Current job opportunities with the New York State Unified Court System.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT. STATE OF NEW YORK UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT. STATE OF NEW YORK UNIFIED COURT SYSTEM.
WBASNY Convention 2023 Registration
Join WBASNY at The Hershey Lodge June 1 - June 4, 2023 The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York is pleased to announce that registration for Convention 2023 is now open. Hershey Lodge, known as "The Great American Meeting Place" and said to be located in the “Sweetest Place on Earth”, is a resort that has been building a tradition of excellent accommodations and fine service for over 50 years! The welcoming and “feels like home” atmosphere makes the Hershey Lodge an ideal vacation retreat and meeting destination. Built in 1967, the resort offers 665 premium guest rooms and deluxe suites that are the perfect getaway for both business and leisure travel alike. Guests enjoy spacious and unique accommodations complete with chocolate-themed artwork and décor. Lodge amenities include complimentary in-room Wi-Fi, refrigerator, coffee maker with coffee and tea selection, flat screen TV, iPod alarm clock, complimentary local and toll-free telephone calls, and Hershey's Kisses turndown service upon request. Additional accommodations include complimentary self-parking, complimentary electric vehicle charging stations, valet parking for a nightly fee of $27, an on-site vehicle rental agency, a Business Center and a mothers' nursing room. Hershey Lodge also offers a variety of activities to make your stay an extraordinary experience. You can enjoy a swim in the outdoor swimming pool or splash around at the indoor water park, play mini golf, basketball or tennis, work out in the fitness center, play games in the arcade, or simply relax with a spa treatment at the Melt Spa. The more adventurous can book a unique experience with Adventure Explorations, such as rock climbing, kayaking, fishing, hiking, sporting clays and more. On-site dining includes the Fire & Grain, Revelry Chophouse, Hershey Grill and The Bear’s Den, or you can grab a coffee and snack at the Cocoa Beanery.
Escape to this warm and gracious setting, relaxed environment and sweet hospitality for Convention 2023! Visit the Convention page on our website to make Hotel Reservations and to register for Convention 2023. https://www.wbasny.org/convention-2023/
NCWBA Awards - Nominate a Colleague!
The Nassau County Women's Bar Association Awards Committee seeks nominations for the Awards listed below, which will be presented at the Annual Installation Dinner in June.
To nominate a colleague, please submit the attached application and materials required (by award) for each colleague you wish to nominate to ncwbasecretary@gmail.com for consideration by Friday April 8th.
Click HERE for the application.
AWARDS DESCRIPTIONS
Bessie Ray Geffner, Esq. Memorial Award
Presented annually to a recently admitted attorney. The recipient possesses a demonstrated interest in improving the justice system, the professionalism of the bar and serving the community at large. These are the ideals and goals to which Bessie Ray Geffner, Esq. dedicated her pioneering sixty-year career.
Virginia C. Duncombe, Esq. Scholarship Award
Presented annually to foster and enhance ongoing legal education. Mrs. Duncombe began her career in 1939 in the fields of securities and energy law, unique affiliations for a woman of that era. Later, her diverse legal interests led her to positions in private practice and with the Legal Aid Society. Her intellectual curiosity and pursuit of knowledge are the foundation of this award.
Rona Seider, Esq. Award
Presented at the discretion of the Board of Directors for exemplary service to women and the law. This award was renamed for a prior recipient, Rona Seider, Esq., in recognition of her scholarship and insightful leadership. Ms. Seider's work continues to set a standard of excellence for the bar.
NCWBA PRO-BONO CLINIC
VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS NEEDED!
"Ask the Attorney" services are provided free of charge by members of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association.
All attorneys will be covered under WBASNY’s pro bono legal clinic insurance.
The Clinic meets at Center for Transformative Change, 108 Madison Avenue, Hempstead
Wednesdays - 12:30pm-2:00pm.
To volunteer, contact Irene Villacci at Irene@ivelderlaw.com ; or
Maureen McLoughlin at mmclough3@verizon.net.
2021 President's Welcome Message
Dear Friends:
I hope you have enjoyed the summer. The NCWBA Officers and Directors have been busy organizing and planning for the exciting year in store for us. We are working on events including virtual chamber chats with various members of the Nassau County judiciary, CLE lectures and networking programs. Additionally, “Give Back with the NCWBA” will include events throughout the year that allow us to provide assistance to various people in our local community, including victims of domestic violence, veterans and children in need.
The first of our events will be our Annual Membership Cocktail Party and Salute to the Judiciary scheduled for Monday, October 25th at 5:30PM at the Nassau County Bar Association. This is a complimentary event for members and a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues especially as we begin attending more in person events. Of course this event, like all NCWBA events that take place over the next year, will comply with CDC COVID-19 guidelines for gatherings.
