James Alexander Lewis V is currently employed as the Executive Director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for the New York City Bar Association, a position for which a search committee unanimously selected him. Prior to becoming Executive Director, James was a Partner and the inaugural Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Chasan Lamparello Mallon and Cappuzzo, PC. His practice focused on employment counseling and civil rights litigation. James clerked for both the Superior Court of New Jersey, and for the Hon. Michael Shipp, U.S.D.J. James has served in leadership capacities including Vice President of the Garden State Bar Association (“GSBA”), Board Member of the New Jersey State Bar Association (“NJSBA”) and has chaired its Diversity Committee and the Minorities in the Profession Section. James is on the Board of Directors for Kismet of Kings, a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting young men ages 11-17 in his hometown of Jersey City, NJ. James is past General Counsel of a New York chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Additionally, the Supreme Court of New Jersey appointed James to the Civil Practice Committee, Jury Selection in Civil and Criminal Trials Committee, and Ethics Committee. James was named the Young Lawyer of the Year by the NJSBA (2021) and the GSBA (2020). He also received the Professional Lawyer of the Year award (2019). He is an American Bar Association Diversity Fellow, and a former NYC Bar Diversity Fellow. James is a mentor through the New Jersey Law and Education Empowerment Project (NJLEEP) and previously served as a “Big” for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Long Island. In law school, James was elected President of the Black Law Student Association, Associate Editor for the Family Court Review, and received the Dedicated Service to the Law School Award.
James Alexander Lewis V
Never Either/Or, But Always Both (and More): Centering Race in Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Inclusive Training and Professional Development