org
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Do Good Things Really Come in Small Packages? Nanotechnology, Law and Policy: How our Legal System Handles Emerging Technologies
Thursday, June 25, 2009 6 PM - 8 PM
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
Nanotechnology is revolutionizing fields as diverse as health care, energy and the environment. How should law and policy shape the way the public might benefit from advances in this new technology and how does our legal system guard against risks to public health and safety posed by such scientific advances?
Moderator:
EDWARD CHENG, Associate Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School
Speakers:
GREGORY MANDEL, Professor of Law, Temple University's Beasley School of Law; JOHN WEINER, Associate Director for Policy in FDA's Office of Combination Products, FDA; DAN ABRAHAMS, PhD, Director, Morningside/Lamont Licensing at Columbia University's Science and Technology Ventures; former VP and Chief Technologist, GE's Technology Licensing Group; ERIC M. KRAUS, Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold LLP
Light refreshments will be provided.
The Columbian Lawyers Association is having its annual fundraiser/dinner on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at 6PM.
Here are the details
Thursday, June 11, 2009 |
Location: New York Athletic Club - 180 Central Park South
Time: 6:00pm
Honorees: Hon. Fern A. Fisher, Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for New York City Courts, and Hon. Luis Gonzalez, Presiding Justice of the Appellate Division, Supreme Court, First Judicial Department
Keynote Speaker: Hon. Juanita Bing-Newton, Dean of the Judicial Institute and Judge, Court of Claims, Administrative Judge, Criminal Court of New York City and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge, Justice Initiatives
Tickets: $195 per person; $1,750 for a table of 10
RSVP: Please make checks payable to NYCLA Civil Court Practice Section and mail to: Civil Court Practice Section Dinner, NYCLA, 14 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10007 |
Running Out of Water? The Future of Water Supply, Quantity, and Quality
Wednesday, June 3, 2009 6:30 - 8 pm
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
Water scarcity, supply, and quality are critical issues facing the United States and the world. Population growth, energy needs, and climate change put increasing demands on finite water resources for drinking water, agriculture, endangered species protection, and other uses. The panel will discuss water supply, quality, and use at the local, state, national, and international levels, defining the key issues and how they might best be addressed.
Moderator:
Kathy Robb, Hunton & Williams LLP
Speakers:
Jon Freedman, GE Water and Process Technologies
Kathryn Garcia, Assistant Commissioner of the Office of Strategic Projects, NYC DEP
Doug Miller, General Counsel, Central Arizona Water Conservation District
David Sunding, University of California at Berkeley, and the Berkeley Water Center
James Tierney, Office of Water Resources, NYSDEC (invited)
Co-Sponsored with the Environmental Law Committee by the Environmental Law Institute, Washington, DC, and the Energy, International Environmental Law, and Project Finance Committees of the City Bar
This program is free of charge. Please register online .
Here's a copy of a joint letter from Mayor Bloomberg and Chief Judge Lippman that's gone out to a number of local bar associations:
# # #
Dear Bar Association Leader:
We write to ask your help and support. As you may know, the City has recently launched an initiative called NYC Service in response to President Obama's support of a nationwide effort to foster community service. One component of this effort is NYC Legal Outreach, our effort to tap into the considerable pool of legal talent available in this city to increase the numbers of attorneys who contribute their volunteer pro bono time and energies to needy New Yorkers who have been particularly hard-hit by this recession.
Set forth below is a letter we are sending to as many attorneys as possible, and we are requesting that you distribute it to the members of your bar association, hopefully with your personal support. You'll see that our plan is to invite representatives of the courts, various bar associations, pro bono organizations and legal services providers to each of the five boroughs at evening meetings during the next two months, where they will discuss opportunities for pro bono service in the areas of foreclosure, eviction, immigration and consumer credit.
Thank you for your support and help in getting the word out!
Sincerely,
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman
The Art of War: The Protection of Cultural Property in War and Peace
Thursday, May 28, 2009 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
The looting of the Iraq Museum in 2003 shocked the world and brought the plunder of antiquities into the headlines. The presenters on this panel were all on the ground during the looting or the aftermath. They will discuss what happened and what has been done to make sure it does not happen again in Iraq or anywhere else there is armed conflict.
Moderator:
LUCILLE A. ROUSSIN, Law Office of Lucille A. Roussin
Speakers:
DONNY GEORGE, Former Director General, Iraq Museum; former Chairman, Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage; Visiting Professor, State University of New York at Stony Brook; CORINE WEGNER, President, U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield; MATTHEW BOGDANOS, Colonel, US Marine Corps, Head of the investigation into the looting of the Iraq Museum
 Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is having a fundraiser at the Roosevelt Hotel (Grand Ballroom Mezzanine) on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at 6:30 PM.