Because of your support last year, we are fortunate to have four delegates from our Nassau County chapter who will represent our chapter this year at the meetings of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY). These delegates will ensure that the voice of our chapter is heard on the state level. If you have not yet renewed your NCWBA membership for 2021-2022 year please take a moment to renew online via the link below. Take advantage of our Early Bird Discount and renew your membership by September 30, 2021. Remember as a member of the NCWBA, you are also a member of WBASNY and entitled to various member benefits that can be found at https://www.wbasny.org/content/membership-resources/member-benefits/ .
Please remember to visit our website, www.nassauwomensbar.com, and let us know your comments and suggestions. If you are interested in having a more active role in our chapter please do not hesitate to contact us via email at ncwbasecretary@gmail.com. We welcome your input and look forward to your ideas for future networking events and CLE’s. On behalf of our chapter, I look forward to a wonderful year for all of us.
Very truly yours,
Lisa A. Cairo
NCWBA President
Hon. Lisa A. Cairo Installed as President of Nassau County Women's Bar Association
The Nassau County Women’s Bar 2021 Installation was held on July 13, 2021.
View Event Photos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dpcy2f8nkryf8w5/AADYgPChq2BGz7g-PF-lMMBha?dl=0
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE JUNE 2020
Dear Members and Friends,
I hope this finds each of you healthy and well. I never imagined that my first opportunity to address each of you as President of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association would be in the middle of a pandemic while under quarantine. The world certainly looks a lot different than it did one year ago when the countdown to my term began.
The pandemic is responsible for unthinkable results. We are witnessing countless rates of infection; the number of those who are tragically succumbing to the virus is rising daily; many people are experiencing financial hardship; unemployment is skyrocketing; children are learning remotely with assistance of their parents, many of whom are also trying to work remotely; elective surgeries have been on hold; people are unable to see loved ones in nursing homes and/or hospitals; and we are socially distanced from family and friends. As lawyers, the pandemic brought courthouse closures statewide. Over the last couple of months, we have seen incremental changes to allow for motions on non-essential matters, remote conferences, remote notary, extensions of filing and discovery deadlines, and most recently, new filings via the electronic filing system. It has been a period of rapid change with constant modifications to procedures and protocols as judges and attorneys work together to administer justice to litigants across all practice areas. The impacts are far-reaching and constantly changing. As we slowly navigate through phases of reopening in New York and across the country, it remains unclear when we will safely be able to claim we are on the other side and what the process to get there ultimately looks like. What we do know is that everyone is impacted by the pandemic in varying degrees, and it is up to us as a community to ensure our family, friends, colleagues and neighbors safely reach the other side.
Over the last several days, we also witnessed the death of George Floyd and the resulting protests, riots and looting across the country. Perhaps it is no coincidence that the pandemic and the response to George Floyd’s death, either one of which would be a defining moment in history, are happening simultaneously. There is tremendous sadness, anger and frustration felt across the country. At a time when people are hurting, feel lost, feel discriminated against and/or marginalized, I keep coming back to one word: leadership.
Personally, professionally, county-wide, state-wide and internationally, we are on the precipice of what I hope will be great change as we navigate a moment in history unlike anything seen in most of our lifetimes. While not intending to minimize the challenges we face right now, through leadership we have the power to move through these adversities we face to see better days. More than the power, I submit to each of you that we have an inherent obligation to forge forward. As we begin to reopen throughout the state, but particularly here in Nassau County, we have an obligation to continue to fight for the voiceless, fight for equal access to justice and fight for gender and racial equality. We have a rare opportunity to further advance our mission as an organization during a time when it is needed most. We must rise to the occasion. I have no doubt that with the talented and strong members of our association, together with the support of the bench and bar, we will lead and rise to the occasion.
We lead by continuing to be a resource of information, which includes regular communications to our members regarding governmental and court procedure updates. We lead by offering programs that are topical to changes in the law and/or highlight impacts of the pandemic across all practice areas. We lead by continuing to fundraise and support various philanthropic efforts despite how we may personally or professionally be impacted by what is happening around us. We lead by assisting each other as we adapt to the new norms in our daily practices, especially those attorneys who may not be as comfortable with certain technological platforms that are required. Now more than ever, camaraderie is vital to our survival and success as practitioners and jurists. We also lead by voting on the legislative initiatives that the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York will support throughout the year.
