NOVEMBER 2019 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 21
CORNER OFFICE
FORMER NASSAU BAR ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT ELENA KARABATOS
FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE BY JAMES BERNSTEIN
Elena Karabatos has been a leader
of Long Island’s legal profession
for decades, including a stint as
president of the Nassau County Bar
Association. She is the group’s immediate
past president and is a senior
partner at the Garden City law firm
of Schissel Ostrow Karabatos, where
she practices matrimonial and family
law. She was selected as one of New
York’s “Super Lawyers” in the area of
family law.
What is the purpose of the Nassau
Bar Association? I view the Nassau
Bar Association as a very special
place, not only for its members, but
also for the community as a whole.
It is a place that provides legal professionals
with the tools to build and
grow their careers, shape the future
of the legal profession, and provide
access to justice to the community
through a variety of programs.
What significant changes have you
made as president? Some of my most
significant changes were expanding
the Bar’s diversity and inclusion
initiative, increasing membership,
securing the financial stability
throughout the organization and
expanding our community outreach
to address the legal issues facing Nassau
County residents. We held mortgage
foreclosure programs and open
house clinics, where our members
volunteered their time to provide
free legal advice to those in need. We
also held free community education
seminars on legal issues of concern
to the general public, including, but
not limited to, DWI laws, real estate
taxes, elder law, workplace issues,
housing, family and matrimonial
law, discrimination, identity theft,
special education, and home improvement
contracts.
What are the biggest challenges
for the Bar going forward? Keeping
young lawyers engaged and actively
involved in the Bar. It is crucial to our
profession and to our Bar Association
to encourage and support the next
generation of lawyers.
The Bar rates candidates for judgeships
and I believe this information
is available to the public. But
do you think the public is aware
of how these decisions are made?
The NCBA publicizes the results
before each election. We want to
assure the public that the
findings regarding the
qualifications for
each candidate
are nonpolitical,
and we seek input
from our
membership
at large in
a chi e ving
that
goal.
I believe the general perception is
that the Bar Association, any Bar
association, is a stuffy, insulated club
made up of good old boys who knock
back a few drinks after a day in court.
Do you agree with this perception?
Not at all. The legal
profession as a
whole has and
continues
to bec
o m e
more
i n -
clusive,
and the NCBA consists of a
diverse group of nearly 5,000 legal
professionals, both men and women.
We also launched the LGBTQ Committee,
which marched in the Annual
Long Island Pride Parade for the first
time this year.
What do you see as the Nassau Bar’s
most significant accomplishment
during your term? Furthering our
diversity and inclusion initiative
has been one of the most significant
accomplishments, and one that I am
particularly proud of.
What made you choose law as a
profession? I have always viewed
the legal profession as an honorable
profession that truly helps people
and gives them a voice when they
cannot advocate for themselves.
You practice family law. Do you feel
the divorce laws in New York State
are fair to all parties? One of the
wonderful things about the law, and
particularly in the matrimonial field,
is that the law is always evolving.
Through case law and legislation, our
courts and legislators are constantly
trying to achieve fairness to all. I am
fortunate to serve on various committees
throughout the state that
work on exciting projects regarding
new legislation and helping to reform
matrimonial law, which is something
I am very passionate about.
“I have always viewed the legal profession as an
honorable profession that truly helps people and
gives them a voice when they cannot advocate
for themselves.”
Elena Karabatos
is the immediate
past president
of the Nassau
County Bar
Association and
senior partner at
Schissel Ostrow
Karabatos.
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