By JODI SOKOLOWSKI
Buffalo Law Journal

A four-part series addressing new and proposed discrimination laws and how they impact most law practices will be held this month.

"Faces of Discrimination" is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, June 4, 11, 18 and 25 at the Bar Association of Erie County's headquarters. Continuing legal education credit, one credit in practice management per lecture, is available.

The state's Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act, passed in 2003, and a pending Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, expected to be passed, are two laws that lawyers and employers should be aware of, said James Rolls of Rolls Kohn LLP, a series speaker.

California's Supreme Court upheld the state's same-sex marriage law this month, and New York Gov. David Paterson decreed last week that all state agencies must recognize same-sex couples who were married in states or Canadian provinces that permit it. In addition, the U.S. Supreme Court just upheld two cases for employees' rights to sue for retaliation related to discrimination (see "Court OKs retaliation suits in race, age cases," page 21).

"There a number of (legal actions) happening these days, and employers are finally realizing how important it is (to be aware), because they can be exposed to lawsuits if they don't enforce the law," said Rolls, who said has seen a substantial increase in his practice.

The series consists of four lectures, all open to the public:

• June 4: Family-law issues covering child custody and support; marriage, civil unions and divorce; and domestic violence. Speakers are Barbra Kavanaugh, law clerk to Hon. John O'Donnell, and Shari Jo Reich, Kenney Shelton Liptak Nowak LLP.

• June 11: Civil-rights matters including employment and housing discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, SONDA and pending legislation. Speakers: Lindy Korn, Law Offices of Lindy Korn, and James Rolls, Rolls Kohn LLP.

• June 18: Money-related issues covering trust and estates, adoptions, wills, Medicaid planning and potential financial pitfalls of same-sex marriage. Speaker: Gayle Eagan, Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP.

• June 25: Health and well-being issues including health-care proxies, name changes, living wills and matters referred to the Lawyer Referral & Information Service. Speaker: Lillian Medina, ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project Inc.

Buffalo solo practitioner Lindy Korn said that while New York state is more progressive than most, Upstate has yet to catch up with New York City's human-rights law, which she describes as "incredibly inclusive."

She said she hopes as lawyers attend this workshop that they will move the discussion about expanding human rights forward to their clients as well as family and friends.

"It's important to raise the consciousness of the public and the Legislature that there is change happening in our practices, our workplaces and our lives," she said.

The cost is $60 for all four sessions or $20 each (free for law students). For more information, call Mary Kohlbacher at 852-8687, ext. 15.