What some of you may not know is that Nassau County Women’s Bar Association is a chapter of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”). Membership in our local chapter directly impacts the number of delegates we have to WBASNY for voting purposes. The more members we have in our chapter, the greater the number of delegates, which means our voice will have a greater impact. WBASNY often serves as a resource to policy makers and legislators, and there are frequent, collaborative opportunities with other organizations, most notably seen in the amicus committee. The amicus committee reviews requests for amicus briefs on legal cases of significance. Whether it is serving as a delegate to WBASNY or serving as a representative of our chapter to one of the WBASNY substantive committees, we regularly vote on the initiatives pursued and on the amicus briefs submitted. Your membership in the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association directly makes a difference on a statewide level. We hope you will renew your membership or become a new member, to help ensure that we have a voice, we continue to break down barriers, and inspire the change we wish to see in the world. This is our call as an organization and leaders in the community, and I hope you will join me in this endeavor over the next year.
Ordinarily, I would be addressing you from the podium during our annual installation dinner. Sadly, we are unable to be together for this joyous occasion due to the pandemic. However, with triumph often comes innovation. Our Installation Committee, chaired by Allyson Burger, Esq. and Kelly Koster, Esq., has been working tirelessly to seamlessly put together our virtual Installation. We hope you received the invitation to join us on June 15, 2020 at 6 pm. You can watch our installation of the Board of Directors, Executive Officers and WBASNY Delegates from our Facebook page or our website: www.nassauwomensbar.com. We hope you will join us for the celebration.
To the intended award recipients at our annual installation dinner: Sasha Tinis, Esq. (The Bessie Ray Geffner Award); the Hon. A. Gail Prudenti (Virginia C. Duncombe, Esq. Scholarship Award) the Hon. Diane Dwyer (Rona Seider, Esq. Award), it is my sincerest hope that we will have an opportunity to safely be together and celebrate your accomplishments in the coming months. The recognition of your hard work is extremely well-deserved.
To our outgoing President, and my dear friend, Irene Angelakis – you epitomize the definition of a leader. For those of you who had an opportunity to review Irene’s farewell message, you know there was no shortage of innovative programs and successful fundraisers throughout the year, particularly as we transitioned to handling all matters remotely. The Board of Directors unanimously voted in favor of nominating Irene for the Distinguished Leader Award through the New York Law Journal, which should come as no surprise given her accomplishments throughout the year. Irene, you lead our organization with grace, vibrancy and true to dedication to our mission. I am forever grateful for our friendship and sage advice throughout the year. You are the barometer by which we will measure our success, now and in the future.
To the Past Presidents, you welcomed me into this organization with open arms shortly after I became admitted to practice and have been supportive of me every step of the way thereafter. I want to specifically thank the following people: Hon. Andrea Phoenix, Irene Villacci, Hon. Diane Dwyer, Hon. Helen Voutsinas, Hon. Linda Mejias, Hon. Cheryl Helfer, Hon. Diane Dwyer, Barbara Gervase, Martha Haesloop, Hon. Joy Watson, Mary Ann Aiello, Patricia Latzman, Kathleen Wright, Maureen McLoughlin, Roberta Fox, Simone Freeman and Elaine Colavito. I am truly touched by the outpouring of well-wishes and encouragement as I embark on this journey with each of you as my personal cheerleaders. Thank you for welcoming me to “the club”!
To the incoming Executive Officers, Directors and Delegates, I am extremely excited to work with each of you over the next year. You bring tremendous strengths and talents to our organization, and I am confident we will only continue to advance the work we did together under Irene’s leadership.
To my partners and colleagues at Abrams Fensterman, particularly Samuel Ferrara, Howard Fensterman, and the entire matrimonial department - there is no shortage of thanks I can offer for the unwavering support over the years. From sponsorships to your attendance at a variety of programs and events, you continue to support me and the organization. I consider myself truly lucky to have you as my office family.
To my amazing family – we may be scattered across the country, but there is no shortage of love for each of you. I have deep appreciation for your patience, that you encourage each of my endeavors and that you want to be involved despite the geographic distance. One silver lining to the pandemic is that you will have an opportunity to partake in my installation and remotely participate in other aspects of the upcoming year. Thank you for helping to shape who I am today and for being a beacon of strength as I take on this new challenge.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my husband, Michael. Little does he realize that he automatically assumes the role of photographer for our future events and programs once we are able to be together! All joking aside, Michael – you are the singular, greatest addition to my life. I never have to question your love for me because you show me each and every day. You are my partner in all aspects of life, and I know this new position is no different. You are one of the special ones. You selflessly and tirelessly worked to help patients in the hospital on ventilators suffering from COVID-19. You are a hero and leader in your own right, and you serve as an inspiration to us all.
With that, I will close with the following: our year together is not beginning how any of us envisioned, but I am encouraged by the work we can do together in the coming months before we pass the baton to my friend and our President-Elect, Lisa Cairo. Together, we are strong, we are tough, and we will do great things.
