People with mental disabilities in Africa face enormous obstacles to the exercise of their human rights, including societal stigma and exclusion, lack of community services, and lack of legal protections. The coming into force of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which many African countries have ratified, has given renewed impetus to protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, including those with mental health and intellectual disabilities. The panel discussion will bring together advocates and experts from the fields of international human rights and disability law, mental health law, and international development to examine a range of strategies to enhance protections of the rights of people with mental disabilities in Africa.

Moderator: Arlene S. Kanter, Bond, Schoeneck & King Distinguished Professor of Law; Director, Disability Law and Policy Program; Co-Director, Center on Human Policy, Law and Disability Studies, Syracuse University School of Law

Speakers: Shuaib Chalken, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Disability; Charlotte McClain-Nhlapo, Coordinator, Office for Disability and Inclusive Development, USAID; Med Ssengooba, Finberg Fellow/Researcher, Human Rights Watch; Steven Datlof, Hogan Lovells; Lycette Nelson, Litigation Director, Mental Disability Advocacy Center (MDAC)

Sponsored by: Committee on African Affairs, Christina Holder, Chair; Committee on Mental Health, Karen Gomes Andreasian, Chair; Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice

Globalization, international trade, and the growth of multinational law firms have resulted in an increased enrollment in LL.M. programs at law schools throughout the U.S. However, international attorneys may face a number of challenges as they seek employment in the U.S. legal market in the private or public sector. This panel will provide important information and advice for this valuable and diverse segment of today's legal market.

How to Find a Clerkship

In 2010, New York became the first state in the nation to allow victims of sex trafficking to clear their records of prior prostitution-related crimes. This program will help you identify whether your client may have been trafficked and will serve as an introduction to the process of filing a motion to vacate a prior prostitution-related conviction.

Moderator: SUZANNE TOMATORE, Director, Immigrant Women & Children Project, City Bar Justice Center

Speakers: MELISSA SONTAG BROUDO, Staff Attorney, Sex Workers Project, Urban Justice Center; KATE MOGULESCU, Staff Attorney, Criminal Defense Practice, The Legal Aid Society; JOHN TEMPLE, Assistant District Attorney, Sex Crimes Unit, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office

Sponsored by: Sex and Law Committee, Pamela Zimmerman, Chair; Criminal Courts Committee, Robert S. Dean, Chair; Criminal Law Committee, Karen A. Newirth, Chair; Juvenile Justice Committee, Lynn M. Leopold, Chair; and Council on Children, Stephanie Gendell, Chair

This event will explore the unique issues and challenges faced by in-house legal counsel in the fashion industry and how their role has changed and expanded in an online world. Our panelists also will discuss their respective career paths and provide advice to attorneys and law students interested in entering this exciting industry.Introduction by: MONICA RICHMAN, SNR DentonModerator: MARC LIEBERSTEIN, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLPSpeakers: ANTONIO BORRELLI , Assistant General Counsel, The Donna Karan Company LLC; KAREN LAPIDUS, Former Vice President & General Counsel, Loehmann’s Holdings, Inc.; CINDY BIRNBAUM RONSON, General Counsel, A&E Stores, Inc.; ANNA DALLA VAL , Senior Director, International Trademarks and Enforcement, Ralph Lauren Corporation

In this law podcast, leading practitioners and professors of New York environmental law will review the year's most significant judicial, regulatory, and administrative developments. Featured topics will include the regulation of high volume hydraulic fracturing, new developments under the State Environmental Quality Review Act, events at DEC, and more.

This conference was designed for attorneys, animal interest groups, animal rescue groups, and anyone with an interest in helping animals, gain a basic understanding of the various laws that affect animals. Presentations featured a variety of current animal law topics, including a review of various NYS laws and NYC laws as they pertain to: housing laws, Trap-Neuter and Return programs, and cruelty laws and their enforcement; an overview of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act; a review of estate planning issues as pertains to animals; and a review of NYS legislation as pertains to animals.

