Pro Bono Activities
Sylvia's activities include pro bono service mentoring attorneys who are entering private practice and counseling individuals in matrimonial matters. She is also a past participant as a Pro Bono Employer/Mentor in CUNY's Associate Degree Program at New York City College of Technology, Legal Assistant Studies Department, where she mentored paralegal students prior to seeking employment. As Chair and Vice-Chair of the Estates Trusts Section at NYCLA, Sylvia also mentors law students who are interested in pursuing a career in probate and administration.
Pro Bono Judicial Mentoring for Judicial Candidates
Sylvia maintains a strong conviction that New York's residents deserve to appear before only the most highly qualified judges and justices. As a pro bono service, she also mentors prospective judicial candidates who are attorneys who apply to judicial screening panels that question them on their qualifications to service as a judge or Justice of the Civil Court of the State of New York or the Supreme Court of the State of New York.
Community Service, Community Board 5, New York City
In April of 2011, Sylvia was appointed by New York's Borough President, Scott Stringer, as a board member to Community Board 5, which is situated in the center of New York City. Her contribution is as a member of the Education, Health and Human Services Committee as well as the Committee on Consents and Variances.
Community Service Society
On June 9, 2011, Sylvia was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the distinguished Community Service Society, a leading, independent, nonprofit organization that provides innovative solutions to the most urgent problems facing low-income New Yorkers. Founded over 160 years ago, CSS tackles complex issues of poverty through advocacy for the poor, researching and reshaping public policy and providing direct services that improve the quality of life. Sylvia will be working closely with other board members in the Development Committee.
Political Activities
- Female Democratic District Leader - 75th Assembly District Part A
- Vice-Chair, New York Democratic Party, Committee on Rules
- State Committee Person - NYS Democratic Committee 75th Assembly District
- Member, Independent Judicial Screening Panel, Civil Court, City of New York, 2004
- Member, Host Committee, "Show Up for Cocktails" Event at which Leecia Eve, former counsel to Senator Hillary Clinton, announced formation of "SHOW UP New York" to mobilize young voters, June 2006
- Judicial Panel Administrator, Democratic Party, First Judicial District for the Selection of Civil Court Judges, 2008
- Member, Independent Judicial Screening Panel, Civil Court, City of New York, 2010
- Democratic County Committee Person, Political District 83/66
- Delegate: Democratic Judicial Convention, September 24, 2012
- Executive Committee Member, Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, September 2012
- New York State Democratic Committee, State Committee Person, 75th A.D. 2012
- Chair, Executive Committee Nominating Committee, Chelsea Reform Democratic Club, Jan. 2013
- Ex-Officio, Member of the Executive Committee, Chelsea Reform Democratic Club 2013
- Mistress of Ceremonies: Chelsea Reform Democratic Club 2013 Annual Brunch
Professional Activities
- Member, National Organization of Italian American Women
- Member, Brooklyn Law School, Alumni Association; Judge, Prince Moot Court Competition, 2001-2010
- Member, Italian American Law Students Association 2001 to Present
- Member, Health Business Alliance 2010
Recent Appearances: TV, Radio and Civic
In addition to her numerous teaching and mentoring accomplishments, in May of 2011, Sylvia was the featured keynote speaker for National Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals at their annual dinner in New York City where she explored elder abuse and the elder law crisis in America. Her concerns for the elderly was also highlighted in an article she authored in the January 2010 issue of Verdict, a NCCP publication, entitled "Crisis in Guardianships." Also featured was an article she authored highlighting the changes to recently enacted new power of attorney in New York State entitled, "Impact of the New Power of Attorney Form in New York."
Sylvia has appeared on national radio shows on topic covering issues related to retirement and estate planning, relationship conflicts over money, the need for prenuptial agreements, the Boston Catholic Church, cyber adultery, father's rights and custody issues. In May 2011, Sylvia was one of the keynote speakers for the National Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals on the topic of the plight of the elderly in America. She has also presented as a host CLE speaker for the National Academy of Continuing Legal Education.
Publications
- Author, Verdict, "Crisis in Guardianships," National Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals, Jan. 2010
- Author, Verdict, "Impact of the New Power of Attorney Form in New York," Jan. 2010
- Author, Live Your Life by the Numbers (Penguin Books, 1991) [Reviews]
- Contributing Writer, Nuvo News-Minneapolis, MN
- Author, NYSBA Chapter on "Undue Influence," pending publication
Watch Sylvia Lecture
- The New Power of Attorney and Planning Your Estate
- The New New York Power of Attorney
- Confronting Ethical Issues in Trusts and Estates Practice
Current and Past Media and Speaking Appearances
100+ national radio and television appearances and celebrity & political profiles, including on The Montel Williams Show, Phil Donohue Show, Maury Povich, The Joan Rivers Show, Geraldo, CBS This Evening, NBC This Evening, MSNBC, NYBC, Lifetime Television, BBC, Cablevision, WABC, WCBS. WMWK, WMCA, WOR, WLIB, KBX, WOOD.
- Featured speaker on national radio programs: retirement and estate planning, relationship conflicts over money, prenuptial agreements, the Boston Catholic Church, cyber adultery, father's rights, custody issues
- Featured speaker: "Backwards in Heels," Women's Attorney Networking Forum, First American Title Company, The Adventure Group, September 2008 speaking on "The Unconscious Art of Creating Conscious Business Results"
- Featured Speaker: "Bath Junkie," Dr. Robert Sorin: Health, Comfort & Beauty, 1/15/09.
- Featured Speaker: "Just Us Girls," Women's Networking Group, 1/16/09.
- Keynote Speaker, National Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals, May 2011 Reception
- Featured Speaker, National Coalition of Concerned Legal Professionals, "Plan for Aging," October 5, 2012
- Featured Speaker, New York Women's Bar Association, Elder Law Section, January 31, 2013
Sylvia E. Di Pietro, Esq., LLC
55 West Fourteenth Street • Suite 4H • New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-242-8800 • Fax: 212-633-6298 • Email: info@sylviadipietro.com
Attorney Practice Areas: Last Will & Testament, Living Trusts, Health Care Proxy, Probate, Administration, Accountings, Complex Trusts & Estate Litigation, Supplemental Needs Trusts, Same Sex Marriage, Trust Administration, Surrogate and Supreme Court proceedings, Guardian Ad Litem, Power of Attorney, Beneficiary, Inheritance, Elder Abuse, Elder Law, Mental Hygiene Law, Guardianship, Article 81 Petitions, Risk Management Contracts, Consulting, and Radio, TV & Media Appearances.
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