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ABA YLD Update

American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division held its first CareerLine LIVE! event at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Dallas, with more than 70 YLD volunteers offering one-on-one support and guidance. The event also featured an online component with volunteers tweeting vital job-seeking information through the hashtag #ABACareerLine. With some conversations stretching 20 to 40 minutes, volunteers really made the effort to offer one-on-one counsel while lending an ear to those who were struggling.

In addition to great service to law students during the Midyear Meeting, YLD served students at North Dallas High School by presenting this year’s signature project, American Voter. Besides covering the nuts and bolts of the election process, American Voter puts young lawyers “in a unique position to be able to tell high-school students about the importance of the electoral process from a nonpartisan perspective,” says Chris Rogers, chair of the Young Lawyers Division. “Conveying the importance of the right to vote and providing information about voter registration in a format that is usable and recognizable for our audience are our primary goals for American Voter.” To learn more about promoting American Voter in your community, click here.

YLD also needs your help to spread the word about the Third Annual Law Day Contest for high-school students, jointly sponsored with ABA’s Division for Public Education. The contest is the perfect opportunity for teenage history buffs and aspiring artists to put their skills and creativity to work. Students will create a two-dimensional art piece (including, but not limited to, drawings, paintings, films, photographs, graphic novels, comics) that highlights the theme “Realizing the Dream: Equality for All.” The entry deadline is April 1, 2013. Four prizes will be awarded. Runners-up for both the individual and team categories will receive prizes worth up to $250; winners for both the individual and team categories will receive prizes worth up to $750 in addition to a party hosted by the ABA YLD in the winners’ hometown.

YLD is committed to representing the newest members of the profession, ensuring that it reflects the society it serves, and providing young lawyers and young-lawyer organizations with the tools and opportunities for professional and personal success. YLD membership is open to ABA members under 36 years old or admitted to practice for five years or less. Affiliate membership is open to young-lawyer organizations and special-interest bars. There are no additional membership dues. Through YLD, young lawyers can gain knowledge, develop skills, build networks, be heard, and give back. If you are interested in getting more involved in the ABA YLD, please contact your district representatives, Anita Barksdale and Jobe Rodgers.