Welcoming/Closing Remarks: Mikki Golar, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Chair, Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals; Melissa Gillespie, Law Offices of Melissa Gillespie; Conference Chair, Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals

Speakers: Elizabeth Kocienda, Legislative Affairs Associate, New York City Bar; Fran Carlisle, solo practitioner; Daryl Vernon, Vernon & Ginsberg LLP; Bryan Kortis, Board Member, Neighborhood Cats; Program Manager, PetSmart Charities; Vernessa M. Poole, Legal Counsel, Humane Law Enforcement; Adam Saunders, Ulster County SCPA; Odette Wilkens, Executive Director, Equal Justice Alliance; Meena Alagappan, Executive Director, Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers (HEART); Jane Hoffman, President and Chair of the Board, Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals; Caroline Van Zandt, LCSW, PETS Project Coordinator, Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA); Alexandra Collier, Director of Volunteer Services and Special Projects, Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA); Ssuan Kaufman, Founder and President, Animal Relief Fund ("ARF")

The plight of religious and ethnic minorities in the Middle East today will be examined through speakers representing various religious and/or ethnic groups. These groups face pressure to assimilate or to leave. What is the current situation of religious minorities and ethnic groups? What challenges do they face? How can the situation be monitored and documented? What can be done to preserve these communities within the fabric of the Middle East?

Moderator: Carole Basri, Senior Vice President, Balint, Brown & Basri LLC; Adjunct Professor, Fordham University School of Law

Speakers: Hon. Irwin Cotler, Member of Parliament; Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of Canada; Dr. Ashraf Ramelah, Founder and President, Human Rights Organization "Voice of the Copts," Anthony Vance, Director, External Affairs at Baha'i National Center

Commentators: Malvina Halberstam, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law; Elizabeth Defeis, Seton Hall University Law School

This event explores the unique issues and challenges faced by in-house legal counsel in the beauty industry and how their role has changed and expanded in an online world. Our panelists also discuss their respective career paths and provide advice to attorneys and law students interested in entering this exciting industry.Moderator: CHARLES COLMAN, Charles Colman Law, PLLCSpeakers: ERIC BREITMAN, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, Coty Inc.; ANCA CORNIS-POP, Global Marketing Counsel, Avon Products, Inc.; BRET PARKER, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, Elizabeth Arden, Inc.; ERICA J. SWARTZ, Trademark Counsel, Revlon

This conference was designed for attorneys, animal interest groups, animal rescue groups, and anyone with an interest in helping animals, gain a basic understanding of the various laws that affect animals. Presentations featured a variety of current animal law topics, including a review of various NYS laws and NYC laws as they pertain to: housing laws, Trap-Neuter and Return programs, and cruelty laws and their enforcement; an overview of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act; a review of estate planning issues as pertains to animals; and a review of NYS legislation as pertains to animals.

Welcoming/Closing Remarks: Mikki Golar, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Chair, Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals; Melissa Gillespie, Law Offices of Melissa Gillespie; Conference Chair, Committee on Legal Issues Pertaining to Animals

Speakers: Elizabeth Kocienda, Legislative Affairs Associate, New York City Bar; Fran Carlisle, solo practitioner; Daryl Vernon, Vernon & Ginsberg LLP; Bryan Kortis, Board Member, Neighborhood Cats; Program Manager, PetSmart Charities; Vernessa M. Poole, Legal Counsel, Humane Law Enforcement; Adam Saunders, Ulster County SCPA; Odette Wilkens, Executive Director, Equal Justice Alliance; Meena Alagappan, Executive Director, Humane Education Advocates Reaching Teachers (HEART); Jane Hoffman, President and Chair of the Board, Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals; Caroline Van Zandt, LCSW, PETS Project Coordinator, Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA); Alexandra Collier, Director of Volunteer Services and Special Projects, Jewish Association for Services for the Aged (JASA); Ssuan Kaufman, Founder and President, Animal Relief Fund ("ARF")