Columbian Lawyers Association

The Columbian Lawyers Association of the First Judicial Department serves the legal community across Manhattan and the Bronx in New York, NY, offering comprehensive professional development and networking opportunities for attorneys. As an accredited Continuing Legal Education provider approved by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board since 2001, the Association delivers monthly CLE programs designed to help attorneys meet their mandatory 24-credit continuing education requirements every two years. The organization provides both online and in-person educational sessions totaling 12 credits annually, covering key legal developments and emerging practice areas including recent updates to the Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) and contemporary issues such as ethics in artificial intelligence. Members benefit from practical, substantive programming that combines legal updates with valuable networking opportunities among peers in the New York legal profession. The Association maintains strong connections within the judicial system, actively participating in the screening and appointment process for New York Supreme and Civil Court candidates through its involvement with judicial screening panels that convene annually in April. Beyond education, the organization supports the legal profession through scholarship programs for law students and recognition of outstanding judicial and legal achievement through its prestigious Charles A. Rapallo and Justice Antonin Scalia Award, which honors distinguished jurists, attorneys, public servants, and citizens who have made significant contributions to the legal community and society.