By JODI SOKOLOWSKI
Buffalo Law Journal

Giles Manias plans to focus on building civility and respect among lawyers and expanding diversity in the legal profession during his tenure as Bar Association of Erie County president.

The Buffalo solo practitioner was sworn in as the Bar's 102nd president during its 121st annual meeting and election June 6. Robert Convissar, also a Buffalo solo practitioner, was elected vice president in voting by 1,094 members of the 3,815-member association.

Manias' initiatives are centered on "creating a greater sense of ownership in our members of the organization."

"As they get a better sense of unity and address the issues they want to address, participation will grow and the organization will stay healthy," he said.

Manias' main goal as president is to see the local bar revive the mutual cooperation and respect that he says once existed among lawyers, so that they can accomplish "what is right and just for clients."

The "egotistical approach" in some lawyer advertising, coupled with the public's negative perception of lawyers, is prompting Manias to address his concern that lack of civility is a problem for the profession.

"If we can mentor young lawyers back to how we used to treat each other with civil and helpful discussions on cases before the legal battle starts, (cases) can work out so much better and faster, and clients are so much happier," he said. "It really stems from how we treat each other and comport ourselves in the public. There's no need to make the opposing attorney the bad guy just because of your own position."

The profession faces outside criticism from "squawk" radio, Convissar added, for representing criminals and being involved in investigations as well as "shooting ourselves in the foot by having advertising that diminishes the profession."

"We need to make sure the public understands that we're required to act zealously for our clients," he said. "We have to address these issues head-on and do everything we can to restore the respect that we've earned and deserve."

Manias said his experience as a former director of the Bar and chair of its Unlawful Practice, Workers' Compensation and Senior Lawyers committees, will help him. He said serving the organization is not necessarily an obligation, but an opportunity to serve.

"I'm from the Kennedy generation, where you feel you have an obligation to give back," he said. "You can't complain if you don't show up and contribute yourself."

He currently chairs the bar's International Sister Cities Committee, for which he negotiated agreements between the Kent Law Society of England and Le Barreau de Lille of France. Manias hopes to extend that committee's activities by linking up with bar associations from Morocco, Canada and Siena, Italy.

As an American Bar Association representative, he will attend an international conference in Lille, where more than 6,000 lawyers from across the world will gather in October.

A University at Buffalo Law School graduate, Manias also holds a premier license in public international law from the University of Brussels, Belgium.

Being solo practitioners, both Manias and Convissar said, permits them to be more flexible with their time as bar leaders.

Manias said while he'll cut back on his board involvement with such organizations as Legal Services for the Elderly, Disabled and Disadvantaged of Western New York and the BAEC's Volunteer Lawyers Project, he will rely heavily on his staff, and appreciates his clients and the courts for accommodating his schedule.

"I think they recognize that I'm serving a larger, greater good," he said.

Convissar formerly served as the association's treasurer and chaired its Criminal Law Committee. A onetime Cohen & Lombardo PC lawyer, he serves on the board of directors of the Bar's assigned counsel program. A UB Law graduate, he has served on the board and Executive Committee of the university's alumni association.

Association members also elected Laurie Styka Bloom as deputy treasurer. She will succeed Dennis Bischof as treasurer next year.

Lawrence Franco, Daniel Henry, E. Michael Semple and Kevin Spitler were elected to three-year terms on the board of directors. Richard DiGiacomo and former Bar President James Shaw were named to three-year terms on the Nominating Committee.