I wish each of you continued health and prosperity as we navigate our new norm, and congratulations to our 2020-2021 Officers, Board of Directors and WBASNY Delegates.
Best,
Andrea Brodie, President
President's Membership Message
Dear Members, Prospective Members and some " Old Friends " we haven't seen in awhile,
Its membership time again and also our 80th Anniversary year.
We have lots of plans to celebrate and we want to celebrate with you.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Many of you have expressed confusion over several things related to membership dues.
You have asked:
WHEN DOES MEMBERSHIP BEGIN?
The membership year actually begins June 1 to May 31 ofthe following year. However, by the time each chapter closes out their final membership reports and installs their new Boards, its suddenly August or perhaps September. It ends up you are getting an invoice from the WOMEN'S BAR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK and a membership application from the Nassau County Women's Bar within several weeks of each other.. You think why am I getting two bills?
So the real question isWHAT SHOULD I DO AND WHOM SHOULD I PAY?
The answer is either one is acceptable because a membership in the Nassau County Women's Bar Association (NCWBA) is a membership in the Women's Bar of the State of New York (WBASNY). The advantage of using the WBASNY website is you can pay by credit card ora check and the price is always $95.00 (not just an Early Bird special). Yet, students pay $20 to join WBASNY and they are free to join the Nassau County Women's Bar Association.
When you join the NCWBA you can select committees and areas of interest on a local level.
Bottom line is: just join either oneand you are a member of both.
You will be able to participate in all the programs in Nassau County and You will be able to participate in all the programs throughout the state.
So choose what is best for you and JOIN!!
here is the website:
Looking forward to seeing you soon.
Maureen McLoughlin
Maureen McLoughlin, Esq., installed as the 80th President of the NCWBA
NYSBA If not now, when? Achieving Equality for Women Attorneys in the Courtroom and ADR
Linda Kelly Mejias, Esq. to Receive NCWBA Virgina C. Duncombe, Esq. Award
We are pleased to announce that Linda Kelly Mejias, Esq. will receive the Virginia C. Duncombe, Esq. Scholarship Award at our Annual Installation Dinner
Linda Kelly Mejias, Esq. is a Past President of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association (NCWBA), and has previously served as a member of the Board of Directors, and has held the officer positions of Vice President of Membership, Treasurer and Corresponding Secretary. She presently serves as the NCWBA web mistress and Communications Chair. In addition to her service to the Nassau Women’s Bar, Linda has previously served as President of the Nassau County Chapter of the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association (LIHBA)m and is the current Secretary of the LIHBA. She is active in the Nassau County Bar Association (NCBA), and is a past member of the Association Membership Committee, where she i worked to develop strategies and programs to increase the diversity of the NCBA.
Linda is active in her local community and church as a mentor and leader. Linda is passionate about helping young women understand and appreciate their full potential and guiding them in achieving that full potential through a unique approach to learning and growth in all aspects of their life. Her philosophy is one of balance. She teaches her mentees to take the time to develop and take care of themselves in the various areas of their lives – education, professional, health, spirituality, and relationships. She also works within the minority communities on Long Island through various organizations such as the Long Island Latino Teacher’s Association, Girls, Inc., and the Latina Moms of Long Island to teach students and parents about the value and necessity of higher learning and education, as well the importance of working hard in school and in any employment in order to achieve the “American Dream”. Most recently, Linda was elected to the Board of Herstory Writers Workshop, whose mission is to bring unheard voices into the public arena, transforming lived experiences into written memoirs powerful enough to change hearts, minds and policy.
She is presently the Principal Law Clerk to the Honorable Edward A. Maron, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Nassau County. Prior to being a Law Clerk, Linda was an Assistant Town Attorney for the Town of North Hempstead, and prior to that she was a Litigation Associate at Carter Ledyard and Milburn, LLP on Wall Street, focusing on white collar criminal defense litigation.
Linda is a graduate of the Waldorf School of Garden City, where she later served on the Board of Trustees. She graduated magna cum laude in the accelerated program from Wellesley College, with a double major in Psychology and Latin American Studies. She received her Juris Doctorate from Columbia Law School.
On a personal note, Linda is a First Generation American, whose Mother immigrated to the United States from Ecuador in 1963, and whose Father was exiled from Cuba in 1962 as an anti-communist leader. She is fluent in Spanish, and proficient in German and Italian.
Linda is also a devoted mother to her treasured son, Davey.
Emily Franchina, Esq. to Receive NCWBA Rona Seider, Esq. Award
We are please to announce that
Emily Franchina, Esq.
will receive the
Rona Seider, Esq. Award
at our Annual Installation Dinner
Emily F. Franchina is a founding shareholder of the firm, Franchina & Giordano, P.C., an A.V. ratedlaw firm. She is an A.V. rated, super lawyer and limits her practice to elder law, wills, trusts, estate planning, estate administration and adoption.
