Former president’s portrait unveiled, celebrating leadership during COVID-19 pandemic
Historic Portrait Ceremony Celebrates Groundbreaking Leadership
The New York City Bar Association celebrated a significant milestone this month with the unveiling of a commissioned portrait honoring Sheila Boston, who in May 2020 became the first woman of color to serve as president of the 150-year-old organization. The ceremony, held at the Bar Association’s historic Midtown Manhattan headquarters, recognized Boston’s leadership during one of the most challenging periods in the organization’s history.
Boston, a partner at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, led the approximately 20,000-member organization through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic during her two-year term. Members affectionately referred to her as the “Pandemic President,” while she called the organization the “Bar of Hope”phrases that captured both the extraordinary circumstances of her tenure and her optimistic leadership approach.
Leading Through Crisis
Taking the helm of the City Bar in May 2020just months after COVID-19 began devastating New York Citypresented unprecedented challenges. The legal profession, like all sectors, faced upheaval as courts closed, law firms transitioned to remote work, and attorneys grappled with serving clients during a global health emergency.
According to attendees at the portrait unveiling, Boston’s leadership was characterized by her ability to maintain organizational cohesion and purpose during a time of profound uncertainty. The New York City Bar Association, formed in the 1870s partly in response to growing public outrage over corruption in government and courts, has long played a crucial role in legal reform and professional standards in New York.
A Trailblazing Career
Boston’s election as president marked a watershed moment for the organization, which has historically been among the most influential bar associations in the country. As the state’s second-largest bar association, the City Bar’s leadership positions have traditionally been pathways to broader influence in the legal profession and public policy.
Her role at Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, a major international law firm with deep roots in New York legal practice, provided her with the experience and credibility to lead during crisis. The firm is known for its work in complex litigation, regulatory matters, and corporate transactionsexperience that proved valuable as the legal profession navigated pandemic-related challenges.
Portrait Tradition and Recognition
The portrait unveiling continues a long-standing City Bar tradition of commissioning portraits of past presidents to hang on the walls of the organization’s headquarters. This custom both honors individual leadership and creates a visual history of the organization’s evolution over its 150-year existence.
The ceremony was attended by prominent figures from New York’s legal community, including former United States Attorney General and current Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who appeared with his wife. The presence of such high-profile attendees underscored Boston’s significance within New York’s legal establishment.
The “Bar of Hope” Legacy
Boston’s characterization of the organization as the “Bar of Hope” reflected her leadership philosophy during the pandemic. Rather than allowing the crisis to diminish the Bar Association’s mission and activities, she worked to position it as a source of stability and forward-looking guidance for the legal profession.
This approach aligned with the American Bar Association’s broader efforts during the pandemic to support legal professionals and ensure access to justice continued despite unprecedented disruptions. Bar associations nationwide faced similar challenges in maintaining member engagement, continuing professional development programs, and advocating for the profession while working remotely.
Diversity and Inclusion in Legal Leadership
Boston’s presidency represented an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to diversify leadership in the legal profession. Despite progress in recent decades, women and people of color remain underrepresented in top positions at major law firms and legal organizations.
According to research from legal profession diversity organizations, representation in leadership positions significantly impacts workplace culture, mentorship opportunities, and career advancement for attorneys from underrepresented groups. Boston’s visible leadership role provided both symbolic importance and practical influence in shaping the City Bar’s priorities and perspectives.
The City Bar’s Continuing Influence
The New York City Bar Association continues to play a significant role in legal and policy debates in New York and nationally. The organization’s committees and task forces regularly issue reports and recommendations on topics ranging from judicial selection to corporate governance to criminal justice reform.
During Boston’s tenure, the organization had to adapt its advocacy and member services to the remote environment while maintaining its voice on important public issues. This included weighing in on pandemic-related legal and policy questions, from eviction moratoriums to remote court proceedings to public health measures.
Recognition of Pandemic-Era Leadership
The portrait ceremony served not only to honor Boston personally but also to acknowledge the extraordinary circumstances under which she and other leaders served during the pandemic. Organizations across all sectors faced similar challenges in maintaining operations, serving constituents, and planning for an uncertain future.
For the legal profession specifically, the pandemic accelerated changes that had been resisted for years, including widespread adoption of remote court proceedings and greater flexibility in work arrangements. Bar associations like the City Bar played crucial roles in helping the profession navigate these changes while maintaining professional standards and ethics.
A Model for Future Leadership
As the portrait takes its place among those of previous City Bar presidents, it represents both historical achievement and ongoing aspiration. Boston’s successful navigation of her organization through crisis while breaking barriers as the first woman of color in the role provides a model for future leaders facing their own challenges.
The New York State Unified Court System and other legal institutions have increasingly recognized the importance of diverse leadership in maintaining public trust and ensuring the legal system serves all members of society effectively. Boston’s tenure and its formal recognition through the portrait ceremony contribute to this broader shift in the legal profession.
For those who worked alongside her during the pandemic years, the portrait serves as a tangible reminder of resilience, innovation, and leadership during extraordinary times. As one attendee noted, Boston’s ability to hold the organization together and maintain its sense of purpose during crisis made her tenure truly historicnot just for being the first woman of color president, but for the circumstances she navigated and the hope she inspired in her colleagues and members.
