April 7, 2020 – On Monday, April 13, 2020, New York State courts will resume handling more than essential and emergency matters through virtual courts. Please review the full memo from Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks in this link.

April 6, 2020 – Virtual Courts Statewide Up and Running – Notice from Hon. Lawrence K. Marks

March 27, 2020 – Kings County Surrogate’s Court – NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ADJOURNMENT  – As a result of the Office of Court Administration’s procedures to combat the spread of the coronavirus and protect the health and safety of our workforce and our court community, The Kings County Surrogate’s Court has administratively adjourned without date all matters that were returnable before Surrogate Margarita López Torres on April 7, 14, 21, 28, 2020 and all matters that were returnable before Surrogate Harriet L. Thompson on April 9, 16, 20, 23, 30 2020. (Surrogate’s Court of Kings County, 2 Johnson Street, Brooklyn, New York 11201, phone number (347)404-9700).

Every Thursday – Lawyer to Lawyer Roundtable: Peer Support When You Need It Most – Join other lawyers, law students and judges from across the state in a free and confidential support group being held weekly on Thursdays at 4:00 pm via Zoom, https://nysba.zoom.us/j/550259037  The group will be facilitated by Libby Coreno, Chair of the Attorney Wellbeing Committee and Kerry O’hara, PsyD. Each group session will be loosely organized under a theme for discussion. All participants will be given the opportunity to share if they wish, with supportive discussion to follow. The L2L Roundtable is supported by the Attorney Wellbeing Committee and by the Lawyer Assistance Program.

March 30, 2020 – NYC Surrogate Courts Essential Applications– 
In light of recent developments in the coronavirus public health emergency in New York State, ESSENTIAL APPLICATIONS ONLY will be considered by the Court. Please call the phone number or e-mail below before coming to Court:
Bronx County – 718-618-1894; emadera@nycourts.gov
Kings County – 347-404-9720; daquinn@nycourts.gov
New York County – 917-509-7218; dsanabri@nycourts.gov
Queens County – 718-298-0777; jlbecker@nycourts.gov
Richmond County – 718-675-8504; rcerrach@nycourts.gov

March 26, 2020 – Update and Current Plans for Virtual Courts throughout the State as distributed by the 10th Judicial District – click here

March 25, 2020 – update from Chief Judge Janet DiFiore and Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks regarding virtual court operations in NYC – click here

March 25, 2020 – Message from NYC Law Department – Fay Leoussis – Chief, Tort Division – click here

March 17, 2020 – Update from Elder Law Committee Chair, Daniel Miller –
Emergency Applications Only will be accepted for the Guardianship part. Documents that are electronically signed WILL be accepted by the clerk for the time being. The emergency application must be accompanied by an Affirmation/Affidavit of Emergency in addition to the OSC, Petition and NOP.

March 16, 2020 – Kings County Civil Term Administrative Directive – click here

On January 14, 2019, the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Diversity honored one of the Brooklyn Bar Association’s own, the Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix, with its Diversity Trailblazer Award.  Justice Hinds-Radix’s commitment to public service professionally and in her personal life made her an excellent choice for this honor. NYSBA President, Michael Miller, opened the awards ceremony with remarks that echoed a phrase from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. As our nation celebrates the national Martin Luther King holiday on Monday, we encourage you to read the full text of the August 28, 1963 speech (available at https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/king-papers/documents/i-have-dream-address-delivered-march-washington-jobs-and-freedom). Mr. Miller cited a call to action: “No, no, we are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Those words serve as a reminder that as attorneys and judges — esteemed members of the Brooklyn Bar Association – we are uniquely positioned as society’s “gatekeepers.” Our talents, skills and expertise are the keys to opening the floodgates in the courts, agencies and offices and ensuring that “justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream” for the diverse people and communities that make up our borough, state and nation.  In Dr. King’s words, we are reminded that we have an awesome and noble calling.  Like Justice Hinds-Radix and other distinguished BBA members, let us continue to serve our communities with distinction and honor.