After graduating from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in 1989, Ms. Franchina immediately became involved in legal organizations centered around pro-bono work and community improvement through the New York State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section, a group that she chaired in 1998-1999. Ms. Franchina has continued her involvement in the New York State Bar Association into the present day. She served multiple terms as an appointedmember of the Nominating Committee, the Judicial Nominations Review Committee, a member of the House of Delegates, the decision making body of the State Bar, and as a Vice President of the Association and is active in Section membership relating to her areas of practice. She serves as the Vice Chair of the Fellows and the Chair of the Marketing Committee of the New York Bar Foundation in Albany.
Ms. Franchina’s commitment to the community is evidenced by participation and membership in the Mineola Garden City Rotary, the Advisory Board of St. Johnland Nursing Home, and the Legal Advisory Board of the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation (LIAF). She was appointed by Chief Judge Jonathon Lippman to a statewide committee on Access to Justice and Chief Administrative Judge Ann Pfau to the Advisory Committee to the Public Administrator.
A member of the Nassau County Bar Association, Ms. Franchina has served on the Executive Committee of the Nassau County Bar Association since 2004. She was the fifth female President in the Association’s 107 year history and served in that capacity from 2009-2010. She is active in many of the committees including her service as past chair and member of Committee on Elder Law, Social Services and Health Advocacy, Surrogate’s Court Estates and Trusts Committee, Advisory Board of the Nassau Academy of Law and WE CARE fund Advisory Board. In 2006, Ms. Franchina was honored with the distinguished service award by the Nassau County Bar Association’s WE CARE Fund, Inc, the charitable arm of the association.
Emily F. Franchina was named one of Long Island’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2008 and 2010. Ms. Franchina is the 2009 recipient of the Juliette Low Award of Distinction for the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, and the Annual Business Leadership Award for her volunteer activities from the Advancement for Commerce, Industry and Technology, (ACIT). Ms. Franchina was awarded the HERstory Award from Hofstra University in 2010, and she is the recipient of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association Courage Award, in 2011 and was named a New York Super Lawyer in the area of Elder Law, and the Arthritis Foundation “Woman on the Move” in 2013.
Cara P. Cronin, Esq. to Receive NCWBA Bessie Ray Geffner Award
We are please to announce that Cara P. Cronin, Esq. will receive the Bessie Ray Geffner, Esq. Award at our
Annual Installation Dinner
Cara P. Cronin has experience negotiating commercial tax certiorari matters in New York City, Upstate New York, Nassau County and Suffolk County. Her current focus is in New York City where she settles cases with the Tax Commission as well as the New York City Law Department.
Additionally, Cara heads Cronin & Cronin's Residential Department. She has routinely appeared in Court before Judges as well as Hearing Officers and successfully resolved numerous residential cases.
Prior to joining Cronin & Cronin, Cara worked in Washington D.C. at the National Republican Congressional Committee. She continues to be involved in politics and has acted as a consultant to several State Senate Campaigns on Long Island.
Cara is a Delegate to the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York. She is also on the board of the Long Island Real Estate Group and is extremely active in LIREG W. She has been on the committee for the American Heart Association Long Island Go Red for Women Luncheon and currently is on the committee for the Safe Center LI Annual Gala. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, Nassau County Bar Association and Suffolk County Bar Association.
Invitation by Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence K. Marks to submit comments re: New York State Courts Electronic Filing Program
The Chief Administrative Judge, Lawrence Marks is seeking comments addressing the New York State Courts Electronic Filing Program. Please click here to see the attached memorandum.
Please provide any comments you may have on this topic to info@nassauwomensbar.com for consideration NO LATER THAN MONDAY, MARCH 21, 2016; 12:00PM.
*** PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD YOUR COMMENTS DIRECTLY TO OCA OR WBASNY ***
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
TRANSITION TO TRANSFORMATION: NAVIGATING CHANGE
By: Joan Axelrod Siegelwax
The world is moving at a very fast pace. What are you doing to keep in step?
Every day we hear of corporate mergers, downsizing and restructures. What actions are you taking to rewrite your script to ensure you do not wind up on the cutting room floor?
Did you choose to stay home devoting your energy to the betterment of your family and now face a looming empty nest? What will you do with the next chapter of your life?
It does not matter where you turn; work and life are moving at a dizzying pace. People, vocations and emerging technologies are in a constant state of evolution and reinvention. We face a daily backdrop of high alert and digital connection. No wonder Transition and Change Management have become the adopted vernacular to describe daily existence.
How can one cope with a state of uncertainty and a general sense of unrest?
