By MATT CHANDLER
mchandler@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1654

The Minority Bar Association of Western New York has a new leader to kick off 2011.

Joseph Hanna, a partner in Goldberg Segalla LLP, took over Jan. 1 from outgoing President Sheldon Smith and will lead the 135-member group for the next year.

Hanna, 30, is the first Arab-American to lead the Minority Bar in its 40-year history. He sat down with the Buffalo Law Journal to discuss his new position and the challenges and opportunities he sees in the minority legal community. The following is an edited version of that conversation.

BLJ: How did you come to be president? Was it something you were actively seeking?

JH: Several years ago, when I came up with the idea for Success in the City (an annual diversity networking event that last year drew more than 500 attendees), I had reached out to Tasha Moore, who was the president of the Minority Bar Association. She went out of her way to help further the mission of the event and became a great resource. At that point, I became very interested in the Minority Bar Association and through the years I've sat on the Minority Bar Association Foundation board and been actively involved within the minority legal community. So when the opportunity to run for president came up, I took advantage of that.

BLJ: You have a full plate, between chairing Success in the City, serving as president of Bunkers in Baghdad and being a partner in Goldberg Segalla - not to mention your national work. Was there any hesitation in taking this on and the time needed to pour into the job?

JH: Sure, there was some thought about that. We all have to look at the bigger picture and say, ‘Can I devote the time needed to further the organization's goals and objectives?' And you never want to put the organization in a bad place where you run for office and you don't dedicate 100 percent to it. I looked at everything, all of my commitments, and decided I could give the necessary effort to further the cause of the Minority Bar Association in Western New York.

BLJ: Talk about that cause and what things you want to build on that are already in place, as well as new initiatives.

JH: As we set out in 2011, the past presidents have done a phenomenal job getting programs in place and keeping the Minority Bar Association's prominence within the legal community in Western New York a priority. It will be my pleasure to build off of what they've done. As far as my goals and objectives, I'd like to re-establish our ties with the University at Buffalo Law School. I think there is a great opportunity to mentor and work with our law students, who are the future of Western New York's legal community. I also want to build on the Minority Bar's Diversity Task Force that has run the Goldilocks program. They go into grammar schools and teach the students about the law through the story of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears.'

They also work with Buffalo Public Schools and speak at career days at the high schools. I would like to further that cause so that we can reach out to more students. I also see a need at several levels to stay involved in our own legal community, whether it is to look for the promotion of minority partners within law firms or to mentor our younger associates.

BLJ: Do you see any opportunities or initiatives where your group can work in conjunction with the Women's Bar and the Erie County Bar?

JH: There are a lot of opportunities within our legal community to partner with those great bar associations. Last year, we partnered with the Women's Bar Association on several events and it was very successful for both organizations. And we look forward to doing that again this year.

BLJ: In terms of the legal community locally, are there obstacles for minority attorneys? Do they get a fair shake at becoming partners in law firms or do you see minority students graduating from UB and leaving because they don't think there is a level playing field?

JH: I think there is more that could be done. A couple of years ago, there were several articles written about the lack of minority partners in Western New York, and that's obviously been an agenda item for the Minority Bar Association for a long time. Much has been done in the past, and we just need to further that effort into the future.

BLJ: There is always an emphasis with these types of organizations on growing the membership, especially for an incoming president.

JH: Absolutely, and not only is it important for the attorneys, but it is a necessity for any organization. You need members to grow (The Minority Bar currently has 135 members). I think that is where working with the UB Law School and working with its diverse legal student organizations, as well as recruiting from our own diverse legal community, will be a key. We want them not only to join our organization, but we want them to have a voice.

BLJ: A lot has been written in the past about how segregated Western New York is. How much of a role can the Minority Bar play in the general betterment of the community, beyond the legal front?

JH: Part of our mission, and a very important part of our bar association's efforts, involves the social aspect of what we do. I think there is a necessity to reach out to the diverse community of Western New York. We are one of the top 10 most segregated cities in the country and one of the poorest cities of the country. And I think we have a responsibility to break down many of the barriers that affect our community and try to help as many people as possible.

BLJ: When last we spoke, it was for an update on the progress made by your charity, Bunkers in Baghdad. Where do things stand with that organization today?

JH: To date, we have collected and distributed more than 1.7 million golf balls and 50,000 golf clubs to troops in 11 countries, as well as to Wounded Warriors programs and VA hospitals in all 50 states. We have had a tremendous response from professional sports teams including the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning, professional golfers, NASCAR drivers, country music stars - basically offering to support Bunkers any way they can.

We've also developed relationships with more than 25 schools around the country, from grammar schools to colleges. We plan to continue to grow in 2011, and as long as we have wounded soldiers at home and troops abroad, we will continue to help them by sending them a slice of home whenever possible.