Best regards,

Brooklyn Bar Association Diversity Committee

Labor Arbitrator

MTA/ New York City Transit and Transport Workers Union, Local 100 are looking for Arbitrators with significant experience in labor arbitration to add to their discipline panel. Knowledge of NYC Public Sector and/or transportation industries desirable.
MTA/ New York City Transit operates public bus and subway transit in New York City. TWU, Local 100 represents approximately thirty thousand hourly MTA/New York City Transit employees, principally in Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn.
Job Description
Deciding discipline arbitration cases. The panel arbitrator presides over daily calendars with multiple cases scheduled on each calendar. The ability to expedite these calendars is essential.
We pay $1100 per diem and an additional writing fee of $1100 (for one or more written opinions)
Job Type: Ability to offer 2-3 days per month
Experience: Minimum 5 years handling Labor Arbitration
Education: Law Degree preferred
Location: 2 Broadway and satellite locations in Manhattan and the Bronx
Apply: Please furnish two (2) writing samples which demonstrate detailed analysis of Labor Relations and/or Collective bargaining issues.

Please submit application to: Thomas Latimer at Thomas.Latimer@nyct.com

Division of Criminal Justice

Real Estate Enforcement Unit

Assistant Attorney General – New York City

Reference No. REEU_AAG_NYC_3168

The New York State Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is seeking an experienced prosecutor to serve in the Real Estate Enforcement Unit (REEU), located in Manhattan. REEU investigates and prosecutes cases involving bank fraud, deceptive lending practices, deed theft, tenant harassment, and frauds committed upon city and state agencies.  REEU includes attorneys, investigators, auditors and analysts who conduct complex, long-term criminal investigations and prosecute cases from charging through conviction.

We are seeking attorneys with significant experience in the investigation of crimes utilizing techniques such as search warrants, forensic analysis of large volumes of data, and cooperating witnesses. Applicants must have a minimum of four (4) years of NYS or federal prosecutorial experience. Applicants must also have substantial grand jury and trial experience, be highly motivated and results-oriented, and possess excellent communication and writing skills.  The ideal candidate, in addition will have experience developing and managing complex, document-intensive investigations. A background in finance and real estate is not necessary, but is a plus.

Applicants must reside in (or intend to soon become a resident of) New York State and be admitted to practice law in New York State. In addition, the Public Officers Law requires that attorneys in the Office be citizens of the United States. A two (2) year commitment upon being hired is a condition of employment.

How To Apply

Applications are being received online. To apply, please click this link: REEU_AAG_NYC_3168;

applicants will be taken to the online application page for this position.

Applicants must be prepared to submit a complete application consisting of the following:

• Cover Letter (You may address to Sandra Jefferson Grannum, Esq., Bureau Chief, Legal Recruitment);
• Resume;
• List of three (3) references with contact information and email addresses;
• Writing Sample; and
• Law school transcript if less than five (5) years post-graduate.

Please note: Failure to submit a complete application will delay the consideration of your application.

If you have questions regarding a position with the OAG and the application process or you need assistance with submitting your application, please contact the Legal Recruitment Bureau via email at recruitment@ag.ny.gov or phone at 212-416-8080.

For more information about the OAG, please visit our website: www.ag.ny.gov

Every June, New Yorkers celebrate Pride Month, an event intended to memorialize the Stonewall Riots which occurred in Manhattan in June of 1969. The Stonewall Riots precipitated various civil rights demonstrations, contributing to the fight to end discrimination against the LGBT+ Community.

As such, Pride Month is intended to both commemorate the work and sacrifices of prominent members of the LGBT+ and allied communities in raising awareness, and advocating visibility and acceptance, while also drawing attention to civil rights issues that remain to be addressed.

One June 9, 2018, the LGBTQ+ Committee at the Brooklyn Bar Association will be celebrating Pride locally with Brooklyn Pride (http://brooklynpride.org/), a non-profit organization that organizes a Pride Multi-Cultural Festival and Parade each year.

This June marks the three year anniversary since the establishment of The LGBTQ+ Committee at the Brooklyn Bar, originally proposed by Founding Chair Christina Golkin in 2015. Since its establishment, The LGBTQ+ Committee has hosted various topical Continuing Legal Education Courses, such as “Transgender Student Rights: An Emergent Legal Landscape,” in May 2018 and “Providing Culturally Competent Services to the LGBTQ+ Community,” in February 2018.

The LGBTQ+ Committee is honored to be representing the Brooklyn Bar at the Brooklyn Pride Multi-Cultural Festival (http://brooklynpride.org/pride-events/) alongside the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project and the Brooklyn Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service. The Committee will also be marching in the Brooklyn Pride Twilight Parade (http://brooklynpride.org/pride-events/).  The Festival and Parade are scheduled to take place on June 9th, 2018 in Park Slope, and are expected to feature a diverse cross-section of the borough’s businesses, community members and city-wide organizations. The Festival will line six blocks of 5th Avenue, between 3rd street and 9th street, and runs from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Parade starts around Lincoln Place and ends at 9th St. & 5th Avenue. It steps off promptly at 7:30 p.m.