I cannot overstate the importance of creating a strong contingency plan. Why wait till life is on a downward spiral to pick up the pieces and turn life around? Having a strong backup plan is not only practical but can give you the confidence required to leverage and improve your current circumstances.
Would you go on a road trip without a destination, map, gas, and provisions? Would you go back to school without properly researching the program? Do you step into the ocean with your eyes closed and let the first wave knock you over and spin you around? Then why would you do this in life and your career?
Why show up without the proper skills and a well thought-out strategy? What actions and steps can you set in motion immediately to ensure you are ready to face any and all unlikely events or circumstances?
I recently led a round table discussion group at a Leadership Conference on the topic of sharing our most valuable secrets and tips for success. I introduced the concept of having a Plan B regardless of your current work status. There was a member of our table who was incredibly quiet the entire discussion. I assumed they were unmoved by the discussion. I received an email shortly after the discussion sharing how powerful this concept is. They assumed "that if they showed up each day and did a good job the powers that be would give you a promotion and raise". It never dawned on them that not anyone else is responsible for your development plan and ultimate destiny.
We can all learn from this lesson. Don't wait for the fork in the road to form a new path. Lay down a purposeful track and let life adapt to your path. Vow to be the best in class and embellish your current role and life. We all deserve to be happy and on purpose. Don’t wait for necessity or catastrophe. Start building today for the future of your dreams.
Here are my Tips for Building a Strategic Plan B
1. Get real!
Take a fearless and honest look at your current circumstances. Are you showing up as the best possible version of yourselves? Is your position and company secured? If your company took a downturn would you be the first to go? Are you doing what it takes to ensure your relevancy?
2. Keep up with the Joneses!
How current are your skills sets? Are you keeping up with the current technology? Are you raising your hand for stretch assignments? If not get started yesterday.
3. Ready Set Learn!
Knowledge has never been easier to acquire. If you don't know something, Google it. Want an up to the minute definition, try Wikipedia. There are webinars, audiobooks, podcasts and multiple books on every topic all downloadable to your smartphone. Today you can get an MBA without leaving the comfort of your home! No excuse, stay relevant!
4. Expand your circle.
Network, Network, Network, and just when you think you can't stand it one more minute, Network some more.
5. Acquire a Personal Board
Times of change are difficult. Your Personal Board will be your Life Line back. They will keep you on track, honest and moving in the right direction. They will become your biggest critics and your strongest advocates all wrapped up in one!
6. Volunteer: Give and Learn
Volunteering is a great way to keep up your spirit while going through turbulent times. Why not volunteer your services in a way that will require you to learn different skill sets? These skills can be leveraged in your current role or added to your resume for future positions.
7. Take a break
I cannot overstate the importance of self-care during times of change. Change is exhausting. You are in a constant state of uncertainty, learning, stepping out of your comfort zone, and all while showing up at your personal best. Eat Well, Sleep, Nap, Take Breaks, Laugh, See Friends, Exercise (preferably outside), Schedule Fun.
8. Take risks
Change is risky business. Going back to school is scary. Learning new technology is overwhelming. Constantly showing up for networking events can be daunting. Creating an on line presence makes one vulnerable to the masses. You know the old adage, no risk no reward.
9. Step Out
Stepping out of your comfort zone is also not easy. I suggest a change of mindset. Think of trying new things as an adventure. You will not like everything, but you never know what will resonate. I think of how empty my life would be if I did not meet all of my great friends through Networking. What if I never took the risk that first Sunday and walked into NYU for my Coaching Certificate? Trust me I was terrified!
10. Get comfortable with discomfort
My biggest life lesson during my transition from running a Sales and Marketing department to heading up Human Resources and starting my business as an executive coach is that anything is possible. I mean anything! We all have the potential to be, do and have anything we want; we just need to be willing to put in the work. I now welcome uncertainty as it is what gives me grit. It is what gives me the gumption each day to show up as the best possible version of myself and never, never, never give up. One can never truly know what lurks around the corner, but I do know I welcome the challenge. I am ready willing and able to do whatever it takes to reach my full potential. I recommend you do the same.
Available at: ttp://www.ppcoaching.net/#!Transition-to-Transformation-Navigating-Change/c253/55d392c30cf24b341cab1998
MARKETING TO THE OTHER HALF
By: Gina Pirozzi
Over two decades in the legal marketing industry, I’ve seen big changes. In the nineties, senior partners routinely believed that law firms didn’t need marketing support. Eventually, marketing departments grew at big firms and everyone from solos on up understood the power of marketing their services and expertise. Even with that acceptance, the vast majority of lawyers will articulate how they attract new clients the same way: We do good work. We build a professional and personal network who trusts in our ability. Members of that network refer prospects to us.
