11/21/2025
The Power of Showing Up: Paying It Forward in Queens Women Legal Community
It is often said that you cannot be what you cannot see. Last night, at the Women of Color Collective and Queens County Women Bar Association Speed Mentoring event, law students got to see—and speak with—the very best of the Queens Women legal community! This event was spearheaded by our recording secretary and chair of the mentoring and law student committee, Jasmine Valle-Bueno and Angela Ulysse, president of the City University of New York School of Law Women of Color Collective.
We want to extend a special recognition to our distinguished mentors who embody the spirit of paying it forward. In a profession that is often demanding and fast-paced, showing up for the next generation is a powerful act of service. It signals to every law student and young attorney in the room: 'You belong here, and we are here to help you navigate the path.'
These Mentors didn't just lend their names to this event; they lent their time, their candor, and their wisdom. They bridged the gap between the bench and the bar, proving that mentorship is the lifeblood of a diverse and inclusive legal community.
We are profoundly grateful to:
Hon. Lourdes M. Ventura – Associate Justice, Appellate Division, 2nd Dept
Hon. Marguerite A. Grays – Administrative Judge, Queens Supreme Court – Civil Term
Hon. Elizabeth Newton – Queens Family Court Judge
Jawan Finley, Esq. – Matrimony Court Attorney Referee
Ravi Cattry – Partner, Vreeburg & Cattry PLLC
Gabriela Pulla – Associate, Block O’Toole & Murphy
Jasmine Valle-Bueno – Principal Court Attorney to Administrative Judge Marguerite A. Grays
There is no better way to strengthen the legal pipeline than by connecting those at the pinnacle of their careers with those just starting their climb!