If you would like to join us in marching in the Brooklyn Pride Parade with other Brooklyn Bar Association members, please contact Christina Golkin at Christinagolkinesq@gmail.com for more information.

Please note that the members only event that was scheduled for Friday, April 27, 2018, An Evening with Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, has been postponed due to the Justice’s recent shoulder injury. This event will be rescheduled in the near future. Notice will be sent to membership when we have more information.

The Brooklyn Bar Association wishes Justice Sotomayor a speedy and full recovery.

***THIS COURSE HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
NEW DATE TBA***

2 MCLE Credits (Skills)

Cost

BBA Member $60
Non-Member $100
Law Student $10
Non-Attorney $50
+$20 for walk-up registration

Faculty

Anthony J. Lamberti, Esq.

Howard Krooks, Esq., J.D., CELA*, CAP**
*CELA – Certified Elder Law Attorney through the National Elder Law Foundation as accredited by the American Bar Association
**CAP – Council of Advanced Practitioners

Description

This presentation will address issues the New York attorney must address when representing clients with ties to New York and Florida. Dual residence clients must address New York/Florida issues in their estate planning documents, whether to plan for government benefits eligibility in New York or Florida, and consider whether to execute advance directives such as durable power of attorney, health care proxy/surrogate and living will in only one state or both states.

Other topics to be discussed include:

• What are the res judicata and collateral estoppel effects of guardianship orders
• What should practioners be aware of in seeking compensation in guardianship cases?

BBA Sponsor

BBA Elder Law Committee
Anthony J. Lamberti, Esq. – Chair
Fern Finkel, Esq. – Vice-Chair

New Developments in Practice at the Office of Administrative Trials & Hearings (OATH), New York City’s Central Administrative Tribunal

Tuesday, May 16, 2017
6-8:00PM 
2 MCLE Credits
(Professional Practice)

BBA Member $60 | Non-Member $100 | Law Student $10 | Non-Attorney $50
+$20 for walk-up registration

Faculty:
Hon. Fidel F. Del Valle
Chief Judge and Commissioner, OATH

Hon. Raymond E. Kramer
Executive Director, Center for Creative Conflict Resolution, OATH

Maria Marchiano, Esq.
Chief Clerk, OATH

Description:
OATH has implemented significant changes as part of a City-wide effort to reform the administrative justice system in the City of New York. This program will provide an overview of these far-reaching reforms.

Hearings Division: These reforms require both internal organizational changes at OATH, such as the creation of a new, centralized Clerk’s Office to unify OATH’s numerous hearing facilities in all five boroughs, as well as important external changes, such as the creation and implementation of a universal summons and electronic handheld summons-issuing technology. What had previously been three internal OATH tribunals hearing enforcement-related summons is now one unified Hearings Division. New OATH Hearings Division rules went into effect August 8, 2016 which streamlined the existing rules and procedures, so that the process by which people respond to summonses will be the same for all summonses filed at OATH. This is a major step forward in creating a uniform OATH Hearings Division that is responsible for the adjudication of all enforcement-related summonses. In addition, OATH’s jurisdiction has continued to expand. At the end of August 2016, per Executive Order 18 of 2016 signed by the Mayor, OATH began to hear cases from the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) that were previously adjudicated at an administrative tribunal housed within DCA. Also, with the enactment of the Criminal Justice Reform Act in June, OATH will be responsible, starting in June 2017, for adjudicating approximately 160,000 summonses that previously were heard in NYC Criminal Court. The new law also makes OATH responsible for establishing and administering a community service program as an alternative to the monetary penalties the law allows. This is a major criminal justice reform initiative that may serve as a national model.

Trials Division: The Trials Division continues to serve as the central administrative tribunal for more formal and complex administrative hearings referred by City agencies. The program will include an overview of the Trials Division and its jurisdiction and procedures.

Mediation: In addition to these City-wide initiatives, last year OATH launched the City’s Center for Creative Conflict Resolution (CCCR), which provides mediation and other conflict services to all City agencies and their employees

To Download Flyer Registration:
New Developments in Practice at the Office of Administrative Trials & Hearings (OATH), New York City’s Central Administrative Tribunal

To Register Online:
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