January 26, 2018 – New York State Bar Honors Bernice K. Leber For Dedication to the Advancement of Women

By Communications Department

January 26, 2018

January 26, 2018 – New York State Bar Honors Bernice K. Leber For Dedication to the Advancement of Women

1.26.2018

By Communications Department

Bernice K. Leber of New York City, a partner in the firm of Arent Fox, is the 2017 recipient of the Ruth G. Schapiro Memorial Award given by the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Women in the Law.

President Sharon Stern Gerstman presented the award to Leber on January 26 at the State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting in New York City. It recognizes a State Bar member for outstanding contributions to addressing the concerns of women.

“Bernice K. Leber’s lifelong dedication to the advancement of women, coupled with her extraordinary contributions as a member of the bar, truly exemplifies the essence of the Ruth G. Schapiro Memorial Award,” said Susan L. Harper (Bates Group), chair of the Committee on Women in the Law. “We are honored to recognize Bernice for her leadership, lifelong contributions on behalf of women, and commitment to championing equal opportunities for all.”

Leber served as president of the Association in 2008-09, at the time becoming its fifth woman president. Leber played a major role in convincing the Association to examine the depth of human trafficking, which resulted in the creation of the Special Committee on Human Trafficking. That committee, co-chaired by Leber, produced a report about human trafficking which was adopted by the House of Delegates in 2013.

Over the years, Leber has co-chaired various NYSBA endeavors pertaining to women, including last year’s Commercial and Federal Litigation Section’s survey regarding women in the courtroom. She co-chaired the Committee on Women in the Law’s Women on the Move program in 2005 and 2009.

Leber serves as a volunteer at the West Side Women’s Center in NYC, which houses women and children who are victims of domestic violence. She also sits on the board of directors of the Women Trial Lawyers Caucus, a new group dedicated to enhancing the stature of women as active courtroom advocates and in opening doors and providing opportunities for women to take on such roles.

About the New York State Bar Association

The New York State Bar Association is the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Since 1876, the Association has helped shape the development of law, educated and informed the legal profession and the public, and championed the rights of New Yorkers through advocacy and guidance in our communities.

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Contact: Christian Nolan 

Senior Writer

cnolan@nysba.org

518-487-5536

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