History

In 2001, former Family Court Magistrate Phil Goglas and a handful of Hispanic attorneys met to discuss the formation of the Suffolk County Hispanic Bar Association. At that meeting, the attorneys agreed that the time had come for Hispanic attorneys in Suffolk to integrate and form an association that would dedicate itself to the science of jurisprudence, and the protection of civil and political rights of the Hispanic community in the county, as well as the community at large.

With these objectives in mind, the attorneys founded the Suffolk County Hispanic Bar Association, and on January 17, 2002, we had our inaugural dinner where Phil Goglas was installed as president, Robert Garcia was named vicepresident, Noel Bonilla was named secretary, and Aletha Fields Ferraro was named treasurer.

These pioneers worked hard to give the association life and viability, and through their efforts, it slowly took form and evolved into the association it is today.

Because the number of Hispanic attorneys in Suffolk County is small, the association passed a resolution in 2004 to change the name from the Suffolk County Hispanic Bar Association to the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association (LIHBA) so that we could encourage the Hispanic attorneys in Nassau to join us. In 2005, the new name became official, and with this change, more Hispanic attorneys from all of Long Island have joined, and we now have seventy members. Currently, the LIHBA is led by Richard Montes (president), Victoria Campos (vice president), and Ray Negron (treasurer); the LIHBA also has two chapters, one in Nassau and one in Suffolk. Frank Valverde – Nassau County Chapter President Luis Pagan – Suffolk County Chapter President

The LIHBA has also become an affiliate of the Hispanic National Bar Association, HNBA, an incorporated, non-profit, national association representing the interest of over 33,000 Hispanic American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students in the United States and Puerto Rico. Since HNBA provides an avenue for broadcasting ideals and cultivating strong professional ties, and is an accredited sponsor in many states with mandatory Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements, and offers many courses, the LIHBA felt that it would be a great opportunity for us to work with a larger association and to network with many of the most successful Hispanic attorneys, who are leaders in the country; in turn, this affiliation would help us achieve our specific goals and objectives here on Long Island.

Of course, most members of the LIHBA are also members of the Suffolk County Bar Association; and we look up to the SCBA for guidance and leadership as attorneys in general, but most importantly as Hispanic attorneys living in Suffolk County who have critical issues and concerns that are unique to Long Island.

The LIHBA is still in its infancy, and we are experiencing what undoubtedly the SCBA must have experienced in its beginning, but with the dedication of its growing membership, the affiliation with the National Hispanic Bar, and the guidance and support of the SCBA, we will become an effective Association in the legal community, dedicated to improving the lives of all who reside on Long Island.

Luis A. Pagan, Esq.

LONG ISLAND HISPANIC

BAR ASSOCIATION

LIHBA

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