The New York Bar Foundation

Restricted Funds

You may wish to support specific law-related causes that are meaningful to you. One excellent way to do so is to direct your charitable contribution to one or more Restricted Funds administered by The New York Bar Foundation. Gifts to The Foundation for Restricted Funds are used in support of programs relating to the special purpose of the fund. Each donor of a gift to a Restricted Fund will be acknowledged in The Foundation’s Annual Report.

We welcome the establishment of new Restricted Funds within The Foundation in the name of an individual or entity to be used for particular law-related purposes. Restricted Funds are an ideal way to pay a lasting tribute to a loved one, friend or colleague. All Restricted Funds will be recognized in The Foundation’s Annual Report and the State Bar News and will include the name of the donor establishing the fund and the name and purpose of the fund. Please contact foundation@tnybf.org to request additional information or to arrange a meeting to discuss details.

You may contribute to any of the following Restricted Funds:

The Richard J. Bartlett Fund
Provides funding to improve legal services to
the indigent


Richard J. Bartlett, Esq.

This fund was established in honor of Richard J. Bartlett of Glens Falls, who has dedicated a lifetime of service to the bar and the community. Currently with the law firm of Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes PC, Glens Falls, Mr. Bartlett has filled the roles of teacher, judge, court administrator, lawmaker and practitioner. He has pursued all of these roles with a steadfast commitment to justice, enriching the law and the life of the various communities he has served.

Richard Bartlett's many contributions include service as the first Chief Administrative Judge of the State of New York (1974-1979) and as dean and professor of law at Albany Law School (1979-1986). In addition, he has served as chair of the New York Board of Law Examiners (1998-2000), having previously been a member of the board from 1986 to 1998. Finally, Mr. Bartlett served as president of The New York Bar Foundation from 2000 to 2003 and completed a term on its Board of Directors. He served as a member of the House of Delegates of the New York State Bar Association. He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1959 to 1966, where he served as Minority Whip. Among the bills he authored was legislation creating Article 18-B of the County Law which provides representation for indigent clients in criminal and family cases. Fittingly, the Richard J. Bartlett Fund will be used to improve legal services for indigent clients, a cause to which Mr. Bartlett has devoted substantial efforts for more than 40 years.

The Commercial and Federal Litigation Section Minority Fellowship Fund
Provides funding for fellowships to minority students attending a law school in New York State to work in a litigation position in the public sector


The fund has been named after the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar Association. The goal of the fellowship program is to increase the representation of lawyers and students from a diverse range of backgrounds in commercial litigation, and to provide students from a diverse range of backgrounds with an opportunity to experience litigation practice. The ultimate goal of the Fellowship is to create a network and forge relationships which will foster greater diversity among commercial and federal litigators throughout the State of New York. Through the fellowship, students will be provided a meaningful and appropriately supervised work experience.

The purpose of the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section is to improve the quality of representation of clients, provide a forum for the improvement of law and procedure in the areas of commercial and federal litigation, and enhance the administration of justice.



The John R. Dunne Fund
Provides funding for legal services to families and children of indigent prisoners


John R. Dunne, Esq.


Established in 2003, this fund was established in honor of John R. Dunne, who has served as a legal scholar, activist, and former state Senator with a storied career as lawyer, statesman and politician. From 1990 to 1993 he was the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Justice and was a member of the New York State Senate for twenty-four years serving from 1966 to 1989. As a state senator, he served at various times as Deputy Majority Leader and chair of the judiciary, environmental protection, insurance, and prisons committees.

From 1956 to 1965 he was law secretary to a New York State Supreme Court Justice and headed the law department of the Nassau County Court. Throughout his local and state service, he actively practiced law on Long Island, as a partner in the national law firm of Rivkin, Radler, Dunne & Bayh. He was awarded both the Edmund Randolph and the John Marshal awards for distinguished service and recently received the New York State Bar Association’s highest tribute, the 2006 Gold Medal Award, in honor of his outstanding career contributions and efforts in furtherance of the legal system. He has previously served as Chair of the Fellows of The New York Bar Foundation and is currently Senior Counsel at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP in Albany. The John R. Dunne Fund provides funding for legal services to families and children of indigent prisoners, continuing John Dunne’s dedication to this important cause.


The Robert L. Haig Fund
Supports innovations in the provision of cost-effective civil legal services for the indigent



Robert L. Haig, Esq.



