Other Programs, Events, and Initiatives for Young Lawyers and Law Students

Dozens of young lawyers and law students are honored each year through ABA member groups’ awards. These ABA awards recognize public service, professionalism, community involvement in the legal profession, and much more.

Other Young Lawyer and Law Student Opportunities

Career-advancing fellowships, internships & clerkships. Professional recognition through awards and writing competitions. Financial assistance like funded travel and scholarships. Each year the ABA offers 100+ opportunities and programs for young lawyers and law students.

Civil Rights & Social Justice — CRSJ 101: A Monthly Membership Event

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Civil Rights & Social Justice
• Description: Attention new and prospective members! Join Section leaders and staff on the first Monday of the month at 3:00 p.m. ET for a 30-minute event to learn more about the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice. Have questions about the Section and the work we do? CRSJ 101 is the perfect opportunity to learn more about our projects and initiatives, committee membership, and opportunities to get involved or get published!
  
  This event is open to all ABA members and non-members. We encourage all who are interested to join and hear from members - new and old alike - about their experience with the Section.
• Who is eligible: Law Students, Young Lawyers, All interested parties

Civil Rights & Social Justice — Various Civil Rights-related webinars

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Civil Rights & Social Justice
• Description: CRSJ consistently hosts high-quality programming on current events, hot topic issues, and other legal areas – all within the civil rights and social justice landscape. All of our programs, which host esteemed legal professions and thought leaders, are free and open to the public. We are constantly working with our members to develop new timely and exciting programs that appeal to the newest members of the legal profession.
• Who is eligible: Law Students, Young Lawyers, All interested parties

Commission on Women in the Profession — The Grit Project

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Commission on Women in the Profession
• Description: The Grit Project teaches about grit and growth mindset, two traits many successful women lawyers have in common. While grit is useful to lawyers at any stage of their careers, specific programming and discussion scenarios have been developed for law students and young lawyers. CWP is happy to assist any law school or other group who would like to present a grit program to their members.
• Who is eligible: Law Students, Young Lawyers, Applicable to all career stages, but there are specific resources for law students and young lawyers. 

Communications Law — Annual Conference of the Forum on Communications Law

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Communications Law
• Description: The Annual Conference will bring you what you have come to expect every year - stimulating plenaries, robust workshop discussion and intensive legal analysis by panelists, facilitators and faculty.
• Deadline: Applications typically close each year in November.
• Who is eligible: Law Students

Communications Law — Media Advocacy Workshop

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Communications Law
• Description: The 25th Annual Media Advocacy Workshop (MAW) is designed for law school students and attorneys with 10 or less years in practice, the Forum developed this program to expose young and diverse lawyers with an interest in media and communications law to learn the basics of this varied area of practice.
• Deadline: Applications typically close each year in January.
  
• Who is eligible: Law Students, Young Lawyers

Environment Energy & Resources — Environmental Law Society Network

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Environment Energy & Resources
• Description: Participation in the network is free and offers many benefits, such as opportunities to connect with members of environmental law societies across the U.S. and advance notice about opportunities to get involved in ABA SEER.
• Deadline: N/A
• Who is eligible: Law Students, professors

Government & Public Sector Lawyers — Public Sector Careers

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Government & Public Sector Lawyers
• Description: Join us for a panel discussion led by a variety of government and public sector lawyers on job opportunities and working in the public sector. Learn more about careers in government and meet experienced government lawyers. Find out why they entered public service and what they look for in new hires.
• Who is eligible: Law Students, Young Lawyers

International Law — Pathways to Employment in International Law

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: International Law
• Description: Career programs at law school
• Who is eligible: Law Students, Young Lawyers

Judicial Division — The Bench to Bar Diversity Outreach Program

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Judicial Division
• Description: At each Midyear and Annual Meeting, the Judicial Division's Standing Committee on Diversity in the Judiciary hosts a panel of distinguished judges to discuss their path to the bench and unique experiences in the judiciary and to offer young lawyers and law students advice on preparing for successful legal careers and positioning themselves for potential judicial positions. There are many ways to enter a career in the judiciary, and this panel offers a few stories and plenty of advice on how to achieve that.
• Who is eligible: Law Students, Young Lawyers

