THE MISSION OF STATEN ISLAND WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION

The Staten Island Women's Bar Association (SIWBA) seeks to improve the status of women attorneys and women in general. Still, we also see equally as well to increase justice in the community. We are the guardians of our community, whether or not we work in a "public service" position, and as such, we must refresh our ethical awareness regularly. In the hue and cry of everyday life, we are tempted to take shortcuts to gain an advantage – however, we must consider whether to do so involves injury to others and ourselves. 

An ethical attorney also considers the impact of changes on the community's life. In addition to the search for truth, an attorney believes in the justness of any outcome that her actions may cause and, indeed, must constantly call upon her philosophical training when seeing to represent any person ethically. We all work together to ensure just outcomes that respond to the highest needs of the community.

Our purpose in building and strengthening the community of women is to help women give back to the larger community while fulfilling their personal goals. As a Staten Island Women's Bar Association member, you have access to a statewide network of women active in all facets of life in the State of New York. SIWBA is a Women's Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) chapter. WBASNY members serve on committees that impact the policy and planning process for all statewide legislation and policymaking, whether civil, criminal, or commercial. 

As a chapter member, consider serving on a chapter committee while co-chairing a similar statewide committee. The service would allow you to be the pipeline for your committee to the rest of the chapter, bringing issues forward and taking feedback to the stewed committee. It is exhilarating when you see your words appear in a Memorandum accompanying a bill before the Legislature or in an amicus brief submitted by WBASNY regarding precedent-setting litigation.