They’re right. That IS how they get new clients. However, when I ask them, “What about the clients you don’t get? Why aren’t you getting them?” I’m met with blank stares. Recently, I saw a breakthrough. In a conversation with two name partners of a metro-area firm, one said to me, “We don’t get our business from Google.” Then, after a pause, the second looked at me and said, “But I feel like we should.”
He couldn’t have been more correct. A 2013 study revealed that about half of all people surveyed either seek a referral from a friend or their current attorney if they need specialized legal service. While that’s a powerful endorsement of “the way good lawyers have always gotten new clients”, it also raises a huge question …. What about the other half? Not surprisingly, the survey goes on to say the other half are Googling, visiting online legal directories and other digital resources in search of an attorney.
And the study didn’t account for people in the first group who went online at some point in the process. We all get trusted recommendations regarding where to eat, what contractor to use or a medical specialist, yet still check that reference out on Google. It stands to reason the same thing happens with lawyer referrals.
So what should a lawyer do to appeal to the other half? Here are three simple suggestions:
Jump into social media.
Savvy marketers will tell you we are fast approaching a business climate wherein, “If you don’t exist on social media, you don’t exist”. Just as businesses reluctantly accepted the cell phone, the internet, and e-mail, there is no way to avoid accepting social media. And why would you want to?
At its core, marketing is about targeting a select group of the population and sharing a targeted message with them. Social media is literally built for that exact functionality. You can decide exactly who to talk to and share exactly what you want as often as you want … and it doesn’t cost anything.
Still, lawyers resist social media more than the business population at large. This is likely due to the fact they view it as a technology and may be uncomfortable with their lack of expertise. Frequent conference speaker David Shing, AOL’s Digital Prophet (that’s his actual job title), reminds his audiences to think of social media as a utility rather than a technology. We don’t need to understand the ins and outs of electricity to hit the light switch and work a few hours after dark, or be masters of telecommunication to pick up the phone and call a potential client. Stop thinking about how social media works and concentrate on the simple fact that it is an impactful tool to share your message with a key audience. The vast majority of what you share with a potential client or referring attorney in person, by e-mail or on the phone can be shared more efficiently via social media.
Love The Sound of Your Digital Voice
Content is king online and you want a strong digital voice. Good content gets shared on social media and gets found by internet search engines. Whatever it is that makes you unique – a specialty, a verdict, a fee structure, deep industry knowledge, a committee membership – should be part of your digital footprint beyond your own website. Whether you’re sharing traditional Law Journal articles on your website or posting an update on LInkedIN, it becomes part of your searchable content and makes it easier for prospective clients to find you. This is even more effective with what are known as “long tail search terms”. In other words, your chances of coming up in Google results when someone searches “Long Island attorney” may be remote. Long tail terms, however – “Long Island lawyer estates and guardianships for disabled children” or “Online fantasy sports state by state laws” – can deliver the perfect client …. If, and only if, you have posted content that reflects your expertise in that area.
Embrace Avvo
Of my three recommendations, I know this is the least popular, but it may be the most vital. It’s true that Avvo attorney ratings have little credibility today and that they are essentially “muscling into” the legal marketing arena demanding participation from lawyers. But they’re following the tried and true digital business plan of Wikipedia, Angie’s List and others that faced all the same criticism before eventually bridging the consumer credibility gap and becoming mainstream tools. Avvo has begun running national television commercials. Its CEO, Mark Britton, was EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2014. They doubled headcount in their Seattle headquarters in 2014 and will double it again in 2015. All indications are the company is growing in to a more important player every day and will eventually become a major client acquisition tool (especially for consumer-facing attorneys). Even today, if you Google your own name with the word “Attorney” after it, you’ll likely get your Avvo profile as one of the first results. What’s more, their system is actually fair and easy to work with. They want you to submit information about your career, references from colleagues, peers and clients and – if you do so – your numerical rating will rise accordingly.
Avvo is here to stay. Make it work for you!
HOW TO STAY COOL CALM AND COLLECTED IN THE SUMMER HEAT!
Joan Axelrod Siegelwax
By Joan Axelrod Siegelwax
President and Founder of Powerful Possibilities Coaching
joan@ppcoaching.net, 516-359-8380
“Summer time and the living is easy”. That is the tune we all hope to sing in the summer, unfortunately this is not always the case. Balancing one’s personal life with professional responsibilities can become even more challenging when case loads and work pressures continue to turn on the heat!
Here are my favorite tips for staying cool, calm and collected in the summer months
1. Clean up your sleep hygiene- Even the scariest case load becomes easier to face after a good night’s sleep. Cool down the room, lower the shades, cut down on your caffeine consumption and cut off e-mail checks an hour before bed. (Drops of lavender oil on your pillow can help.)
