Two women from Brooklyn poised to lead statewide bar associations

June 8, 2018 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Angelicque M. Moreno was honored with the Amy Wren Award by the Brooklyn Women's Bar Association for her work on behalf of the organization in 2015. She will be the first Latina president of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers when she takes over. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese

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Two attorneys from Brooklyn are poised to take over as presidents of two statewide bar associations within the next year.

Michele Mirman, who just wrapped up her term as president of the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association (BWBA), was recently sworn in as president-elect of the New York State Trial Lawyers Academy (NYSTLA), and Angelicque M. Moreno, a vice president of BWBA, was named president-elect of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers (NYSATL).

“I’m excited because Michele will be president the same year,” Moreno said. “You are going to have two women leading the top trial organizations that are run by women. How cool is that?”

The difference between the two organizations — NYSTLA is a plaintiff organization, which advocates on behalf of consumers; and NYSATL represents both plaintiffs and trial attorneys to promote the overall interests of the bar.

“It’s all directed at trial work on behalf of the people, malpractice, construction victims, victims of car collisions,” Mirman said in explaining NYSTLA. “It has a very big focus on helping consumers, helping the everyday man or woman because they cannot speak for themselves after they’ve been brutally injured.”

Both women said that their work with BWBA has helped prepare them to run a statewide bar, somewhat. While they face similar issues, such as membership and growth, the legislative agenda makes it the most different.

“I think a big focus is on legislation for everybody in the state,” Mirman said of working with a statewide bar. “Vetting legislation, seeing whether it’s going to be helpful to us in New York. That’s the big one. That’s only a small part of what we do at the BWBA.”

When Moreno, who grew up in the projects in the South Bronx, takes over NYSATL, she will become the first Hispanic woman to lead a non-specialized statewide bar in New York state.

“Statistically, I should not be where I am,” Moreno admitted. “Most of my friends did not make it through the system. I think I have the most blessed and extraordinary life. I never envisioned that I could be the president of a statewide organization.

“I’m super excited and a little nervous because it’s a big responsibility,” she continued. “I’m not cocky and I know that I’m going to have to rely on my team, and it’s a great team to work with. It’s going to be a fabulous year.”

Neither has settled on an agenda that they will pursue as president. Right now they are focused on working with their respective presidents during the next year to gain experience so that they are ready for the job on day one.

“I’m working on coming up with an agenda,” Moreno said. “Right now I’m working with the president to help him push his agenda, and it’s teaching me about the issues that I want to push forward with the help of the organization.”

The two women will be installed as presidents of their respective organizations in the Spring of 2019.

“Brooklyn is going to be the fourth largest city in the United States by 2020, we’re going to beat out Chicago so of course we’re going to be representing in large numbers,” Mirman joked.