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ABA YLD Update

Awards of Achievement
By:  Anita Barksdale

Texas has the best young lawyers in the country. Although some might argue with that statement, the American Bar Association’s (“ABA”) 2010-2011 Awards of Achievement read like a Who’s Who of Texas Young lawyers. The ABA’s Annual Awards of Achievement program provides the ABA Young Lawyer Division's (“YLD”) affiliated national, state, local, and specialty bar young lawyer organizations the opportunity to submit their best projects for evaluation by a jury of their peers. To be an affiliate, seventy-five percent or more of the organization's membership must be attorneys who are under thirty-six years of age or who have been admitted to their first Bar within the past five years. If you’re part of your local Young Lawyer bar, chances are you are a member of an ABA Affiliate.

The Awards of Achievement program is designed to encourage your organization’s project development by recognizing the time, effort, and skills expended by affiliates in implementing public service and bar service projects in their communities. Judges for the Awards of Achievement consider submissions based on the well-rounded or balanced nature of the program, the degree of change or growth, the achievement of goals and impact, the degree of participation by members, and the program’s originality. The awards are given based on projects that were concluded during the prior bar year. The categories are “Service to the Public” which highlights the most successful public service project, “Service to the Bar” which highlights the most successful professional service project and “Minority” which highlights the most successful project that assisted minority lawyers in their career development or increased their level of involvement in the bar. The program also honors affiliates in the “Comprehensive” category for their ability to provide a broad range of programming available for their members. Lastly, the program honors a newsletter that assists an affiliate in reaching its overall goals and objectives.

This year, the affiliates in Texas racked up award after award and we are extremely honored to congratulate you on a job well done:

Comprehensive Awards
Texas Young Lawyers Association – 1st Place Comprehensive for Division 1A*
Houston Young Lawyers Association – 1st Place Comprehensive for Division 2B
Austin Young Lawyers Association – 2nd Place Comprehensive for Division 2B
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers – 2nd Place Comprehensive for Division 2A
Amarillo Young Lawyers Association – Certificate of Performance for Division 2C

Minority
Houston Young Lawyers Association – 1st Place for Division 2B
Texas Young Lawyers Association – Certificate of Performance for Division 1A

Newsletter
Houston Young Lawyers Association – 1st Place for Division 2B
Texas Young Lawyers Association – 2nd Place for Division 2A
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers – Certificate of Performance for Division 2A

Service to the Bar
Texas Young Lawyers Association – 1st Place for Division 1A
Houston Young Lawyers Association – 1st Place for Division 2B
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers – 2nd Place for Division 2A
Amarillo Young Lawyers Association – 2nd Place for Division 2C
Austin Young Lawyers Association – Certificate of Performance for Division 2B

Service to the Public
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers – 1st Place for Division 2A
Houston Young Lawyers Association – 2nd Place for Division 2B
Texas Young Lawyers Association – Certificate of Performance for Division 1A
Austin Young Lawyers Association – Certificate of Performance for Division 2B
Amarillo Young Lawyers Association – Certificate of Performance for Division 2C

Again, we are extremely proud of each and every affiliate for their vision, each and
every committee chair for their leadership, and each and every committee member for
their commitment to service and excellence. In typical Texas fashion, we look forward to
seeing bigger and better next year!

*Division 1A is for state affiliates with more than 8,000 young lawyer members. Division
2A is for local affiliates with more than 2,000 young lawyer members. Division 2B is for
local affiliates with between 8000 and 2,000 young lawyer members. Division 2C is for
local affiliates with less than 800 young lawyer members.