Judicial Division — Federal Judges Law Student Outreach

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Judicial Division
• Description: Throughout the year, the National Conference of Federal Trial Judges (NCFTJ) conducts outreach events with law schools. The judges answer law student questions, give advice on career path, clerkships, and other interning options, and offer insights into the judiciary as a career.
• Who is eligible: Law Students

Litigation — Anatomy of a Trial

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Litigation
• Description: This one-day boot camp training program for young lawyers focuses on a specific case. A faculty of leading trial lawyers and judges will analyze opening statements, direct examination, cross-examination, and closing arguments.
• Deadline: Applications typically close each year in April.
  
• Who is eligible: Law Students, Young Lawyers

Litigation — Diverse Lawyers Trial Academy

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Litigation
• Description: The ABA Litigation Section is proud to announce the formation of its Diverse Lawyers Trial Academy. The Trial Academy will provide participants with interactive one-on-one and group trial skills development in direct and cross examinations of fact and opinion witnesses as well as the art of presenting a closing argument. This will assist attorneys who far too often are not considered for First Chair roles in their quest to become trial lawyers. This training is available to lawyers who are members of racial and ethnic groups typically underrepresented in the legal profession, women lawyers, lawyers with disabilities, and LGBT+ lawyers. With only 32 spaces available, the number of attorneys from each firm is limited to assure that we provide availability to all participating firms. Applicants will be required to provide information regarding their trial experience, diversity, and resume or bio upon registering.
• More Information: ABA site
• Deadline: Applications typically close each year in November.
• Who is eligible: Young Lawyers

Real Property Trust & Estate Law — Skills Training for Estate Planners

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Real Property Trust & Estate Law
• Description: This program will present a consolidated take on the ideal estate planning CLE program for both new and experienced lawyers. Young and transitioning lawyers new to the practice will receive an educational experience focused on the “how to” of estate planning. The outstanding faculty includes experts in all aspects of estate planning and will cover a wide range of topics.
• Deadline: Applications typically close each year in July.
  
• Who is eligible: Young Lawyers

Solo Small Firm & General Practice Division — GPSolo Law Student Event at ABA Midyear

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Solo Small Firm & General Practice Division
• Description: Depending on the location and timing, GPSolo usually hosts a program at a local law school aimed at highlighting legal careers in solo and small firms.
• Deadline: Applications typically close each year in February.
  
• Who is eligible: Any one can attend, though it occurs at law schools.

Solo Small Firm & General Practice Division — Spring Law Student Event

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Solo Small Firm & General Practice Division
• Description: Depending on the location and timing, GPSolo usually hosts a program at a local law school aimed at highlighting legal careers in solo and small firms.
• Deadline: Applications typically close each year in May.
  
• Who is eligible: Anyone is welcome to attend.

Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service — Directory of Law School Pro Bono and Public Interest Programs

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service and the Center for Pro Bono
• Description: Directory of pro bono and public interest programs at ABA accredited law schools
• Who is eligible: Law Students

Taxation — Young Tax Lawyer Symposium

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Taxation
• Description: The Symposium will provide young attorneys and students an opportunity to hear from practitioners and government officials on a variety of issues that are not covered in most law school courses. Topics discussed include fundamentals of tax litigation, the impact of tax law changes and Treasury guidance, and ethics in tax law. A networking cocktail reception follows.
• Deadline: Applications typically close each year in March.
  
• Who is eligible: Law Students, Young Lawyers

Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section — ABA/ABOTA National Trial Academy

• Sponsoring ABA Entity: Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
• Description: The National Trial Academy sponsored by the ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) of the American Bar Association and the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) offers a unique, interactive, diverse program combining today’s latest technology with the country’s top trial lawyers as personal mentors.
• Deadline: Event is in September; deadline is late August.
  
• Who is eligible: Young Lawyers

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