1 Forty-Fourth Street Notes
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NEW YORK CITY BAR Forty-Fourth Street Notes COME JOIN A COMMITTEE By Bettina B. Plevan, President his is the time of year that committee chairs have the satisfaction of making significant contribu- begin to select members for the next “committee tions to the profession and the public. Young lawyers Tyear,” beginning in September. Committee ser- receive all this, and the added benefit of getting to vice is a truly special opportunity in our Association know more senior practitioners, and to know them as because of our rich history of influencing public poli- colleagues. As a young lawyer serving on a commit- Highlights: cy, promoting reform of the law and upholding a tee, I had the opportunity to meet court administra- strong judicial system and high ethical standards. tors and to testify at legislative hearings and learn up- close how law is made, and un-made. February 2006 The Association was founded in 1870 by a group of lawyers seeking to end corruption in government, par- Committee service also gives you a chance to learn Committee Preference ticularly the judiciary, and improve society for the good about issues and entire fields of law outside your Form: Page 2 of all citizens. In the years that followed, the practice. Our array of committees, listed on page 3, is Association expanded its mission to include law wide enough to let you pursue your professional and reform, access to justice, and adherence to the rule of personal inclinations. Our Web site, www.nycbar.org, Symposium on Best law at home and abroad. has brief committee descriptions. Practices for the Hiring, Training, Retention and Our committees are the heart of We encourage you to review the list and respond with Advancement of Women the Association. They issue your interest either by sending in the form on page 2 reports, present public symposia, or by e-mailing the information to committeeser- Attorneys, February 7th: conduct CLE programs, prepare [email protected]. You would benefit by also sending Page 4 amicus briefs, advocate for legis- a resume or brief biography, to give the committee lation and undertake public ser- chairs more of a sense of you. While our committees Everything You vice projects in wide-ranging have limited spaces available and a number of them Wanted to Know About areas of interest and importance are very much in demand, other committees have Administrative Tribunals to the public. Serving on a com- vacancies and would welcome new members even and ALJ's: Practice and mittee will expand your contacts and your horizons, during the course of the committee year. Career Perspectives, and let you develop and use skills not generally called So, if you have not tried it, I encourage you to become February 7th: Page 5 upon in everyday law practice. involved in an Association committee and join more Through committee service you can take leadership than 3,000 City Bar members in this stimulating and City Bar Justice Center roles in Association reports and projects, and generally satisfying activity. Defends Seniors Against Medicare Coverage STATE LEGISLATURE REVIEW: Denials: Page 8 A REAL POSSIBILITY FOR REFORM? Securities Litigation: eform is in the air in New York State govern- ■ Former government employees subject to Current Developments & ment. Legislation passed in the 2005 session inquiries regarding ethics violations will no longer be Strategies, February 2nd: Rshould lead to changes in the way state govern- able to avoid investigation by simply leaving state Page 13 ment does business in 2006. For example: employ. ■ As of the beginning of the 2005 session, Assembly ■ Assembly members can now only serve on a limit- Nominees for City Bar members now actually have to be present in the cham- ed number of standing committees and will be sub- Offices & Committees: ber in order to vote “yes” on a piece of pending legisla- ject to sanctions after missing a certain number of Page 24 tion. (Prior to 2005, legislators swiped in an electronic committee meetings. card at the beginning of the day’s session. If they left ■ The Assembly Rules Committee meetings will be Vol. 21, No. 2 chambers they were counted as voting yes to all pieces open to the public with published agendas. of legislation coming to a vote that day.) ■ Passed by both houses, but not yet enacted, is leg- ■ Lobbyists vying for contracts from state agencies will islation creating an Authorities Budget Office ensur- finally be subject to the same lobbying disclosure ing more reporting and sunlight into the operations requirements as those lobbying the Legislature. of the state’s over-700 authorities. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 1 Contents Come Join A Committee 1 State Legislature Review 1 Committee Preference Form 2 Association Committees, Councils and Delegations 3 Calendar of Events 4 City Bar Justice Center Defends Seniors Against Medicare Coverage Denials 8 Diversity: Religious Diversity in the Workplace 10 City Bar Center for CLE 12–20 Committee Reports 23 Professional Development: Law Firm Economics Lead Associates to Specialize Early 24 CITY BAR JUSTICE Nominees for City Bar CENTER Offices & Committees 24 Forty-Fourth Street Notes COMMITTEE PREFERENCE FORM Jayne Bigelsen Editor Matt Kovary Associate Editor If you would like information about your background circulated to the designated committee chairs, please send or email sufficient copies of your resume or biographical information along with this form. Curtis&Company Graphic Design Michael Silverstein Production Assistant Yes! I would like to serve on an Association Committee Adele Lemlek Marketing Director Sharon MacNair Advertising (212) 382-6630 Name Date Barbara Berger Opotowsky Executive Director Here is my order of committee preference: (committees are listed on next page) Printed on recycled paper 1. 2. 3. 44th Street Notes (ISSN 10791019) is pub- lished monthly except July and August for $25 per year by The Association of the Bar of the Business (please send mail here) ■ Home (please send mail here) ■ City of New York, 42 West 44th Street, New York NY 10036-6689. Periodicals postage Office Office paid at New York NY. Postmaster: Send address changes to 44th Street Notes, 42 West Street Street 44th Street, New York NY 10036-6689. For subscription information, please call (212) City/State/Zip City/State/Zip 382-6695. Phone Fax Phone Fax NYC Bar Members: Email Email To change your address, please contact (212) 382-6665 or [email protected] Please return form to: Membership Department, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, 42 West 44th Street, New York, NY www.nycbar.org 10036-6689, fax to (212) 382-6760, email [email protected]. If you need further information, please call (212) 382-6665. 2 www.nycbar.org ASSOCIATION COMMITTEES, COUNCILS AND DELEGATIONS Association Committees, Councils and Delegations The Profession, Legal Education Criminal Justice Business Issues (continued) and the Organization of the Bar Capital Punishment Futures Regulation Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Corrections Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Career Advancement & Management Criminal Advocacy Insurance Law Continuing Legal Education Criminal Courts Investment Management Regulation Fee Conciliation Criminal Justice, Council on Labor and Employment Law Law Student Perspectives Criminal Justice Operations and Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Legal Education & Admission to the Budget Control Contests Bar Criminal Law Private Investment Funds Legal History Juvenile Justice Product Liability Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Project Finance Governmental Affairs Transgender Rights Science and Law Administrative Law Minorities in the Profession Securities Regulation Election Law New York State Bar Association Sports Law Federal Legislation House of Delegates Structured Finance Government Ethics Professional and Judicial Ethics Telecommunications Law Military Affairs and Justice Professional Discipline New York City Affairs Property Issues Professional Responsibility State Affairs Construction Law Recruitment & Retention of Lawyers Uniform State Laws Cooperative and Condominium Law Small Law Firms Housing and Urban Development Women in the Profession Social, Urban and Consumer Land Use Planning and Zoning Issues Public Service Real Property Law AIDS City Bar Public Service Network Bioethical Issues Tax Issues Housing Court Public Service Projects Children, Council on Condemnation and Tax Certiorari Legal Referral Service Children and the Law Estate and Gift Taxation Legal Services for Persons of Civil Rights Non-Profit Organizations Moderate Means Consumer Affairs Personal Income Taxation Senior Lawyers Domestic Violence State and Local Taxation Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Drugs and the Law Taxation of Business Entities Internship Program Education and the Law Young Lawyers Media, the Arts and Environmental Law Intellectual Property The Justice System Health Law Art Law Alternative Dispute Resolution Legal Issues Affecting People Communications and Media Law Arbitration with Disabilities Copyright and Literary Property Civil Court of the City of New York Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals Entertainment Law Encourage Judicial Service Legal Problems of the Aging Information Technology Law Family Court and Family Law Matrimonial Law Patents Federal Courts Medical Malpractice Trademarks and Unfair Competition Housing Court Mental Health Law Judicial Administration, Council on Pro Bono & Legal Services International Affairs Judiciary Project on the Homeless African Affairs Litigation Sex and Law Asian Affairs Minorities in the Courts