In June 2006, the Board of Directors of The New York Bar Foundation established the Robert L. Haig Fund in honor of Robert L. Haig, Esq. The members of The Foundation’s Board made personal contributions to this Fund as a tribute to Mr. Haig for his leadership, dedication, guidance and support during his three-year term as President of The Foundation.

Robert Haig is a litigation partner with the law firm of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP in New York City. He is a former President of the New York County Lawyers’ Association and a former member of the New York State Bar Association’s Executive Committee. He was the founder and first Chair of NYSBA’s Commercial and Federal Litigation Section and he continues to serve on The Foundation’s Board of Directors. Mr. Haig has served as the Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and also chaired that Association’s Council on Judicial Administration.

Mr. Haig is Co-Chair of the Commercial Courts Task Force appointed by Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye to create and refine the Commercial Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York. He has also been active in efforts to create business courts in many other states and countries.

Mr. Haig has written and lectured extensively on various litigation topics. He is the Editor-in-Chief of an eight volume treatise, entitled Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, and of a five volume treatise, entitled Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of a four volume treatise, entitled Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel.



The Intellectual Property Law Section Fund
Provides funding for fellowships for students attending a law school in New York State to assist public interest intellectual property organizations or charities with intellectual property law matters

Established in 2008, the fund has been named after the Intellectual Property Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. The funding will provide fellowships for students attending a law school in New York State to assist public interest intellectual property organizations or charities in matters relating to intellectual property law. The fellowship program goals are to increase the representation of lawyers in intellectual property law and to provide students with an opportunity to experience intellectual property law practice. The Intellectual Property Law Fellow is also invited to be a guest member of the NYSBA Intellectual Property Law Section and to attend the section’s executive committee meetings during the term of the fellowship.

The Intellectual Property Law Section of the New York State Bar Association introduces members of the Association to the interesting and growing areas of law which make up intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing and Internet intellectual property law issues. It provides NYSBA certified CLE educational programs, other activities and invites the participation of attorneys, law students and non-lawyer members of the business community.



The Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
Scholarship Fund
Provides funding for scholarships for law students

This fund was established in 2003 by the law firm of Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, New York City to direct its resources through The New York Bar Foundation to higher education by providing funding for scholarships to students attending law schools in New York.

Founded in 1836, Kelley Drye represents some of the world’s most accomplished businesses and organizations. The firm has more than 300 attorneys throughout New York, Washington DC, Tysons Corner, Chicago, Stamford, Parsippany and Brussels, and affiliate offices in Jakarta and Mumbai.



The Judge Bernard S. Meyer Scholarship Fund Provides funding for scholarships to law students attending a law school in New York State who excel in legal writing and advocacy skills



Hon. Bernard S. Meyer
1916 – 2005



This fund was established in 2004 by Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C., to honor Judge Bernard S. Meyer. Judge Meyer, an Associate Judge of the Court of Appeals from May 1979 until December 31, 1986, practiced law with the firm from 1987 until his death on September 3, 2005. Prior to his appointment to the Court of Appeals in 1979 by Governor Hugh Carey, he had been a senior member of the firm.
 

At the time of his death, Judge Meyer was co-authoring a history of the Court of Appeals. Part of a two-volume history, The History of the New York Court of Appeals, 1932-2003 was published in 2006. The American Jewish Committee bestowed the Judge Learned Hand Award, its highest honor, on Judge Meyer in June 2003. This prestigious award is presented to outstanding members of the legal profession who exemplify the highest principles for which Judge Hand was renowned.

Founded in 1960, Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C. has five practice locations in Mineola, Melville, New York City, Albany and Washington DC. The firm has a demonstrated commitment to its clients, and to community and public affairs. The firm’s 65 attorneys include former judges and government officials, leaders of the civic and legal communities, and attorneys widely recognized as outstanding practitioners of their profession.



Minority Fellows in Environmental Law Fund
Provides fellowships in environmental law for minority law students

This fund was established by members of the Environmental Law Section of the New York State Bar Association to help provide fellowships in environmental law for minority law students. Eligibility for a fellowship is open to first-year, second-year and third-year (night students only) minority group members who are enrolled in a law school in New York State or are permanent New York State residents, and enrolled in a law school in the United States.

