Philip B. Blank Memorial Lecture on Attorney Ethics

Lecture in the Judicial Institute

 

WATCH THE 2023 PHILIP B. BLANK MEMORIAL LECTURE ON ATTORNEY ETHICS

PAST BLANK LECTURES

Andrea Kupfer SchneiderMarch 1, 2023
Andrea Kupfer Schneider
Director of the Kukin Program for Conflict Resolution at Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University
"The Conflict in Arbitrator Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Public Judges or Private Neutrals?"

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Irene Oritseweyinmi JoeApril 4, 2022
Irene Oritseweyinmi Joe
Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law
“Learning from Mistakes: Ethical Considerations for Public Defenders"

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Mimi Rocah March 27, 2018
Mimi Rocah
Pace Law Distinguished Criminal Justice Fellow, Former Federal Prosecutor and MSNBC and NBC News Legal Analyst
“The Rule of Law in the Age of Trump"

Angela DavisSeptember 6, 2017
Angela Davis
Professor of Law, American University
“The Prosecutor's Ethical Duty to End Mass Incarceration"

Susan CarleFebruary 10, 2016
Susan Carle
Professor of Law and Pauline Ruyle Moore Scholar, Washington College of Law, American University
“Lawyers’ Ethics and Early Racial Justice Reform: A Story and Conclusions."

Scott Cummings, Professor, UCLA School of LawMarch 16, 2015
Scott L. Cummings
Professor, UCLA School of Law
"Lawyers and Social Movements"

Deborah L. RhodeDecember 3, 2013
Deborah L. Rhode
Ernest W. McFarland Professor of Law, Director of the Center on the Legal Profession, Director of the Program in Law and Social Entrepreneurship
"Crisis in the Profession"

Renée KnakeMarch 18, 2013
Renée Knake
Associate Professor, Michigan State University College of Law; Co-director of the Kelley Institute of Ethics and the Legal Profession
"Democratizing the Delivery of Legal Services"

Justice Elizabeth LacyNovember 10, 2011
Justice Elizabeth Lacy
Senior Justice on the Virginia Supreme Court
"20/20 Vision for 2020 Ethics."

Stephen J. FriedmanOctober 13, 2010
Stephen J. Friedman, seventh president of Pace University, served for three years as dean of Pace University School of Law, and president of Pace University Board of Trustees.
"The Ethical Imperatives for Lawyers."

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Robert H. MundheimNovember 11, 2009
Robert H. Mundheim, Esq.
Of Counsel to Shearman & Sterling, LLP, in New York City, and former Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Law School
"Enduring Ethics, Changing Ethics Rules: Is there a Contradiction?"

Alvin J. BronsteinJanuary 27, 2009
Alvin J. Bronstein, Esq.
Pace Law School Practitioner-in-Residence
"Ethical Obligations When the Client is a Worthy Cause."

Steven C. KraneMarch 4, 2008
Steven C. Krane, Esq.
Partner, Proskauer Rose LLP
"Taking the Red Pill: A Search for the Intersection Between Ethics and Morality"

Jonathan G. BlattmachrMarch 5, 2007
Jonathan G. Blattmachr
Partner, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
"Suicide of the Guardians: The Executive Branch, Tax Regulations, and the Attorney-Client Relationship"

photo of gavelFebruary 28, 2006
Louis A. Craco
Chairman, New York State Judicial Institute on Professionalism in the Law
"Carpe Diem: An Opportunity to Reclaim Lawyers' Independence"

Robert J. Grey Jr.September 21, 2004
Robert J. Grey Jr.
American Bar Association President
"Legal Ethics in the 21st Century"

James B. ComeyNovember 12, 2003
James B. Comey
United States Attorney, Southern District of New York
"Fighting Terrorism and Protecting Civil Liberties"

photo of gavelJanuary 22, 2003
Stanley L. Cohen, '83
Attorney of Law
"Deconstructing Ethical Considerations 2-26, 2-27, 2-28, and 2-29: A textual and historical analysis"

William H. SimonOctober 11, 2001
Professor William H. Simon
Saunders Professor of Law, Stanford University
Visiting Professor, Columbia University
"The Role of the Public Official's Lawyer: A Case Study from the Clinton Era"

Carrie Menkel-MeadowOctober 11, 2000
Carrie Menkel-Meadow
Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center
"Private Lives and Professional Responsibilities? The Relationship of Personal Morality to Lawyering and Professional Ethics"

photo of gavelNovember 9, 1999
The Honorable Roger J. Miner
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
"Professional Responsibility in Appellate Practice: A View from the Bench"

Ronald K. NobleApril 16, 1998
Ronald K. Noble
Professor of Law, New York University School of Law; Former Under Secretary for Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Treasury
"Investigating Leaks: A Necessary Undertaking for Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr"

photo of gavelApril 3, 1997
Bill Wagner, Esq.
Past President, Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Senior Partner, Wagner, Vaughan & McLaughlin, P.A.
"Legal Ethics in a Confrontational Society"

Monroe H. FreedmanMarch 28, 1996
Monroe H. Freedman
Howard Lichtenstein Distinguished Professor of Legal Ethics, Hofstra University School of Law
"Ethical Obligations of Prosecutors in Death Penalty Cases"

photo of gavelApril 27, 1995
Linda Fairstein, Esq.
Chief, Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit, New York County District Attorney's Office
"Sex Crimes and the Media"

The Honorable E. Leo MilonasApril 5, 1994
The Honorable E. Leo Milonas
Chief Administrative Judge, State of New York
"Matrimonial Lawyers and Ethical Problems"

The Honorable Robert JohnsonNov. 19, 1992
The Honorable Robert Johnson
Bronx County District Attorney


Stephen GillersApril 8, 1992
Stephen Gillers
Professor of Law, New York University School of Law
"The Owl and the Fox: The Transformation of Legal Work in a Commodity Culture"

The Honorable Guy J. ManganoMay 3, 1990
The Honorable Guy J. Mangano
Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, 2d Dept.


HISTORY OF THE PHILIP B. BLANK MEMORIAL LECTURE ON ATTORNEY ETHICS

The Philip B. Blank Memorial Lecture on Attorney Ethics was established by the family, friends and colleagues of the late Philip B. Blank, Associate Dean for External Affairs and Professor of Law at Pace University School of Law. In honor of Dean Blank's commitment to legal ethics, the Blank Lecture has presented distinguished members of the legal community recognized for their leadership in the area of attorney ethics and practice.

Dean Blank was a member of the Law School's faculty from 1979 until his death in 1989. He taught courses in Professional Responsibility, Wills, Estate Planning and Legal Methods. He is remembered as an outstanding teacher of the law and a caring mentor to his students. A model citizen of Westchester County, Dean Blank served as Chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Town of Mount Pleasant and held leadership positions in the Westchester County and White Plains Bar Associations.