Features

Disaster Legal Services: Unprecedented Number of Disasters Keep Young Lawyers Busy

Since the beginning of the bar year, the federal government has declared 13 disasters in 11 states. Disasters resulting from flooding, forest fires, hurricanes, and tropical storms have kept ABA YLD District Representatives busy implementing Disaster Legal Services (DLS)—a partnership program between the ABA YLD and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide pro bono legal services to disaster survivors. States that usually do not experience natural disasters are busy this year. Since September 1, DLS has been implemented in Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Vermont.

Upcoming ABA YLD Conferences Focus on Professional Development and Leadership

In the coming months, the ABA YLD will bring together young lawyers, as well as experienced practitioners, at two conferences: the ABA YLD Midyear Meeting and the New Partner and In-House Counsel Conference. The Young Lawyers Division events during 2012 ABA Midyear Meeting will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, at the New Orleans Marriott from February 2–4, 2012.

Bootcamp for New Lawyers, From Philadelphia to the ABA YLD

Two years ago, Rachel Kopp, the current ABA YLD Administrative Director, was serving as the Financial Secretary for the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association. In that capacity she co-chaired the Philadelphia YLD committee Legal Education & Law School Outreach Committee. As she pondered potential projects and initiatives for the committee, she had an idea—a rigorous half-day educational program for brand new lawyers and law students.

Around The Country

As the holidays and winter break become a distant memory and we all begin to actually put into practice our New Year’s resolutions, young lawyers around the nation continue to donate their time and energy to help others who are suffering and make a difference in peoples’ lives and in the lives of their communities.

Don’t Forget . . . .

February 2–4, 2012 ABA Midyear Meeting—New Orleans, LA February 15, 2012 2012–2013 Leadership Appointment Application Deadline Child Advocacy Award Nomination Process Opens Law Day Video Contest Submission Deadline March 1, 2012 Subgrant Program Application Deadline

Affiliate Leader Spotlight: Keya Koul

Keya Koul was recently honored with the 2011 State Bar of New Mexico Outstanding Young Lawyer of the Year Award. The award was presented on July 15, 2011, at the State Bar Annual Meeting. Keya is an accomplished bar leader within the New Mexico Young Lawyers Division and the ABA YLD, so we decided to shine the spotlight on her here.

Advice to Affiliates: Engage Members in Large Bar Associations by Reaching Out and Touching Base

Many large affiliates are faced with the challenge of reaching out and “touching base” with thousands of members. For some suggestions on how to connect with members in large bar associations, The Affiliate reached out to Giugi Carminati, a past Director of the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA), one of our nation’s largest bar associations.

Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section Spreads Awareness of Domestic Violence and the Law

After several months of preparation, the Missouri Bar Young Lawyers’ Section (YLS) recently issued its Domestic Violence and the Law: A Practical Guide for Survivors. The YLS’s 2010–2011 Chair, Heidi Doerhoff Vollet, spearheaded the project, with the assistance of Andrew Lyskowksi, the YLS’s Publications Chair.

One Year Later: Serving Our Seniors

Inspired by the need to serve America’s fast-growing population of senior citizens, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) launched the Serving Our Seniors program as its national public service project for 2010–2011.

Affiliate Spotlight: The ABA YLD’s Affiliated Minority Bar Associations

Four national minority bar associations are affiliated with the ABA YLD: the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Bar Association, and the Hispanic National Bar Association. The following are updates on the activities of each of these organizations by the National Representatives to the ABA YLD.

Fall Conference Recap: Sunny in Seattle

The weeks leading up to the 2011 ABA YLD Fall Conference showed rain, rain, and more rain in the Emerald City. But just as all the conference attendees arrived, the Seattle sun shone a bright light on the amazing city. For the first time, CLE programming began on Thursday afternoon for those who arrived early and included “Getting It In: Internet-Based Evidence” and “A Lesson in Ethics—A Young Lawyer’s Guide to Ethical Behavior.” Thursday evening started with the traditional “First Time Attendee Orientation” and continued on with the “Welcome Reception” at Pnk Ultra Lounge.

The ABA YLD Subgrant Program: Tips from the Chief Judge and a Former Subgrant Recipient

With the application process in full swing, the ABA YLD Subgrant Program is poised to affect change in the lives of several quality projects developed by the Division’s affiliated young lawyer organizations. The 2012 Subgrant Program is designed to assist in the success of projects developed by ABA YLD Affiliates across the nation by providing support through program funding.

Hosting a Conference? Tips on Fundraising

Having your city or state chosen as the location for an ABA YLD conference is a great honor. The first step is usually putting together a Host Committee that does most of the work that is required to organize a conference of this magnitude. One of the most challenging parts of hosting an ABA YLD conference is the fundraising. The conference and its events require substantial funds and it is the responsibility of the Host Committee to get that money.