From the President

Our Events

By Vilia B. Hayes

      As we celebrated Law Day and the award of the Learned Hand Medal for Excellence in Federal Jurisprudence to the Hon. Gerard E. Lynch, U.S. Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, I was reminded of the importance of the rule of law and how much access to justice depends on access to an attorney.  The Federal Bar Council’s Public Service Committee, chaired by Lewis Liman, has been working steadily to increase access to justice by developing pro bono programs to meet the need for representation in immigration court and federal court.  The Federal Bar Council also seeks to encourage and honor pro bono service through its Thurgood Marshall Award for Exceptional Pro Bono Service, which recognizes and celebrates lawyers in private practice who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to pro bono legal services and provided or facilitated the provision of pro bono services in federal courts or agencies within the Second Circuit. 

      On June 16, 2016, the First Decade Committee and the Public Service Committee will sponsor a Summer Kick-Off Reception and the presentation of the Thurgood Marshall Award at Battery Gardens in Battery Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  The event is open to all, including summer associates.  Last year’s party combined a beautiful evening, great food, an outdoor view of the Statue of Liberty, and inspirational descriptions of pro bono work.  I invite you to join us to celebrate the Award, learn more about the pro bono work being done in the Second Circuit, and welcome summer.  To attend this event, please register here: http://bit.ly/1SAKFxT.

      June also brings three very interesting CLE programs: 

•     June 21:  “Whistleblower Update 2016:  Strategies for Litigation, Investigations and Best Practices”;

•     June 28: “Up Close With FISA:  Discussing the Intersection of Law and Intelligence Gathering”; and

•     June 29: “Jury Selection, Trial Team and Staffing Stereotypes.”

Check the Federal Bar Council calendar for more information.  I hope you will join us at one or more of these events.