To the Forum: I am an attorney defending my client in a bench trial against allegations of fraud. My client is a well-known public figure, so the case has been closely monitored by the media. My client has been very vocal about his concerns that the judge and his staff are biased against him. And I … Continued
You’re a member of the New York State Bar Association, and you may wonder what’s next? How can the association help you grow? The Committee on Leadership Development recently held a lunchtime event to answer these questions for new and seasoned members who want to contribute more to the New York State Bar Association. The … Continued
Richard Lewis, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan: “The mission of the New York State Bar Association is to protect the rule of law and to facilitate the administration of justice. That’s why we must condemn in no uncertain terms the unfounded attack … Continued
In recent years, dispute resolution service providers, professional associations and court-annexed ADR programs have launched initiatives to increase diversity, equity and inclusion among dispute resolution practitioners. These programs seek to recruit, train and support members of historically underrepresented communities in the mediation and arbitration fields and provide them with the necessary training and experience to … Continued
The New York State Bar Association Committee on Leadership Development is profiling the association’s leaders in a series of articles that will appear on the website. In each profile, we examine the path they took to become a leader, the mentors that inspired them and the beliefs that made them successful. We hope these interviews … Continued
A one-of-a-kind boot camp for trial attorneys who want to improve their courtroom skills is set to kick off on April 6 in Albany. The five-day New York State Bar Association academy covers all aspects of a trial from jury selection to closing arguments. The event draws the best civil and criminal litigators from around … Continued
A new real estate law goes into effect today, bringing with it major changes that remove the option to give the buyer a $500 credit at closing instead of filling out the property disclosure form. The amendments of the real property law also add new questions for sellers to answer on flood risk and flood … Continued
On Nov. 5, 2024, New York voters will be asked to decide whether New York amends its constitution to include an equal rights amendment. Below is a discussion of the amendment and its path to the ballot as well as its potential impact on the rights and protections of New York’s citizens. The timing of … Continued
In the Executive Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul proposed transferring $234 million from the Indigent Legal Services Fund (“ILSF”). Although $114 million would properly be used toward funding the state’s assigned counsel/18b attorneys, $120 million would go to the State General Fund. Established in 2003 via enactment of State Finance Law § 98-b, the ILSF is … Continued
Truly a tale as old as tech is that of bleeding-edge technological advancement, regulators seeking to keep pace and the gray area that exists in the middle of these two points. Once again, that is where lawyers find themselves on the topic of artificial intelligence. AI has posed several challenges, many of which are playing … Continued