At 11amCT/12pmET: This one-hour session explores the innovative Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches implemented in Richmond Supreme Court, Staten Island, NY, providing valuable insights for TN mediators. We’ll begin with an attorney’s perspective on ADR’s evolving role in modern legal practice. The discussion will then delve into Richmond Supreme’s comprehensive ADR system, examining their pioneering use of technology, targeted case assessment protocols, and strategic mediator engagement practices. Of particular interest is their collaborative model, which successfully integrates both attorney and non-attorney mediators through the Community Dispute Resolution Center.
This event will be followed at 12pmCT/1pmET by our regular TAPM Member Meeting. We hope you can join us for networking and fellowship!
This event has been approved for 1 hour of General CLE and 1 hour of General/Family CME.
Speaker Bio:
IRINI BEKHIT, ESQ., a resident of Staten Island for over 34 years, is an active community leader, serving as a volunteer in many island and state wide organizations. She is also a full-time Court Attorney Referee and the ADR Coordinator for the Richmond County Supreme Court and an Adjunct Professor at the College of Staten Island.
Born in Alexandria, Egypt, but growing up on Staten Island, she graduated Staten Island Technical High School and went on to the New Jersey Institute of Technology where she obtained a B.A. in the History of Medicine, Technology and Environment. While attaining her undergraduate degree, she was the president of the Student Government for two years
and helped bridge the gap between the administration and student body, while maintaining a high GPA and working part-time at a local Staten Island pharmacy. After graduating NJIT in 2005, she went on to earn her juris doctorate from Rutgers Law. She interned at numerous organizations during her educational career, including the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, the ACLU, the Surrogate’s Court of Richmond County and the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office. In her endeavor to experience different areas of the law, she also worked for a mid-size personal injury firm in NYC, a real estate firm in down-town NYC and a local Staten Island law firm specializing in Trusts and Estates.
Ms. Bekhit began her career in the Surrogate’s Court of Richmond County in January 2011 and continued to work there until March 2022. She served on the Board of Directors of Meals on Wheels of Staten Island for four years and chaired the 2014 Meals on Wheels Annual Luncheon. She was also a member of the Trusts and Estates Committee on the Richmond County Bar Association and was the 13th District Representative for the Trusts and Estates Law Section for the NYS Bar Association for two consecutive terms. She was the union delegate for the Court Attorney’s Association representing Surrogate and Supreme Court attorneys from 2011-2019 and was elected as the Executive Vice President of the Court Attorneys Association in 2019 and continues to serve in that role. As Exec VP, she worked on contract negotiations, court consolidation, covid pandemic issues, as well as numerous other topics relevant to her membership. She joined the faculty of the College of Staten Island (CUNY system) in the fall of 2015 and is an adjunct professor teaching Business Law and Political Science to undergraduate students. She was sworn in as a Director for the Richmond County Bar Association in 2015 and completed her term in May of 2022 but continues to work with various subcommittees including Co-Chairing the CLE Committee and the Law Day Committee.
As a court attorney in the Surrogate’s Court, she spearheaded the Major Case Department and served as the supervisor of the Guardianship Department from 2018 until March of 2022. As the supervisor for the Guardianship Department, she transformed the department by creating and utilizing mock forms and YouTube videos to assist self-represented litigants. Her videos are used statewide and she has amassed over 10,000 views on her content. She was also responsible for handling conferences, drafting legal decisions and opinions, meeting with the public and attorneys, as well as other duties as designated by the Surrogate. She worked closely with the Clerk’s office and the interns throughout the year and has created and implemented the only undergraduate 10 week internship court program on Staten Island. She has presented numerous Surrogate CLE’s to the Richmond County Bar, to the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association, Columbian Lawyers and to the New York State Bar Association.
In March of 2022, Ms. Bekhit joined the Richmond County Supreme Court as a Court Attorney Referee and is the Alternative Dispute Resolution Coordinator for her county. She created an ADR program based on the Eastern and Southern District model, while implementing processes and procedures that streamline the intake process, increase efficiency for users(attorneys and mediators) and collects more datapoints than any other county in the State. She has also started various pilot program aimed at 1)increasing access to justice for pro se litigants, 2)assisting middle class and lower income families resolve their disputes faster and 3) working with Article 81 Guardianship cases. She enjoys working and presenting on ADR issues with various local, city and statewide bar associations.
In her capacity as co-chair of the Equal Justice Initiative Committee, she has worked consistently with local schools and community organizations to inform them of job opportunities within the court system in an effort to increase diversity within said system.
Ms. Bekhit resides in Staten Island, with her husband, Dr. A. Jay Mosses, who is the Ob/Gyn Medical Director for Ezra Medical Center in Brooklyn, as well as her 11 year old and seven year old sons.