Westchester Women's Bar Association

A Chapter of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY)

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Member NEWS

❑ Jacqueline Hattar, Esq., has been awarded the NYSBA Trial Lawyers Section 5th Annual Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vanguard Award for 2024!! The Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Vanguard Award is presented to a Trial Attorney who has made extraordinary efforts in addressing and raising awareness about issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Congratulations to Jacqueline from everyone at the WWBA! Read more here: New York State Bar Association To Honor Westchester Attorney for Promoting Diversity in the Legal Profession - New York State Bar Association (nysba.org)

❑ Two Westchester Women’s Bar Association members have joined Cuddy & Fedder LLP in the White Plains office: Deborah Farber-Kaiser and Isabella Pisani. Deborah is an associate in the Trusts, Estates & Elder Law group, and Isabella is an associate in the Real Estate, Corporate and Finance practice groups. Congratulations Deborah and Isabella!

❑ Melissa G. Andrieux, Esq., Co-Chair of the WWBA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, attended the Office of the NYS Attorney General’s first Affinity Bar Association Meet and Greet on behalf of the WWBA on July 16th in NYC with Attorney General Letitia James. The event’s purpose was to foster a relationship between bar associations and the OAG with the aim of keeping bar members informed about the various career opportunities at the OAG. The OAG is committed to recruiting and hiring attorneys with unique perspectives and from diverse backgrounds. Similarly, the WWBA is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within our membership.

❑ Congratulations to Joy Joseph on being awarded the WBASNY Stephanie E. Kupferman Juvenile Justice Award. This Award is given to a WBASNY member who has shown outstanding achievement in legal matters involving juveniles over a period of three or more years, as a prosecutor, defense counsel, or law guardian or judge.

❑ Susan L. Pollet, Past President of the WWBA and Archive and Historian Chair, published a second poetry collection entitled “Palpable Ponderings,” as an ebook on Amazon Kindle. It is free for those with Kindle Unlimited.

❑ Lisa M. Denig, Commissioner of Human Resources at Westchester County and former President of the WWBA, has published her first

novel, Trial and Error. The novel follows Katie Richter, a divorced mom of two teenage girls, who works full time during the day and attends

law school at night, all while fighting to keep her younger daughter from spiraling into a life of endless partying and drug use. When Katie finally graduates from law school and begins working as an Assistant District Attorney, one of her daughters is murdered. She is forced to reckon with her failings as a mom as well as the ethical dilemma she faces when she realizes her remaining child might commit perjury to secure the killer’s conviction. The book is available for purchase on Amazon. ◗

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Calendar

Advertise an Employment Opportunity through the WWBA

May 07, 2024 •
2024 Holiday Party Sponsorship

July 26, 2024 •
The WWBA is Co-Sponsoring: CRISIS IN THE COURTS: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, COUNSEL FEES AND EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION

October 29, 2024 1:00 PM • Zoom

Full Calendar »

Interview of the Month

An Interview with
Amanda K. Rieben

Susan L. Pollet

Chair of the Archive and Historian Committee

Q: When and why did you become involved with the WWBA?

A: I became involved with the WWBA in 2014 after the birth of my first daughter. I had been practicing at a non-profit in New York County and was looking to work in Westchester County, but I did not have any contacts and/or resources in the Westchester community. I felt that joining a bar association was the best way to make new contacts, as I explored different opportunities in the Westchester County legal community.

The WWBA and its membership surpassed any expectations that I had. One of the WWBA members assisted me in my vocational search, putting me in contact with members of the community. She also provided me with invaluable advice and guidance on what programs and events to attend to further to make additional contacts and further explore my legal interests. Through her own vocational experiences and stories, she also helped me assess my future goals and aspirations...

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President's Message

by Sherry A. Bishko

I cannot help but reflect on how lucky I am for having reaped the many benefits of all the Westchester Women’s Bar Association has had to offer for nearly two decades. In 2006, I walked into the law firm of Rosenthal & Markowitz, LLP for a job interview with Past WWBA Presidents Linda Markowitz, Esq. and Kathy N. Rosenthal, Esq. Their first question was, “Are you a member of the WWBA?” They immediately signed me up as a new member, then hired me, in that order!

I have had the opportunity to serve the WWBA as Recording Secretary, Vice President, and, most recently, as President-Elect. For me, however, the most rewarding roles with the WWBA have been serving as co-chair of both the Membership and Mentorship Committees. In these capacities, I am able to speak with individual WWBA members, work with our attorney mentors and law student mentees, and get to know them as individuals. Each of our 550 members brings a unique set of incredible skills and accomplishments to the WWBA. The WWBA’s membership is our value, strength, and power.

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