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NY LAWYER GIVES BACK TO COMMUNITY
Posted by Lilly Torosyan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/08/27/ny-lawyer-gives-back-to-community/
August 27, 2012
"While I was preparing for my college admission exams, I had to
study under the candle light in a room where my whole family slept,"
recounts Yelena Nersesyan. Witnessing the collapse of the Soviet Union,
Nersesyan experienced a turbulent shift in her studies-from communist
laws to an independent legal system, mirroring that of the West. "While
we were studying, new criminal and civil codes were adopted. It was
an exciting and interesting time to study the law and witness those
fundamental changes," she tells the Weekly.
Yelena Nersesyan She jokes that "beautiful and confident female
attorneys in Hollywood movies" were one of her inspirations for seeking
a profession in law, a field where men far outnumbered women in Soviet
(and newly independent) Armenia.
Although her work today mainly deals with residential and commercial
real estate and business law, Nersesyan is also involved in
organizations that educate adolescents about their civic and political
roles in society.
This past September, the Armenian lawyer participated in the New
York State Bar Association's Law, Youth, and Citizenship Program,
where attorneys volunteer to educate school children about the
Constitution and the freedoms bestowed on the population. In 2004,
Congress passed legislation requiring all educational institutions that
receive federal funding to present a program each year on Constitution
and Citizenship Day, which is celebrated annually on Sept. 17.
Nersesyan explains that "the program makes a specific emphasis on
the importance of children in society and understanding their role
in a representative democracy. They are made aware of the fact that
all elected representatives represent each and every one of them-not
only their parents. They also learn that they could send letters to
their local elected representatives and their opinions really matter."
Nersesyan is hopeful that a program like this can one day be started
in schools in Armenia.
"Armenia is a civil law country, based on statutory laws, while the
U.S. legal system is based on the principles of common law, which are
rooted in precedent. Nevertheless, in 2005, Armenia joined the trend
toward a hybrid legal system, incorporating the use of case law in
its judicial system to a certain degree," she explains.
As a 20-year-old nation, Armenia has made many advancements in
government, and is slowly on its way to becoming a fully integrated
representative democracy, although the journey will be grueling.
According to Nersesyan, "Armenia has to undergo a number of phases
to increase the transparency and accountability of its elected
officials". She also emphasizes government's ability to ensure that
the current legal system enables its citizens to exercise their
constitutional rights. "We have to remember that Armenia is still
a relatively new nation and these changes will not come easy. But I
remain confident that they will happen."
Nersesyan considers hard work, networking, professional curiosity,
and confidence the four main factors in attaining a successful career.
"When I meet young Armenian students or professionals who consider
moving to the U.S., whether for study or just to gain some work
experience, I always share my conclusions and observations, which
are based on my personal experiences. Luckily, those cold winters,
the lack of electricity and heat is all behind us, and the current
generation is in a better position, equipped with better tools,
to plan their future," she continues.
Nersesyan is part of entertainment lawyer Mark Geragos's defense
team for the high-profiled Medicare scandal that shook the country
last year. She became acquainted with Geragos through the various
Armenian social, professional, and political networks in the U.S.
"When I started working as a foreign law consultant, I discovered the
Armenian Bar Association of America (ABA). I immediately decided to
get involved and contribute," Nersesyan explains. The ABA reached
out to its members in the fall of 2010, looking for a New York
attorney who spoke Russian and Eastern Armenian to assist Geragos
and his legal team on an off-consul basis. "I responded immediately,
and joined the team a few days later. For a new attorney like me,
it has been a unique opportunity to work with an attorney of this
caliber and class," Nersesyan says.
Although the case is still pending in court, the experience has been
anything but stalled. "[This case] has been a great opportunity to
expand my experience as a young attorney," she says. "All aspiring
Armenian attorneys should consider joining the ABA."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Posted by Lilly Torosyan
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/08/27/ny-lawyer-gives-back-to-community/
August 27, 2012
"While I was preparing for my college admission exams, I had to
study under the candle light in a room where my whole family slept,"
recounts Yelena Nersesyan. Witnessing the collapse of the Soviet Union,
Nersesyan experienced a turbulent shift in her studies-from communist
laws to an independent legal system, mirroring that of the West. "While
we were studying, new criminal and civil codes were adopted. It was
an exciting and interesting time to study the law and witness those
fundamental changes," she tells the Weekly.
Yelena Nersesyan She jokes that "beautiful and confident female
attorneys in Hollywood movies" were one of her inspirations for seeking
a profession in law, a field where men far outnumbered women in Soviet
(and newly independent) Armenia.
Although her work today mainly deals with residential and commercial
real estate and business law, Nersesyan is also involved in
organizations that educate adolescents about their civic and political
roles in society.
This past September, the Armenian lawyer participated in the New
York State Bar Association's Law, Youth, and Citizenship Program,
where attorneys volunteer to educate school children about the
Constitution and the freedoms bestowed on the population. In 2004,
Congress passed legislation requiring all educational institutions that
receive federal funding to present a program each year on Constitution
and Citizenship Day, which is celebrated annually on Sept. 17.
Nersesyan explains that "the program makes a specific emphasis on
the importance of children in society and understanding their role
in a representative democracy. They are made aware of the fact that
all elected representatives represent each and every one of them-not
only their parents. They also learn that they could send letters to
their local elected representatives and their opinions really matter."
Nersesyan is hopeful that a program like this can one day be started
in schools in Armenia.
"Armenia is a civil law country, based on statutory laws, while the
U.S. legal system is based on the principles of common law, which are
rooted in precedent. Nevertheless, in 2005, Armenia joined the trend
toward a hybrid legal system, incorporating the use of case law in
its judicial system to a certain degree," she explains.
As a 20-year-old nation, Armenia has made many advancements in
government, and is slowly on its way to becoming a fully integrated
representative democracy, although the journey will be grueling.
According to Nersesyan, "Armenia has to undergo a number of phases
to increase the transparency and accountability of its elected
officials". She also emphasizes government's ability to ensure that
the current legal system enables its citizens to exercise their
constitutional rights. "We have to remember that Armenia is still
a relatively new nation and these changes will not come easy. But I
remain confident that they will happen."
Nersesyan considers hard work, networking, professional curiosity,
and confidence the four main factors in attaining a successful career.
"When I meet young Armenian students or professionals who consider
moving to the U.S., whether for study or just to gain some work
experience, I always share my conclusions and observations, which
are based on my personal experiences. Luckily, those cold winters,
the lack of electricity and heat is all behind us, and the current
generation is in a better position, equipped with better tools,
to plan their future," she continues.
Nersesyan is part of entertainment lawyer Mark Geragos's defense
team for the high-profiled Medicare scandal that shook the country
last year. She became acquainted with Geragos through the various
Armenian social, professional, and political networks in the U.S.
"When I started working as a foreign law consultant, I discovered the
Armenian Bar Association of America (ABA). I immediately decided to
get involved and contribute," Nersesyan explains. The ABA reached
out to its members in the fall of 2010, looking for a New York
attorney who spoke Russian and Eastern Armenian to assist Geragos
and his legal team on an off-consul basis. "I responded immediately,
and joined the team a few days later. For a new attorney like me,
it has been a unique opportunity to work with an attorney of this
caliber and class," Nersesyan says.
Although the case is still pending in court, the experience has been
anything but stalled. "[This case] has been a great opportunity to
expand my experience as a young attorney," she says. "All aspiring
Armenian attorneys should consider joining the ABA."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress