ABA YLD

The Role of the ABA YLD District Representative
By: Baylor Wortham

Over the past year, I have often found myself answering the same question from my fellow young lawyers: “What exactly does an ABA YLD district representative do?”  The short answer is simple.  I represent Texas young lawyers and their local affiliates to the ABA YLD general assembly.  However, in reality, the complete answer is much more complex, and the duties and responsibilities of this position demand a considerable commitment from the attorney, their employer, and their family. 

For starters, the district representative is involved in setting ABA YLD policy and debating resolutions that affect young lawyers across the country, and also includes collaborating with other young lawyers on national bar projects and initiatives.  Likewise, the ABA YLD rep also serves as a liaison to the Texas Young Lawyers Association Board of Directors, and collaborates on statewide bar projects as well.  However, having an active role on the ABA YLD assembly and the TYLA board requires a significant amount of travel.  District reps are required to attend five ABA YLD meetings annually, which are typically held all over the country.  Likewise, they are expected to annually attend the four TYLA board meetings, which are held all over Texas.  As a result, a district rep can expect to attend nine meetings a year, in addition to any other trips for training and orientation.  This can occasionally prove problematic depending on the demands of your particular practice.

The district rep is also expected to maintain an active dialogue with the affiliates located within each district, and then report quarterly affiliate updates to the ABA YLD.  This can often prove to be a formidable task given the size of the two Texas districts.  District 25, for instance, covers South and Central Texas and encompasses 17 young lawyer affiliates.  The affiliates also depend on the rep to provide them with important updates from the ABA YLD, share helpful resources, and grant opportunities.

Finally, the ABA YLD district rep serves a critical role in coordinating with FEMA in the event of a federal declaration of a natural disaster within the respective district.  The district rep coordinates with the local legal aid organizations to provide free legal aid to the low-income survivors of a natural disaster, and ensures that the statistics from the legal aid are properly recorded and submitted to FEMA and the ABA YLD.

Ultimately, the job of a district rep is extremely rewarding, and provides an incredible opportunity to network with other attorneys from across the country.  A district representative term is for two years, and carries a two-term limit.  For more information on the responsibilities of an ABA YLD district representative and how you can serve, please click here.