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ABA YLD Update

2011 Midyear Meeting Report

More than 350 young lawyers attended the Midyear Meeting held February 10-12, in Atlanta, Georgia. This report contains the highlights of this very successful Meeting.

ABA YLD Assembly

Delegates from across the country gathered on Saturday, February 12th for the ABA YLD Assembly. Four resolutions were adopted (which is fairly unusual), and each was presented by young lawyers:

Resolution 1YL – Truth in Law School Education was adopted by unanimous consent. It urges all ABA-approved law schools to report employment data in a more accurate manner. The resolution further urges ABA-approved law schools to increase transparency on graduate salary information, including national median salary and the actual costs of a law school education.

Resolution 2YL – Student Loan Reform urges government and commercial lenders to assist students/former students not covered by the student loan overhaul law and develop and implement other programs to assist law students and graduates with student loan debt.

Resolution 3YL – Flextime urges law firms to formalize flextime procedures and programs and to support the advancement of flextime lawyers.

Resolution 4YL – Independence of Judiciary urges Bar Associations to support the independence and impartiality of the judiciary and judicial elections.

Other highlights from Assembly included:

Reports from ABA YLD Officers, including ABA YLD Chair David Wolfe

New Partner and In-House Counsel Conference –February 25-26, 2011 in Philadelphia, PA. The conference will include excellent speakers, networking opportunities and dual-track CLEs for new partners and in-house counsel participants. Learn more at www.abanet.org/yld/newpartner/. 

Serving Our Seniors – Currently being implemented in 15 states, this pro bono project provides free basic estate planning to low-income senior citizens. Learn more at www.americanbar.org/groups/young_lawyers/initiatives/serving_our_seniors.html 

Law Day Video Contest – This public service project encourages high school students to submit a 2-3 minute video on this year’s Law Day theme: The Legacy of John Adams: from Boston to Guantanamo Bay. Each state is being asked to select a winner. Learn more at www.abanet.org/yld/lawday

National Outstanding Young Lawyer Award: Immediate past ABA YLD Chair Kelly Ann Clarke from Galveston, Texas presented the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award to David Evans of San Antonio, Texas, who, in addition to great client service, is dedicated to serving his community and giving back to others, including members of the armed services. The ABA YLD also recognized two finalists: Jessica J. King of Oshkosh, WI and Amanda Sansone of Tampa, FL.

The Candidates for Office were introduced, including two contested seats:

Chair: Michael G. Bergmann, Chicago, IL

Chair-Elect: Christopher Rogers, Dallas, TX

Secretary-Treasurer: Alan Fowler, Key West, FL or Mario Sullivan, Chicago, IL

Assembly Speaker: Latanishia Watters, Birmingham, AL

Assembly Clerk: Jennifer Daugherty, Minneapolis, MN

Board of Governors Representative: Bill Ferreira, Englewood, NJ; Rob Stout, Albany, NY

House of Delegates Representative: Jonathan W. Wolfe, Livingston, NJ

Nominating Committee Representative: David B. Wolfe, Livingston, NJ

Council Meeting

The ABA YLD Council met on Thursday, February 10, 2011. The highlights of the Council meeting included:

An update on this year’s Initiatives: Serving Our Seniors and Law Day Video Contest.

A report concerning recent membership initiatives:

Touch 10,000 is expecting to meet its goal of reaching out to 10,000 young lawyers before the end of the year. This is a member-to-member outreach program educating young lawyers about the many benefits of membership. This initiative is always looking for more Ambassadors. To learn more, click here. 

Section Connect seeks to increase young lawyer involvement in sections of the ABA YLD.

Many reports from various committees of the ABA YLD were made. The YLD has dozens of committees that YLD members can join and become a leader. To learn about the YLD’s many committees, click here.

The ABA YLD launched its new website.

This April, the ABA YLD’s publication The Young Lawyer, will celebrate Earth Day by saving over 140,000 hard copies! To receive the paperless April TYL issue via e-mail, log on to www.abanet.org/myaba and opt into receiving e-mail communications.

The Affiliate newsletter is always looking to highlight young lawyer groups, leaders, projects and programs. If you have an idea for an article or if you or a member wants to submit an article about what your group is doing, please let me know or contact Maria Vittoria “Giugi” Carminati, this year’s editor.

Other Meeting Highlights: Atlanta was a great destination – particularly for those coming from cold and snowy climates. As always, Friday morning was packed with great CLE and non-CLE programs, including a Speed Networking Session for affiliate leaders; implementation of Serving Our Seniors with a health care directives educational program for over 45 senior citizens at the Northside Shepherd Senior Center; and discussion of careers in law with over 50 student members of the Spelman-Morehouse Pre-Law Society. Friday concluded with the dinner/dance Gala at the Atlanta Aquarium – the largest in the world. Saturday began with the annual diversity dialogue, which brought together individuals from various ABA entities, young lawyers, pre-law students (CLEO), law students, and ABA YLD Scholars for small group discussions about the topic “Diversity and Inclusion within the Legal Profession: Whose Job Is It Anyway?”. Assembly took place on Saturday morning, and afterwards, delegates had a chance to meet the young lawyers running for office at the Candidates’ Forum before attending the annual Fellows Debate with former YLD-ers. To learn more about the meeting, click here.

2011 YLD Spring Conference: Join us for our next in-person gathering in Las Vegas, NV, from May 12-14. To learn more or to register, click here.

Upcoming Key Dates (click here for more information):

March 1, 2011 - Law Day Video Contest Submission and Subgrant Program Application Deadlines

March 15, 2011 - Outstanding Young Military Service Lawyer Award Nominations Process Opens

April 1, 2011 - Even Numbered 2011–2013 District Representatives and National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Bar Association and National Asian Pacific American Bar Association