The New York State Bar Association recently received the 2004 American Bar Association Partnership Award which recognizes exemplary efforts of bar associations to increase diversity in the legal profession.
NYSBA President Kenneth G. Standard accepted the award on behalf of the Association during a joint luncheon of the National Conference of Bar Presidents/National Association of Bar Executives/National Conference of Bar Foundations during the ABA Annual Meeting in Atlanta in August.
Among the initiatives for which NYSBA was recognized is a networking program titled Celebrating Diversity in the Bar that it conducted as part of its 127th annual meeting last January. More than 300 lawyers participated in the event held in collaboration with 14 minority bar associations to introduce more minority attorneys to the rewarding opportunities for involvement and professional development available through the Association.
"NYSBA has made diversity one of the cornerstones of its strategic plan which will guide the bar's future efforts," Mr. Standard explained.