James Kosakow

The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) is a voluntary bar association for the state of New York. NYSBA was founded in 1877 with the stated goal to cultivate the science of jurisprudence; to promote reform in the law; to facilitate the administration of justice, and to elevate the standards of integrity, honor, professional skill, and courtesy in the legal profession. Its first President was David B. Hill. Among the reforms in the legislation signed into law creating the association was the removal of the restrictions on the admission of women to the practice of law. In 1896, NYSBA proposed the first global means for settling disputes among nations, what is now called the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague.

The Connecticut Bar Association, Inc. (CBA) is the preeminent organization for lawyers and the legal profession in Connecticut. The CBA is a non-profit organization pursuant to section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code. Through its members, the CBA is dedicated to promoting public service and advancing the principles of law and justice. The CBA was founded on June 2, 1875. (Three years later, CBA representatives held a convention in Saratoga Springs, New York, to consider establishing a national bar association. The creation of the American Bar Association was a direct result of that action by the CBA.) From its creation, the CBA was instrumental in developing and improving court rules and providing quality educational and networking opportunities for its members. Over the next century, the CBA began numerous programs to provide benefits and resources to members and to improve the practice of law. These programs include a formal and dynamic continuing legal education program (CLE); the Connecticut Bar Journal, the organization's official publication; Connecticut Lawyer magazine; the Connecticut Council of Bar Presidents; substantive law sections; and committees. In 1975, with membership at approximately 4,000, the CBA celebrated its 100th anniversary and adopted a new logo representing "equal justice through law." In 1987, the CBA hired its first full-time lobbyist to serve as the members' voice at the state Capitol. In 2001, the organization's legislative area was expanded to two full-time lobbyists and a full-time legislative assistant "to encourage good legislation to the extent that partisan interests are not served thereby and to discourage bad legislation."

The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) is a nonprofit association of lawyers established in 1949. Its members are elected to the College by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience as trust and estate counselors. All ACTEC members have made substantial contributions to the field of trusts and estates law through writing, teaching and bar leadership activities. The members work together in a collegial manner to • Enhance their ability to provide the most efficient and highest quality services to their clients; • Develop qualified trust and estate counselors; • Improve and reform probate, trust and tax laws, procedures, and standards of professional responsibility; and • Cooperate with bar associations and other organizations with similar missions.