WWBA February Newsletter

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An Interview with Kitley S. Covill
Susan L. Pollet
Chair of the Archive and
Historian Committee
Q. What prompted you to
join the WWBA? How long
have you been involved in
the organization and in
which capacities?
A. I was encouraged to join
the WWBA by a fellow
WWBA member a number
of years ago. I am currently
Co-Chair of the Criminal
Law Committee and the Ethics
Committee. I was previously
Co-Chair of the
Domestic Violence Committee.
I am also currently
a State Director.
Q. Tell us about your legal
career and what you hope
to accomplish professionally
in the future?
A. I have been an Assistant
District Attorney, counsel to
municipalities including
Westchester County, worked
at Legal Services of the
Hudson Valley, been in private
practice and most recently
was the first female
Inspector General for the
City of Yonkers. I am currently
the principal of a consulting
firm that provides
compliance guidance on
workplace integrity and Title
IX. I would like to further
the ideals created in the
compliance field by working
for an organization, as
I think compliance and
transparency are the only
avenues for equal access to
resources, particularly for
women.
“Anyone entering the legal field today
should find a mentor, such as someone
who has held several legal positions
and can serve as a resource . . . In
speaking with younger women, I find
they are more inclined to find a
mentor or mentors and I would
especially encourage new attorneys
to reach out and ask for help.”
ment and how you are involved
in that.
A. When I rejoined the
Westchester County Attorney’s
office I immediately became
involved in some significant
compliance issues. I found
compliance compelling, particularly
because it
complimented what comes
naturally to attorneys: reading
the rules and regulations
and advising and creating
circumstances that make compliance
easy. I believe compliance
levels the playing
field, meaning clarifying and
applying the rules to all,
thereby providing everyone
with equal access to resources
and opportunities.
Title IX should do just that.
My interest in Title IX was
piqued after I left the Inspector
General position, because
it was clear that many educational
institutions were unaware
of the obligations imposed
by Title IX as it relates
to sexual misconduct. I became
certified as a Title IX
Coordinator and started advising
educational institutions
after reviewing specific campus
policies. I also taught a
number of CLEs as I believe
that reformation of Title IX will
Q. Tell us about your interest
in the area of Title IX and
specifically sexual harassonly
occur as attorneys tackle
some of the significant legal
issues in this area.
Q. What advice do you have
for women entering the legal
profession?
A. Anyone entering the legal
field today should find a mentor,
such as someone who
has held several legal positions
and can serve as a resource.
As I review my legal
career now I wish I had had
someone with a varied legal
career who could see the bigger
picture and provide me
with guidance. In speaking
with younger women, I find
they are more inclined to find
a mentor or mentors and I
would especially encourage
new attorneys to reach out
and ask for help.
Q. What do you think are
the most pressing legal issues
involving women, children
and families today?
A. I know the WWBA awards
a “family friendly” honor to
firms who affirmatively embrace
a work/life balance.
Particularly as we see the
workplace morph into a 24/
7 environment, I believe it is
critical that women insist on
Kitley S. Covill
accommodations that carve
out time to have other interests.
Q. When you are not involved
in legal work, what
are your other interests?
A. I have always been a volunteer.
Currently I am the
Co-President of the Board
of Directors of the YWCA
and a worker at the Community
Center of Northern
Westchester.
Q. What would you like to
see the WWBA help
achieve going forward?
A. I would love to see an
expansion of the reading to
elementary students that
happens only in one school
right now. I would also like
to see the WWBA become
a stand-alone CLE provider
as it is difficult to navigate
the various requirements
right now. I would also like
to see more strategic partnerships
with other women’s
organizations in the County,
but of course I am partial
to the YWCA, whose mission
is empowering women
and eliminating racism. ◗
Page 6
Westchester Women’s Bar Association News