The suggested minimum contribution is $1000.
Here's a copy of the event invite:
The Network of Bar Leaders is having it's Fourth Annual Dinner and Installation of President and Officers on Thursday, May 19, 2009, at 6:30 PM, at the Manhattan Penthouse (80 Fifth Avenue).
The evening's honorees include: Robert Morgenthau (Manhattan District Attorney) and Dolly Caraballo, Esq.
The ticket price is $175.
Here's a copy of the invite:
For additional information, contact M. Barry Levy at 212.425.0055.
Tickets may be purchased online via this link: www.networkofbarleaders.org
Access to New York State Courts for People with Disabilities:
A Panel Discussion
Tuesday, May 26, 2009, 6 - 9 PM
House of the Association, 42 West 44th Street
Registration:
This program is free of charge, however registration is required. |
The panelists will discuss the rights of access to court buildings and programs for people with disabilities under federal law, procedures set up by the court system to effectuate accessibility rights, access requirements for new construction and alterations of existing buildings in New York City and a consumer perspective on program access.
Moderator:
DENNIS R. BOYD, Chair Committee on Legal Issues Affecting People with Disabilities
Speakers:
MICHAEL GOLDBERGER, Chief, Civil Rights Bureau of the Civil Division; United States Attorney, Eastern District of New York
HON. ROSALYN RICHTER, Associate Justice, Appellate Division, First Division; Former Co-chair, NYS Office of Court Administration!&s Advisory Committee on the Americans with Disabilities Act
RONALD YOUNKINS, Chief of Operations, NYS Office of Court Administration
ROBERT PICCOLO, AIA Deputy Commissioner, NYC Mayor!&s Office for People with Disabilities
CHRISTINE CURRY, Executive Director, Harlem Independent Living Center
Sponsored by:
Committee on Legal Issues Affecting People with Disabilities, Dennis R. Boyd, Chair; Committee on State Affairs, Loren Gesinsky, Chair; Committee on State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction, Cynthia B. Rubin, Chair; Council on Judicial Administration, Jay G. Safer, Chair
Members of the Association, and their guests are all welcome.
Smart Marketing Program Series: Smart Marketing in a Down Economy
Thursday, May 21, 2009, 8:30 - 10:00 AM
Registration:
This program is free of charge, however registration is necessary. | How to maximize the impact of your Web site, use blogs, join Internet networking sites and consider Twittering.
Speakers:
CAROL SCHIRO GREENWALD, Consultant, Marketing Partners
MARCIA GOLDEN, President, DJD Golden Members of the Association, and their guests are all welcome. Registration is necessary.
Here are some poll numbers released by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
45% Say Legal Skills Are Top Factor For Next Supreme Court Nominee
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
 Forty-five percent (45%) of U.S. voters say the most important consideration in the selection of a U.S. Supreme Court justice is the nominee's legal background and competence.
For 27% of voters, making sure the Supreme Court represents the diversity of America is most important, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
Nearly as many (23%) believe the nominee's views on important issues should be the priority.
Most Republicans (56%) and voters not affiliated with either major party (50%) stress legal skills as the most important factor in the choosing of a high court nominee. Among Democrats, however, just 34% agree. A plurality of Democrats (37%) say it is most important to make sure the court represents the nation's diversity, while 23% say a nominee's views are paramount.
Justice David Souter has announced he is retiring, giving President Obama his first opportunity to name someone to the Supreme Court. The president says his nominee will have a "quality of empathy, of understanding and identifying with people's hopes and struggles, as an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes."
Forty-two percent (42%) of voters believe the president's nominee will be too liberal, while 41% say his choice will be about right. Only five percent (5%) think his nominee will be to conservative.
Voters are fairly closely divided over the political makeup of the current high court. Thirty-three percent (33%) say the court is too liberal, while 23% believe it's too conservative. Thirty-seven percent (37%) say the political balance is about right.
A majority of Republicans believe the court is too liberal, while Democrats are closely divided over whether it's too conservative or about right. Fifty-five percent (55%) of conservatives say the court is too liberal, while the identical percentage of liberals (55%) believe it's too conservative.
Generally speaking, conservatives argue for justices who are strict interpreters of the Constitution as written, while liberals have leaned more toward nominees who consider factors other than the letter of the law in their decisions. This division has prompted historically heated debates in the Senate, most notably over the first President Bush's unsuccessful selection of Judge Robert Bork to sit on the court. In some cases, this maneuvering has been aimed at keeping a nominee from even getting past the Senate Judiciary Committee.
But 46% of voters believe every presidential nominee for the Supreme Court should receive an up or down vote on the floor of the Senate. Eighteen percent (18%) disagree, and 36% aren't sure.
