NYSBA President Sherry Levin Wallach Receives Lifetime Achievement Award
3.9.2023
New York State Bar Association President Sherry Levin Wallach was honored with the Huntington Her Hero Lifetime Achievement Award Wednesday night during the 4th Annual International Law Conference on the Status of Women.
The award recognizes women in law and public policy who dedicate their careers to justice for women and girls. The conference was held at the New York City Bar Association.
“I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of the many trailblazers who have championed the rights of women and girls,” she said. “I remain steadfast in my lifelong commitment to fight for the rights of women and girls both here and abroad.”
The conference and awards commemorate International Women’s Day and the International Day of Women Judges held during March each year. The event is sponsored by the New York City Bar Association and co-sponsored by NYSBA’s Committee on Leadership Development and NYSBA’s Women in Law Section.
“These honorees are often the unseen heroes in our legal system. We want to elevate them so others can see their outstanding work on behalf of women and girls,” said Catherine van Kampen who organized the event. “We hope this award serves as inspiration for women and girls to strive for excellence in whatever career field they choose.”
World Renowned Experts
The evening brought together brilliant legal and human rights experts to discuss the most pertinent issues facing women and girls today. Three panels discussed issues ranging from violence against women to the effect of climate change on women to the impact of technology on the empowerment of women and girls.
NYSBA president Sherry Levin Wallach spoke on the issue of innovation and technological change and its impact on women and girls. The panel examined if education in the digital age is improving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Panelists also discussed growing threats against lawyers and judges in times of war and civil unrest in places like Iran, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Edwina Martin Honored with 2023 Her Hero Lifetime Achievement Award
Fellow New York State Bar Association member Edwina Martin (right) joined Sherry Levin Wallach as a recipient of the 2023 Her Hero Lifetime Achievement Award. Martin, the commissioner and public administrator of Richmond County, is responsible for the administration of estates of persons who don’t have a will and where there isn’t a qualified person to administer the estate. This follows a long career in public service working for the New York City Council and as director of government relations, communications and pro bono for Legal Services NYC.
Mirna Martinez Santiago Honored with Epiq Women Award for Justice and Advocacy
Mirna Martinez Santiago (above left), chair of NYSBA’s Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and a member of the association’s Executive Committee, received the Epiq Award, which recognizes women who work in organizations committed to helping women and girls.
In 2018, she founded Girls Rule the Law to introduce middle and high school girls to the law and to allow them to interact with mentors in the legal and legislative fields. Santiago also operates a consulting practice that focuses on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and independent workplace discrimination investigations.
