Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 8, 1996

Release #500-96

Contact: Colleen Roche or Kim Serafin (212) 788-2958


MAYOR GIULIANI CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL
OF NEW YORK BAR ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS
CUTS RIBBON FOR NEW OUTREACH LAW CENTER

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today celebrated the Centennial Anniversary of "The House" -- headquarters for the New York Bar Association -- and congratulated the Association on its new Community Outreach Law Center which provides legal services to the less fortunate.

"Since its founding 126 years ago to battle the corruption of Tammany Hall, the Bar Association has been devoted to the cause of justice and to upholding the highest professional standards for its members," said Mayor Giuliani. "With the opening of the new Community Outreach Center, the Bar Association takes another step in its mission to ensure that New Yorkers benefit from the very best legal counsel in the world."

"As the capital of the world -- the capital of business, finance, entertainment, the arts, the media and communications -- New York attracts the best and the brightest legal minds in the nation," he continued. "The Bar has always used its tremendous resources not only in the service of business, but in the service of our communities and our citizens. Now, with the new Community Outreach Law Center, the New York Bar takes another step forward in its commitment to ensuring justice for those in need."

The Association of the Bar of the City of New York was founded in 1870 by lawyers protecting the integrity of the legal profession in New York City at a time when it was threatened by corruption. The Association is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of "The House," its unique headquarters. In 1894 the Association purchased land on West 43rd and 44th Streets. Architect Cyrus L. W. Eidlitz designed a building that would accommodate at least 2500 members with a library that would hold 100,000 law books and a meeting hall that would seat 1,000 people.

The building is faced with India limestone and its interior surfaces were constructed of tuckahoe white marble. The interior and exterior feature doric, ionic and corinthian columns to suggest the Roman concepts of law and order. The building officially opened on October 8, 1896.

The Robert B. McKay Community Law Center, named after Robert B. McKay who served as President of the Association from 1984-1986, is the pro bono arm of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. It trains and supports the work of over 1,000 volunteer lawyers who provide free legal services to those who need it most -- the homeless, elderly, battered women, newly arrived immigrants and poor children.


Go to Press Releases | Giuliani Archives | Mayor's Office | NYC.gov Home Page
Contact Us | FAQs | Privacy Statement | Site Map