Fifty-six percent (56%) of Republicans support a mandatory vote in the Senate, compared to 39% of Democrats and 44% of unaffiliated voters.
Most voters consistently say the court should look more to the Constitution for its rulings rather than basing them on fairness and justice, although pluralities routinely say Obama disagrees. Most voters also believe the justices have their own political agendas.
Perhaps not surprisingly given the country's current economic problems, most voters rate the economy (57%) more important than national security (23%) and the type of Supreme Court justices he appoints (13%) when evaluating a president's performance.
Just after the election last November, 52% of voters said the type of Supreme Court justices a presidential candidate would nominate was Very Important in determining in how they cast their ballots.
Thirty-eight percent (38%) of voters say the Supreme Court is doing a good or excellent job. Sixteen percent (16%) feel its work is poor. These numbers have changed very little over the past two-and-a-half years.
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 To view a copy of the original report, please use this link: Who Needs Law School?
Attacks on the Independence of the Judiciary
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 6:30 PM Registration: There is no charge for this program. Register A roundtable discussion on the topic of press coverage and its influence on the courts with members of the federal judiciary and news organizations. Moderator: HON. KIMBA M. WOOD, Chief Judge, Southern District of New York Speakers: HON. HAROLD BAER, JR., U.S. District Judge, Southern District of New York; HON. FREDERIC BLOCK, U.S. District Judge, Eastern District of New York; JENNIFER FORSYTH, Law Bureau Chief, The Wall Street Journal; GEORGE FREEMAN, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, The New York Times; ANDREA PEYSER, Columnist, The New York Post; ANDREW SMITH, Long Island News Editor, Newsday; HON. RICHARD M. BERMAN, U.S. District Judge, Southern District of New York
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Thursday, May 21, 2009 |
Location: 14 Vesey Street
Time: 6:00pm
Speaker: Ron Cirami, Marketing Consultant & Copywriter, Predictive Innovators, Inc.
Proven, affordable strategies to attract the clients you want
What your website must include for optimal results
Practical techniques to generate more referrals
How to use Special Reports to bring in new cases
Why you may want to have multiple websites
A cost-effective way to set up and maintain one or more sites
An easy method to write articles for marketing a new practice area
7 secrets of powerful, business-producing web pages
Better ways to sell more services to your existing clientele
What SEO is and why it's important
How to get media attention
...and much more!
FREE: Open to NYCLA members only.
RSVP: cfragliossi@nycla.org |
Climate Change: What Actions are the Federal, State, and Local Governments Taking?
Thursday, May 14, 2009 6:00 - 8:00pm
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
Climate change is the prominent and most important environmental issue of our time. Our panel will discuss legal developments and policy implications in the expanding area of climate change. Current City and State officials, a former General Counsel of EPA, and private practitioners will examine policies being pursued to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address adaptation at the Federal, State, and City levels, followed by questions from the audience.
Moderator:
Kevin Healy, Bryan Cave LLP
Speakers:
William Bumpers, Baker Botts LLP Roger Martella, Sidley Austin LLP, former General Counsel of U.S. EPA Paul A. DeCotis, NYS Deputy Secretary for Energy James T. Gallagher, Senior V.P. for Energy Policy, NYC Economic Development Corp.
Program Chair:
Peter Garam, Con Edison
Sponsored by the Environmental Law Committee, Kathy Robb, Hunton & Williams, Chair
Co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute, and the Energy, International Environmental Law, and Project Finance Committees of the City Bar of New York
How Old is Too Young: Should New York Raise Its Age of Criminal Liability?
Thursday, May 14, 2009 6:30 PM Registration: There is no charge for this program. RegisterThis panel will address the age of criminal liability in New York, discussing whether our state should follow the vast majority of other states and raise the age to 18. Issues to consider include adolescent brain development, the workings of the Family Court and Criminal Court systems, and various policy reasons underlying New York's decision to lower the age 20 years ago. Moderator: HON. DEBRA A. JAMES, Supreme Court Justice, New York County Speakers: HON. MICHAEL CORRIERO, Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters; Retired Supreme Court Justice, Criminal Term, New York County; JEFFREY FAGAN, Professor of Law and Public Health, Columbia University; LAURENCE STEINBERG, PhD, Distinguished University Professor of Psychology, Temple University
Intelligent Interviewing: Telling Your Story, Selling Yourself
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 6 PM
Registration:
NYC Bar Member Price : $15.00 Register
Non City Bar Member Price : $25.00 Register
In this competitive job market, understanding how to tell a potential employer why he or she should select you is crucial. Interviewing is a skill that can be learned and must be practiced. Come learn how to prepare for interviews and practice your interviewing skills. In this program, you will be given the opportunity to learn about different interviewing styles.
