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Michele Mirman installed as President of Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association

June 23, 2017 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle
The Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association installed Michele Mirman as its president during a ceremony in Brooklyn Heights on Monday. Pictured from left: President-elect Carrie Anne Cavallo, outgoing President Sara Gozo, Hon. Randall T. Eng, Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix, President Michele Mirman, Hon. Marsha Steinhardt and Elaine Avery. Eagle photos by Mario Belluomo
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As the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association begins preparations to celebrate its 100th anniversary it will do so with Michele Mirman at the helm after she was officially installed as its president during a ceremony in Brooklyn Heights on Wednesday. 

“The Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association will be 100 years old and we’re doing fabulously,” Hon. Marsha Steinhardt declared. “To tell the truth the best is yet to come.” 

Mirman, who grew up in East Flatbush, attended James Madison High School and graduated from Antioch School of Law, is the 58th president in the association’s history. She was installed alongside officers Carrie Anne Cavallo, president-elect; Natoya L. McGhie, vice president; Angelicque Moreno, vice president; Meryl Schwartz, vice president; Claire Rush, treasurer; Hon. Lillian Wan, corresponding secretary; and Hon. Marsha Steinhardt, recording secretary. 

Hon. Randall T. Eng swore in the officers and directors. Past President Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix then swore in Mirman as president. 

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The organization, which was the first-ever women’s bar association in the state, celebrates its 100th anniversary on April 2018, so much of the talk during the installation was about plans for its centennial celebration.

“As the BWBA approaches its centennial year, I want to take a moment to say how very proud I am of this organization and to be a part of this organization that continues to be a voice of the general bar and also of matters of import to women and families,” said past President Elaine N. Avery, who served as master of ceremonies.

After Mirman was officially installed as president, she gave a brief speech in which she laid out some of the goals for the next year and reflected on the past 100 years. In doing so, she told the story of the three women who first organized the bar — two-time President Amy Wren; Hon. Jeanette Brill, the first female magistrate in Brooklyn; and Helen P. McCormick, the first female assistant district attorney in Brooklyn. 

“What do we in our time committed to in our time as women lawyers? What needs doing and what unique skills do we bring?” Mirman asked. “When Brill, Wren and McCormick likely asked themselves the same questions, they came up with education, legislation and support. 

“Each age brings its own challenges,” she continued. “As we gain freedom, we uncover more shackles. There is no Equal Rights Amendment, the Violence Against Women Act is being defunded, reproductive rights are under attack … Our centennial demands that we pause and reflect. How do we want our world changed? What impact do we want to make?”

In talking about goals for the upcoming year, Mirman explained that she wanted the group to be more visible on social media and she wants to work toward ending the wage gap, among other issues. She also spoke about the importance of each member of the bar mentoring younger attorneys. 

“If each of us reaches out to one young attorney, we will be 800 attorneys strong, double our size, an amalgam of fresh and seasoned attorneys all dedicated to the goals of our bar … For our centennial, let us rededicate ourselves to the goals of our founders — legislation, support, education — and we will empower our bar for the next 100 years.”

 

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Below—Back row from left: Joy Thompson, Connie Mallafre Melendez, Hon. Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Angelicque Moreno, Michele Mirman, Sara Gozo, Elaine N. Avery, Meryl Schwartz, Hon. Marsha Steinhardt, Helene Blank and Joanne Minsky Cohen. Front row from left: Hon. Theresa Ciccotto, Deborah Johnson, Hon. Nancy Bannon, Anne Swern, Hon. Lillian Wan, Hon. Genine Edwards, President-Elect Carrie Anne Cavallo, Natoya McGhie, Derefim Neckles, Holly Peck, Barbara Grcevic and Sue Wasko. 


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