CELEBRATING THE NJ LAWYER/ JAY BERNSTEIN AIDS HURRICANE SANDY VICTIMS/ SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NJ BAR JUNE 2013

CELEBRATING THE NJ LAWYER


(Editor's Note: This column is an excerpt from New Jersey State Bar
Association President Ralph J. Lamparello's speech delivered during
his installation on May 17 at the NJSBA Annual Meeting and Convention in Atlantic City.)


I am going to tell you my story—which is going to be about you, about us, and
who we are—for we are New Jersey lawyers. Yes, we are sworn officers of the
Court, and that means we have a moral imperative to improve the system each
day. But, as New Jersey lawyers, we do that and so much more. I have never
encountered a group of people, indeed an entire profession, who contribute so
much. Who dedicate themselves, not just to improving the system of justice
and practice of law, but to improving their communities and the lives of those
around them. A lot of people talk the talk, but no one walks the walk like a
New Jersey lawyer. You are the people I want to celebrate in the year ahead...

...When Hurricane Sandy devastated

our state, New Jersey lawyers stepped

forward and provided assistance to so

many who had lost so much. More than

250 lawyers from our bar association

stepped forward to assist victims on a

pro bono basis, regardless of income, and

with no promise of anything in return.

Their work continues today. Their

response was so rapid and their results

so extraordinary that FEMA gave out the

phone number of the New Jersey State

Bar Association to those in need, and we

assisted over 50 families a day for weeks

on end. 

Who are these lawyers? They

are you and me. People like Jay Bernstein, who has volunteered for the

NJSBA Mass Disaster Program for many

years, and Bill Krais, Stephen Barry, Beth

White, Domenick Carmagnola and

Shivani Malik... Jay, Bill,

Stephen, Beth, Domenick and Shivani

are all New Jersey lawyers...

(New Jersey State Bar

Association President Ralph J. Lamparello's Speech  5/17/13, printed 6/1/13 NJ Bar Journal)

SEE FULL ARTICLE, CLICK HERE, NJ LAW JOURNAL MAGAZINE JUNE 2013