Visit the Environmental Law Section page of www.nysba.org for further fellowship information and details.



The Mitchell Rabbino Decision Making
Program Fund

Informs senior citizens about elder law issues through programs and resource materials


Established by the members of the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, this program fund supports the annual Mitchell Rabbino Decision Making Day. Named in memory of Mitchell W. Rabbino, a former officer of the New York State Bar Association’s Elder Law Section who died in 2003, lawyers from the New York State Bar Association volunteer their time and expertise at more than 160 sites across the state -- including senior centers, community centers, libraries, nursing homes, hospitals, and houses of worship. Each program day is a public service project of the Elder Law Section and involves attorneys speaking on topics relevant to older New Yorkers, their family members and caregivers.

Visit the Elder Law Section page of www.nysba.org for further information and details.



The Real Property Law Section Minority Fellowship Fund
Provides funding for fellowships for minority students attending a law school in New York State to assist in representing tenants in local landlord/tenant courts

The Real Property Law Section of the New York State Bar Association established this fund in 2007 to provide fellowships for minority law school students. Each fellowship will be presented to a minority student attending a law school in New York State to assist a public interest legal organization in representing tenants in local landlord/tenant courts. The fellowships take place in separate geographic regions of New York State. Each fellow will have a distinct opportunity to obtain direct exposure to real property law practice and its effect on housing issues involving tenants and landlords.

The purpose of the Real Property Law Section is to bring together members of the New York State Bar Association who are interested in the law relating to interests in real property and transactions involving real property. The Section examines and supports or opposes pending legislation, takes action to initiate legislation as necessary, and promotes the interests and welfare of the public and members of the Bar in real property law. It is an active service organization for the maintenance and protection of legal jurisprudence and the principles of real property, as well as for the education and professional development of the bar and the public.



The Student Loan Assistance for the Public Interest Fund (SLAPI)
Provides loan assistance to eligible law school graduates in public service work

This fund was established in coordination with the NYSBA Special Committee on Student Loan Assistance for the Public Interest with an initial grant from The New York Bar Foundation to provide loan assistance to eligible law school graduates in public service work. The first awards were announced in 2004.

The SLAPI Program, now in its third year, was designed to help alleviate the significant debt burden of young attorneys who opt to dedicate their legal talents to public service. To be eligible for the program, candidates must have been admitted to the bar within the past five years and be employed to work at least 35 hours per week in New York State at an organization providing civil, criminal or child welfare/juvenile justice legal services to low-income people; a federal, state or local government agency; or similar organization.

Visit the pro bono affairs page of www.nysba.org for further information and details.



The Tax Section Fund
Provides funding for low-income taxpayer clinics in New York State


The Tax Section of the New York State Bar Association contributed a gift to The New York Bar Foundation in 2007 to establish The Tax Section Fund which will provide funding for low-income taxpayer clinics in New York State. Low-income taxpayer clinics provide legal assistance for free or for a nominal charge to low-income taxpayers who have disputes with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The clinics may also provide educational workshops on tax rights and responsibilities in English and other languages. The clinics and their volunteers are completely independent of and are not associated with the federal government. Federal or State Income Tax Returns are not prepared at low-income taxpayer clinics



The Thelen Reid Brown Raysman &
Steiner LLP Fund
Provides funding for legal services for the benefit of children in foster care


Established in 2005, this fund is named after the law firm of Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner, LLP, New York City. Richard Raysman, a partner with Thelen Reid, said, “Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner, LLP is committed to helping to provide funding through The New York Bar Foundation for legal services to benefit children in foster care. The Firm believes that some of the most vulnerable in our society, children in the foster care system, must have their legal needs met through the justice system and we are confident that The New York Bar Foundation will help us to achieve that objective.”

Thelen Reid is an international law firm with over 600 attorneys and offices in New York, San Francisco, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Hartford, Northern New Jersey, Shanghai, and London. It offers top-tier legal services in the capital markets through its finance practices in the areas of real estate, private equity, energy, infrastructure, and projects, as well as in the technology, media, communications, and intellectual property sectors. In addition, the firm's commercial litigation practice frequently handles cases related to antitrust, toxic tort, and class actions, as well as those involving technology, patents, intellectual property, construction, and employment law. The firm is noted for having the preeminent construction practice in the United States, and is a recognized leader in the infrastructure and energy industries.

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