Speakers:
LORI FREUDENBERGER, Former Prosecutor; MAUREEN M. REID, Principal, Maureen M. Reid LLC; STEPHEN ROSEN, PhD, Chairman, Celia Paul Associates/Premium Career Management for Attorneys; JULIA HERR SMITH, President, Esquire Prep, LLC
Registration is necessary. The fee, which includes refreshments, is $15 for members, $25 for non-members.
Here's a public event being promoted by the Brooklyn Bar Association:
 Unemployment: A Guide to Benefits and Moving Forward
MAY 18, 2009 - 6-8 P.M.
BBA Mtg Hall - 123 Remsen Street
Members of the public who are unemployed or facing unemployment are invited to attend
Speakers will include: Jessica Spiegel, Pro Bono Coordinator, BBA Volunteer Lawyers Project; Anne Marie O'Donovan, Esq., Staff Attorney, MFY Legal Services Workplace Justice Project; Goethy Guareno, Pro Bono Liaison, NYS Unemployment Appeals Board; George Berry, Community Outreach Specialist, Brooklyn Workforce One Career Center
To Reserve a Seat or for More Information Contact: Avery Eli Okin, Esq., CAE - e-mail:
aokin@brooklynbar.org
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
- phone: (718) 624-0675
How Legal Employers Can Leverage & Access Untapped Talent to Fill Gaps & Minimize Costs in a Down Market
Wednesday, May 13, 2009 9 AM - Noon
Registration:
NYC Bar Member Price : $15.00 Register
Non City Bar Member Price : $25.00 Register
This program welcomes legal employer representatives and lawyers-in-transition to hear about creative methods being used by employers to identify and fill gaps in expertise and perform spillover work. We will discuss how to transition new and temporary employees into a fragmented workforce; the economic benefits to employers in recruiting back re-entry talent; ways to use flexible and reduced-hour scheduling and telecommuting to save money, minimize layoffs and maximize productivity; and how to manage talent effectively to minimize burnout, anxiety and low morale.
Co-sponsored by the Committee on Lawyers in Transition, New York State Bar Association
Registration is necessary. The fee is $15 for members (either City Bar and/or State Bar), $25 for non- members. Please register online at www.nycbar.org
The Fund for Modern Courts will honor Judge Judith Kaye (now with Skadden, Arps) and Daniel R. Alonos (partner, Kaye Scholer), on Monday, May 18, 2009, at 5:30 PM, at Bryant Park Grill (25 West 40th Street).
Ticket prices start at $250.
Join us as we honor
Career Public Service Award Honoree
Hon. Judith S. Kaye
2009 John J. McCloy Memorial Award Honoree
Daniel R. Alonso, Kaye Scholer LLP
May 18, 2009 Bryant Park Grill
For more information
e-mail helfand@moderncourts.org
The Columbian Lawyers Association will present a lecture by Italian Ambassdor Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 6 PM.
The topic is "Global Governance and the U.N. -- Italy's Views of the Security Council."
For additional information, call 718-409-3431.
Here's a copy of the event announcement: 
Wednesday, May 06, 2009 |
Location: 14 Vesey Street
Time: 2:30pm-3:30pm
NYCLA MEMBERS CAN JOIN A FREE SUPPORT GROUP
Attorneys who have been hurt by the recession and are disheartened, depressed or thinking of leaving the law can learn how to cope.
Group Leader: Sylvan Schaffer, J.D., Ph.D.
FREE: Open to NYCLA members only
RSVP: cfragliossi@nycla.org
Members can also take advantage of job search assistance in the Library and learn about Pro Bono opportunities. |
Climate Change: What Actions are the Federal, State, and Local Governments Taking?
Thursday, May 14, 2009 6:00 - 8:00pm
Registration:
There is no charge for this program. Register
Climate change is the prominent and most important environmental issue of our time. Our panel will discuss legal developments and policy implications in the expanding area of climate change. Current City and State officials, a former General Counsel of EPA, and private practitioners will examine policies being pursued to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address adaptation at the Federal, State, and City levels, followed by questions from the audience.
Moderator:
Kevin Healy, Bryan Cave LLP
Speakers:
William Bumpers, Baker Botts LLP Roger Martella, Sidley Austin LLP, former General Counsel of U.S. EPA Paul A. DeCotis, NYS Deputy Secretary for Energy James T. Gallagher, Senior V.P. for Energy Policy, NYC Economic Development Corp.
Program Chair:
Peter Garam, Con Edison
Sponsored by the Environmental Law Committee, Kathy Robb, Hunton & Williams, Chair
Co-sponsored by the Environmental Law Institute, and the Energy, International Environmental Law, and Project Finance Committees of the City Bar of New York
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Please register online or call 212-382-4723.
Our friend, 
