ABA YLD

By:  Baylor Wortham

From October 15 to 17, the American Bar Association Young Lawyer Division convened for the 2015 Fall Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas. The theme was Advocating for the Advancement of the Profession and the Community: Spotlight on Civil Rights.

The YLD Council met prior to the conference events and programming and heard presentations from ABA President Paulette Brown, former YLD Chair Jay Ray, and National Bar Association National Affiliate Representative Dionna Lewis. During the council meeting, the Affiliate Stars of the Quarter were recognized for outstanding projects. Most notably, the Texas Young Lawyers Association was honored for its upcoming Justice for All project, which seeks to highlight and educate lawyers on the issues of wrongful convictions. 

As the weekend progressed, the conference offered a wide array of programming and networking opportunities for young lawyers. Highlights included opening plenary remarks from Chief Judge Brian S. Miller, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas; a conversation with Minnijean Brown-Trickey, one of the famed “Little Rock Nine” who courageously helped to desegregate Little Rock’s Central High School; and high-caliber CLE programming on “The Bipolar Attorney: When the Mental Impairment is Your Own,” “A Right To Discriminate or Religious Liberty? The Return of Accommodation Battles in Civil Litigation,” as well as many other presentations on emerging legal topics. Social and networking opportunities included the welcome reception at the Pulaski County Courthouse and the dinner dance at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center.

In addition to the innovative programming, the conference also featured the first implementation of the 2015-16 bar year Public Service Project, “World Wise Web: Protecting Our Youth from Internet Predators,” and a diversity and inclusion outreach built around “What Do Lawyers Do,” an interactive program designed to educate college students on preparing for a career in the law including law school expectations, costs, and proper planning.

Upcoming YLD Conferences

The ABA YLD will host its remaining 2015-16 bar year conferences on the following dates/locations:

February 4-7, 2016: YLD events at the ABA 2016 Midyear Meeting (San Diego, California)
May 5-7, 2016: YLD Spring Conference (St. Louis, Missouri)
August 4-7, 2016: YLD events at the ABA 2016 Annual Meeting (San Francisco, California)

Other Important Dates

The following are important dates and deadlines for the period between November 2015 and February 2016 (ABA Midyear Meeting):
December 1: 
Embracing Diversity Challenge Nomination Deadline
ABA Midyear Meeting YLD Assembly Delegate Deadline (local affiliates)
ABA Midyear Meeting YLD Assembly Resolutions and Reports Deadline
Law Day Art Contest Entries Open

December 15:
ABA Midyear Meeting YLD Assembly Delegate Deadline (states and specialty young lawyer affiliates and military branches)
Applications open for 2016-17 YLD Leadership Appointments

January 1:
Applications open for YLD Scholars program
Applications open for YLD Affiliate Subgrant program

January 25:
Nominations open for the Outstanding Young Military Service Lawyer Awards

February 1:
Nominations open for the Child Advocacy Award

Baylor Wortham, an ABA YLD District 25 representative, is a former assistant U.S. attorney and currently a candidate for judge of the 136th District Court.