2. Take a breath- We all over react from time to time. Add heat, stress and a touch of overwhelmed to the pot and it becomes a real pressure cooker! Instead of blowing the lid off the top why not STOP and take a deep breath or two or count to ten. When challenges threaten your composure this will help get your emotions back in check.
3. Embrace the Light- Let’s face it, we all work too late. The good news is that in the summer we can stay at our desks until 7:00 or 7:30 PM and still have an hour of sunlight! Think of all the great things you can do with this extra hour? Take a run. Meet a friend or loved one for a drink or dinner at an outside restaurant. Take a walk on the beach. Garden or simply sit outside to finish up your phone calls and work, (if you must!).
4. Stay hydrated- Soda, ice coffee, and ice tea might quench your thirst but they will dehydrate you in the long run. If you are like me, drinking gallons and gallons of water is a drag! Throwing in fresh berries, lemon, or even mint can help water go down easier.
5. Keep it light- Nothing slows down productivity more than a heavy, greasy breakfast or lunch. Keep fruit, nuts and raw vegetables handy to keep temptation down.
6. Turn it up- Nothing lightens the mood better than upbeat music. In the summer months why not turn on Reggae, the Beach Boys or Jimmy Buffet to lighten the mood in the office or at your desk.
7. Take it outside- Instead of eating lunch at your desk why not grab a colleague and eat outside? If you need to work through lunch bring your work outside and handle a task that is less stressful. Just being out in the fresh air and sunlight will help elevate your mood.
8. Reconnect- Who have you been neglecting during the long cold months of winter? Summer is a great time to reconnect. Everyone is anxious to get out and enjoy the summer months. Block time in your schedule for friends. Summer months go by quickly. Blocking the time guarantees you don’t miss out.
9. Disconnect- OK, you’re saying, now you have gone too far! This is the hardest suggestion but totally necessary to regroup and unwind. Take a dedicated e-mail and cell phone break. It does not matter if it is for an hour, during one meal, one morning, and one day or even just at the gym, detaching will do you well.
10. Escape! Summer is a great time for a mini excursion. Take a day trip to the wineries, the Hamptons, the zoo, the city, or upstate. It doesn’t matter if you check into a local hotel and sit at the pool, getting away for a couple of hours or a day will help you rewind the clock. If you can’t get away at least grab a good book and escape right on your coach or lounge chair.
11. Pamper yourself. Self Care always elevates your mood, decreases stress and increases confidence. Get a message, pedicure, manicure, facial, or try a cool new haircut.
12. Layer it- Stress is bad enough, being overheated and stressful is even worse. The challenge of dressing comfortably in the summer is that every office, conference room, courthouse or restaurant you visit is a different temperature. You can be hot one minute and freezing the next! Dressing in layers and carrying a sweater or scarf in your briefcase can help guarantee your comfort at all times
Whether you adopt one or two of these suggestions or all twelve even the simplest shift in behaviors can bring about positive change. Why not find a “Stress Buster” accountability partner in your office or professional network? They can help keep you on track and support you in turning these suggestions into habits. Make it a great summer, enjoy, and make the most of the months ahead! UNLEASH THE POWER OF ALL THAT IS POSSIBLE!
NCWBA Treasurer, Elaine M. Colavito, Esq., Named as One of the 2015 Long Island Public Interest and Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Recipients at Touro's 21st Goods and Services Auction
We are proud to congratulate NCWBA Treasurer, Elaine M. Colavito, Esq., for being chosen as one of the 2015 Long Island Public Interest and Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Recipients at the Touro's 21st Goods and Services Auction held on March 11, 2015*.
Elaine M. Colavito is an associate with the Firm who concentrates her practice in matrimonial and family law, civil litigation and immigration matters. She was previously associated with a civil litigation law firm on Long Island.
Ms. Colavito is a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association and the New York County Bar Association. She currently writes a monthly column for The Suffolk Lawyer, a publication of the Suffolk County Bar Association, entitled "Bench Briefs." Ms. Colavito is also the author of an article entitled “Social Networking Sites and the Right to Privacy: Kathleen Romano v. Steelcase and Educational Institutional Cooperative Services, Inc., Index No.: 2233/06,” Medicine and Law Committee Newsletter, Winter 2011, a publication of the American Bar Association.
Ms. Colavito graduated from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center (J.D., magna cum laude, 2007) and holds an undergraduate degree from State University of New York at Stony Brook (B.A., summa cum laude, 2003). She is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
*Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Touro Law Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program, funding stipends for students to work in public interest or non-profit organizations. The Auction also recognizes attorneys for their commitment and dedication to pro bono and public interest work through the Public Interest Attorney of the Year Program, chaired by Lois Carter Schlissel of Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein.
