The New Jersey State Bar Association’s (NJSBA) Annual Meeting wrapped up after three days of thought-provoking programming earlier this month. While the event was held virtually for the second year in row because of the pandemic, organizers are optimistic the meeting will resume in person in Atlantic City next year.
At a hybrid ceremony at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick, which could be viewed live online, 2020–2021 President Kimberly A. Yonta bid farewell and 2021–2022 President Domenick Carmagnola, the Executive Board and trustees were sworn in by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner.
The event kicked off with a discussion between Carmagnola and CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, regarding his new book about the latest research on brain health and steps individuals can take to maintain a sharper, healthier mind.
Attendees could choose from more than 60 sessions that featured distinguished panels providing insight on cutting-edge and practical topics in numerous practice areas, including:
- Mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations and employment law
- The Solar Winds cybersecurity breach and what lawyers can learn from it
- Key New Jersey Supreme Court decisions in the past year
- An examination of how women in the legal profession fared during the pandemic
- Several racial and social justice issues in sessions including “A Year After George Floyd: A Moment or a Movement,” where panelists discussed what, if any, progress had been made in the past year
- How legalizing marijuana will impact communities of color
- Transitioning from law clerk to associate
- The growth of home-grown hate, particularly through the use of online forums and social media platforms
- Family, criminal, civil and workers’ compensation bench bar conferences where attorneys and judges shared lessons from the past year and examined how the pandemic affected practice areas
- How hitting the “off” switch can help you thrive
- An outline of climate change priorities by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection commissioner
- Recognizing and communicating one’s value in the legal profession and beyond
- The importance of mentorship in the legal profession
In their annual State of the Judiciary speeches, Rabner and U.S. District Court Chief Judge Freda L. Wilson, though optimistic as the country transitions out of the pandemic, were concerned about the alarming number of judicial vacancies, and urged they be filled.
To read about some of the Annual Meeting sessions, visit njsba.com and click on the blog under the CommunityNet tab.