Columbian Lawyers
Founded in 1955, the Columbian Lawyers Association, First Judicial Department, is proud to count among its members prominent jurists, practicing attorneys and law students of Italian American descent. Friends of the Columbian Lawyers include financial institutions, corporations and individuals who share the ideals and goals of the Association.
As a Member or Friend of the Columbian Lawyers, you will enjoy an abundance of networking opportunities, a professional forum for the exchange of ideas with legal practitioners from diverse specializations and a host of other benefits and events year after year. In the past, the Association has sponsored Italian theater, musical and social evenings, gastronomical excursions, wine tastings and tours of Italy. Join us on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM for our highly acclaimed Monthly Meeting and CLE Dinner Programs held at the Columbus Citizens Foundation, 8 East 69th Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues.
Each year we sponsor the Rapallo Award Luncheon held in April at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. This prestigious event and coveted award is named in honor of the first Italian American jurist to be appointed to the New York State Court of Appeals, the Hon. Charles A. Rapallo. The award is presented to an outstanding jurist, attorney, public servant or distinguished citizen. Past recipients of the coveted Rapallo award include: U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Justice Guido Calabresi, Appellate Division Justices Anita Florio, Eugene Nardelli and Angela Mazzarelli and NYS Supreme Court Justices Anthony J. Cutrona and Francis A. Nicolai.
In September we host Judges’ Night, a truly special evening attended by jurists from all levels of the court system in and around the Metropolitan area. October welcomes law students, our general membership and Friends to our Scholarship Auction and Fundraiser.
In December we gather to celebrate Christmas and the New Year at a black tie dinner dance which is always a night to remember. Throughout the year we co-sponsor and participate in a variety of events such as the Annual Law Student Forum hosted by the Confederation of Columbian Lawyer Associations and programs by other organizations.
