Minority Bar

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Mission

The mission of the Minority Bar Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (hereinafter PBA) is to assure full and equal participation of minorities in the PBA, the legal profession, and the justice system in general. In order to achieve this mission, the Minority Bar Committee will:

  • Identify and promote opportunities that allow minorities within the legal profession to participate fully in the work, responsibilities, and rewards of the PBA and the legal profession in general. Included in this objective are matters relating to the advancement of minorities within law firms and other professional and business entities, job opportunities for minorities, elimination of racial discrimination in the legal profession and within the broader community, and effective avenues for minority lawyers and judges to avail themselves of opportunities within the PBA to address issues of special interest to minority lawyers.
  • Monitor the current status of minorities in the legal profession and the justice system in general, identify their career paths and goals, and actively promote their advancement and achievement.
  • Develop educational programs in the way of seminars and surveys, among other measures, to address discrimination against minorities within the legal profession, and the justice system in general.
  • Make recommendations to the PBA Board of Governors and House of Delegates for action on issues affecting minorities within the legal profession and the justice system in general.
  • Make recommendations to the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government, and other groups within the justice system on issues affecting racial minorities and their communities in accordance with the PBA Bylaws.

Featured Member: Gabriela Raful

Gabriela Raful is a Senior Partner at Galfand Berger, LLP, where she represents injured clients in the areas of workers’ compensation, personal injury, products liability, and social security disability. Gabby is responsible for millions in client recoveries. Her success has led to her selection as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine. Only 2.5% of all attorneys practicing in Pennsylvania receive this honor. Gabby has also been included in the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers of Pennsylvania.

Gabby graduated magna cum laude from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Political Science and Paralegal Studies. She earned her Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law. Gabby practices law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

As a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Gabby is fluent in Spanish. She works with our Hispanic clients in their native language. They do not have to worry about language and cultural barriers and can be confident they are getting the legal service they need.

Gabby is Past President of the Berks County Bar Association. She is the first racial minority, youngest, and first naturalized citizen to be elected to this position. Gabby has served as Director of the Berks County Bar Association from 2017-2019 and from 2021- 2024. 

Gabby also served as Chair of the BCBA’s Minority Law Section. The section’s purpose is to promote full and equal participation of minorities in the justice system. She currently serves BCBA as Chair of its Jury Diversity Committee. Because of her contribution to community, and her extensive pro bono work, the Berks County Bar Association awarded Gabby its 2017 Presidential Award of Merit.

Gabby was court-appointed to committees charged with recommending candidates for appointment as U.S. magistrate judges to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s federal bench. She also serves the Eastern District of Pennsylvania federal court's community outreach committee where she works on jury participation initiatives.

In 2018, the Pennsylvania Bar Association selected Gabby for the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) Leadership Institute Class of 2018-19. Gabby was one of only 11 attorneys chosen for this class. In addition, she was the first attorney from Berks County honored with this selection.

In 2025 Gabby was selected to serve the Bord of Directors of PBA as At-Large-Minority Governor. At PBA Gabby is also an active member of several committees and is part of the Workers’ Compensation Section Council and serves as the Section Diversity Liaison. Because of her commitment to the non-profit communities, the PBA awarded Gabby its 2019 Pro Bono Award for providing volunteer legal services to indigent and disadvantaged individuals who are unable to afford critical legal representation in times of need.

Gabby is also a member of the Monitoring and Evaluation Team of the Language Access Advisory Group for the United Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Appointed to this role by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2017, Gabby makes certain that the courts remain open to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing or people who speak other languages.

In 2020, the Berks County Community Foundation selected Gabby to join its Board of Directors where she continues to serve. The Foundation promotes philanthropy and helps improve the lives of Berks County residents.

Gabby is also a frequent lecturer on matters involving workplace and personal injuries, jury diversity, language access, and representing non-English speakers, and is a contributing author to The ABA Medical-Legal Guides: Head Trauma and Brain Injury for Lawyers. This legal treatise details the law surrounding traumatic brain injuries.

Past Featured Members

Janaki Theivakumaran

Beverly H. Rampaul

Rakim M. Solomon

Norris E. Benns, Jr.

Rodney R. Akers

Voci Ravenell Bennet

Antoinette Hubbard

Verdell Dean

Samuel G. Encarnacion

Judge Carolyn H. Nichols

Jasmine Butler

Tsiwen Law

Kristine L. Calalang

Tyesha C. Miley

Jada Greenhowe

Obinna I. Abara

Morgan M. Bonekovic

Jacqueline B. Martinez

J. Lynette Carter

LaToya Winfield Bellamy

Arlene Marshall-Hockensmith

Su Ming Yeh

Trent Hargrove

Judge Cheryl Lynne Austin

Philip Yoon

Gina M. Thomas

Nigel Scott

Judge Stephanie Domitrovich

Ana Paulina Gomez

Judge Nicola Henry Taylor


Leaders Learn From Associates: An Associates Perspective, Webcast

Associates identify what they need from their firms to succeed. Co-sponsored with the PBA Large Law Firm Committee and Young Lawyers Division.

Women in Leadership in the Legal Profession, Oct. 26, 2023, Webcast
A timely and relevant conversation about the top challenges lawyers face in running their business, different career paths and how to thrive as a hybrid-working law firm.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Law Firm and the Path to Success
This webinar held on July 12, 2021, centered on diversity, equity and inclusion in a large firm context, identifying ways that firms can be intentional in embracing diversity, equity and inclusion in the business of law, initiatives that eliminate barriers and create opportunities for diverse attorneys, leadership paths to success and more. Watch the recording here.

Business and Practice of Law Post-COVID-19: How Will it Change?
This webinar held on Nov. 11, 2021, discussed the business and practice of the law post-COVID, focusing on large law firm workspaces, engaging with the workforce, attracting and retaining talent, processes for onboarding and mentoring, business development, maintaining client relationships and more. Watch the recording here.


 

 

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