First Hispanic president of Queens County Bar Association sworn in

Attorney Richard Gutierrez, 56, is honored to be the first Hispanic president of the Queens County Bar Association (QCBA). Sworn in on May 5, he believes that the effect of his election is a positive one.
“My election to the presidency is an acknowledgement that the Queens County Bar Association is committed to the principles of diversity and inclusion,” Gutierrez said.
He believes that his position as president will influence other young Latinos to obtain prominent positions as well.
“It gives us all hope because diversity is so important in the legal community.”
When asked who his role model is, Gutierrez answered assuredly and without hesitation.
“Without a question my mom…She kept me out of harms way and taught me the values that are important. She made sure I stayed on the straight and narrow,” he said
As a single mother, Gutierrez’s mother, Jacqueline, raised him in Brooklyn after his father, Santos, left them. Gutierrez was only five years old at the time.
“She wanted me to succeed professionally,” he said.
Gutierrez said that as a child he did not even consider law as a potential career choice.
“I was a pretty good athlete growing up as a kid. I wanted to be in the MLB but that wasn’t in the cards for me.”
He mentioned that he also loved basketball but knew he was too short to consider a profession in the NBA.
Gutierrez said that once he was in college did he learn about law and begin to find it fascinating.
“I decided to go into law during my third year of college,’” he explained, mentioning his particular passion for criminal law. “Criminal law affects the liberty of an individual and I felt it was the most important aspect of law according to the constitution.”
Once he graduated from Brooklyn College, Gutierrez attended Seton Hall Law School. After taking the bar exam and passing on his first try, Gutierrez was acknowledged to practice law in New York State in 1983. As an official attorney, Gutierrez worked as a Legal Aid lawyer for four years before opening his private law firm in Forest Hills.
As president of the QCBA, Gutierrez hopes to recruit new members as well as adhere to his official duties – appointing members to standing committees, making sure committees are functioning and acting as spokesperson for the group.
“As president, it is my responsibility to zealously and effectively represent the interest of our members. I will do my best to confront the challenges that affect our organization,” he wrote as his message as president. “Whether it is assisting the member of the criminal defense bar in preventing the abolishment of the 18-B panel or advocating for judicial pay raises, I am committed to support them.”
“My primary goal is to increase membership and award existing members for their support and dedication to the association,” he continued. “Membership, especially with an influx of new members, is the life blood of our association. With new members come new ideas and a greater understanding of technology and its acceptance as a viable form of communication for our association.”
Gutierrez plans on meeting with leaders of local and ethnic bar associations in Queens County to explain how joining the QCBA can be beneficial to them. He also wants to utilize the association’s law school committee to identify areas that can improve their relationships with the local law schools.
“It is mutually beneficial that law students understand the significance of our association at an early stage in their legal career,” he said.
Gutierrez expressed his gratitude to his family, wife Yvette and sons Michael and Christopher, in regards to his election as president of the QCBA.
“My wife gave me the opportunity to participate and volunteer with the association,” he said. “They [his wife and sons] are very excited and very supportive.”
Gutierrez is also involved in other associations, such as the Latino Lawyers Association of Queens County, and assured that he will not resign nor neglect his other duties just because of this election.
As he said full heartedly, “I will try to do the best I can for the county I serve.”