To recognize Lawyers Alliance's legacy and contributions of alumni, in 2011 we launched a series of profiles of the people who have helped build Lawyers Alliance since 1969. Each winter, spring, and fall Newsletter will feature a different alumnus, whose stories are below.

15 Year Circle and Ira G. Rosenstein: As part of Lawyers Alliance's 45th anniversary celebration, the 2014 Cornerstone Awards featured the announcement of the 15 Year Circle, more than 60 volunteers whose pro bono work spans at least 15 years. One special member is Ira G. Rosenstein of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, who has provided pro bono legal services to BronxWorks and Lawyers Alliance. Read full profile. (Autumn 2014)

Kimberly Brown Blacklow was once a Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton extern at Lawyers Alliance, and is now a member of our Board of Directors. Read full profile. (Spring 2012)

The Board of Advisors is comprised of founders and former members of our Board of Directors, each of whom has had an important impact on the organization. Read full profile. (Winter 2012)

Ira Friedman, retired from MetLife, served on Lawyers Alliance's Board from 1998 to 2004, including as Chair from 2001 to 2004. During his Board tenure, Lawyers Alliance conducted its 35th Anniversary Campaign to secure program and endowment support. Read full profile. (Spring 2013)

Edward F. Greene, Senior Counsel at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, was among the small group of attorneys who created the Council of New York Law Associates in 1969. He is currently Chair of Lawyers Alliance's Board of Advisors. Read full profile. (Spring 2014)

Joseph Guay, a partner and Real Estate Section Leader at Holland & Knight LLP, was honored with the Cornerstone Award in 2009 for his extensive work with nonprofits and continues to be an active volunteer. Read full profile. (Winter 2013)

Bradley Kulman, a partner in the New York office of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, was honored with the Cornerstone Award in 2004 for his exemplary pro bono work and continues to engage in substantial pro bono work on behalf of nonprofits. Read full profile. (Winter 2014)

Sheila Avrin McLean and David McLean first became involved with the Council of New York Law Associates in the early 1970s when a group of young associates, who were members of the Council and the City Bar, took action to give young lawyers a greater voice in the City Bar's governance. Read full profile. (Winter 2011)

Maria Mottola, Executive Director of the New York Foundation, is a steadfast supporter of Lawyers Alliance. When working at a nonprofit organization early in her career, she was also a Lawyers Alliance client. Read full profile. (Autumn 2013)

Jill Rosenberg, a partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, has been a longtime Lawyers Alliance volunteer, has served on our Board of Directors, and is a current member of the Board of Advisors. She recently received a 2016 Cornerstone Award. Read full profile. (Winter 2017)

Barbara A. Schatz served as Executive Director of the Council of New York Law Associates from 1977 to 1984, a period of growth and change for the young organization. Read full profile. (Autumn 2012)

Cynthia R. Shoss was first a Lawyers Alliance pro bono attorney, then a member (and later, Chair) of the Lawyers Alliance Board of Directors during the 1990s, and now the Vice Chair of our Board of Advisors.
Read full profile. (Spring 2011)

S. Anita Sinha Stone was once a Skadden Extern at Lawyers Alliance and was instrumental in the formation of Lawyers Alliance's Associates Advisory Board, and served as its first president. Read full profile. (Autumn 2011)

back to top

Formed in 2011, the Board of Advisors includes several former members of Lawyers Alliance's Board of Directors and provides strategic, development, and operational guidance to the organization. Edward F. Greene of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Cynthia R. Shoss of Sutherland Asbil & Brennan LLP serve as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.

back to top

A group of law firm associates met while working on John Lindsay's 1968 mayoral re-election campaign ("Lawyers for Lindsay"). As young lawyers, they felt inadequately integrated into the profession, lacked outlets for public service work, and needed a forum to share their interests with others. Out of these concerns, the Council of New York Law Associates was born in 1969.

Click here for a list of founders and early members of the Council.

Read more history about the Council's evolution to the present day Lawyers Alliance.

Help us build our archive and alumni database. Share your experiences with the Council of New York Law Associates or Lawyers Alliance for New York with Marketing and Communications Director Emily Crossan at 212-219-1800 x233 or ecrossan@lawyersalliance.org.

back to top

Founder Neal Johnston passed away on May 24, 2010. He is remembered for his warmth, wit, and irrepressible heart. His family, friends, and former colleagues from the Council of New York Law Associates celebrated his life at a memorial service held at the Association of the Bar of the City of New York on Friday, October 1, 2010.
See more, including remembrances.

Guest Photo Gallery | Speaker Photo Gallery | Event Program

back to top

In 2011, Lawyers Alliance and a group of dedicated law firm associates and in-house counsel launched the Associates Advisory Board. It is comprised of former Cornerstone awardees, externs, and other exceptional volunteers who enthusiastically seek to raise support and visibility for Lawyers Alliance within their respective firms.

back to top

We are grateful to law firms that sponsor ongoing externship programs at Lawyers Alliance. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP created the first externship at Lawyers Alliance in 1989; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP joined in 1999; Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP also joined in 1999. Since 1980, Lawyers Alliance has had more than 190 externs, who are attorneys that work full-time at Lawyers Alliance for four months on a rotating basis.

back to top

Click here for a list of our former executive directors.

back to top