2020 Virtual Spring Conference Schedule

    The past few months have been some of the most challenging in recent history. In addition to the great human toll COVID-19 has inflicted worldwide, the pandemic onset also resulted in major disruptions spanning every aspect of our everyday lives. 

    In the wake of coronavirus, ABA YLD’s planned in-person Spring Conference became collateral damage. In-person events will resume in the months to come as circumstances allow, but until then we hope you will enjoy and find insight in the virtual programming we have put together for this 2020 Virtual Spring Conference.

    Welcome Message from Judy Perry Martinez

    Tuesday, June 16

    YLD Spring Virtual Experience Kickoff

    Join us for the official welcome to and overview of Virtual Spring Conference.

    Vulnerability as a Leadership Strength to Thrive during Tumultuous Times

    “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Part of the recipe for stability and maintaining productivity during uncertain times is connection—leader to lawyer, peer to peer, attorney to client.  Most legal employers have been building in regular “check-in” virtual gatherings to maintain employee connection to the workplace, and it is presenting an opportunity to truly center leading with vulnerability and normalizing humanity in the workplace for the long-term. 

    Join this webinar to hear from attorneys about how they are navigating these tumultuous times and how leading with vulnerability is the best option for times of uncertainty and the new normal, whatever it looks like.

    Moderator

    • Michael Nguyen, National Co-Director of the Men of Color Project

    Speakers

    • Donovan Bonner, Attorney, Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP
    • L.J. Chavis, 2L Law Student, Southern University
    • Adriannette Williams, Attorney & Coach, Netteworking Consulting, LLC

     

    On-Demand Free CLE for ABA Members
    A Cultural Competency Primer for the Young Lawyer

    Get an overview of what cultural competency is, what implicit bias is, how it impacts the legal profession, and tips that you can begin implementing immediately to start working towards becoming culturally competent.

    Moderator

    • Diana-Marie Laventure

    Panelists

    • Aastha Madaan
    • Chloe Raquel Woods
    • Samuel Joseph Perez

    Sponsor

    • Young Lawyers Division

    Wednesday, June 17

    On-Demand CLE
    T Visas for Human Trafficking Victims

    Thousands of people are victims of human trafficking in the United States each year. T nonimmigrant status provides immigration protection to victims of trafficking. The T Visa allows victims to remain in the United States and assist law enforcement authorities in the investigation or prosecution of human trafficking cases. Learn how to identify cases, successfully complete visa applications, and interact with victims.

    • CLE replay available July 1.

    Speakers

    • Nicole M. Avila, Avila Law PLLC
    • Brittany Thomas Faith, Grant, Konvalinka & Harrison, P.C
    • Brittanie L. James, James Immigration Law, P.A..

     

    Webinar Replay
    Legal Tech in the Time of COVID-19: Innovation out of Necessity

    COVID-19 has made its mark. How have we and our organizations innovated out of necessity? More importantly, how do we hang on to it? Come listen and engage with experts from across the legal landscape to understand obstacles we are all facing.

    • This free online event (non-CLE) is open to the public. The replay is available only to ABA Members. 
    • Watch here.

    Moderator

    • Silvia Mansoor, Attorney, Koussan Hamood PLC

    Speakers

    • Daniel Elliott, Attorney, Elevate Services
    • Chase Hertel, Deputy Director and Counsel, American Bar Association, Center for Innovation
    • Laura Kubit, Attorney, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan

    Sponsor

    • YLD Legal Innovation Team

     

    On-Demand Free CLE for ABA Members
    Protecting Your Client's Intellectual Property: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know

    No matter what your practice area is, it's essential to understand the basics of intellectual property (IP) law, especially since IP is often among a company's or individual's most valuable assets.

    Moderator

    • Franklin Graves

    Panelists

    • Amy Hsiao
    • Christopher A Suarez
    • Deanna Joy Kossaras
    • Isheeta Tushar Patel

    Sponsor

    • Young Lawyers Division

    Thursday, June 18

    Non-CLE Webinar
    Courtroom, Client, & Career: Effective Writing Tips for All Young Lawyers

    Today’s new attorneys are faced with many different types of legal writing challenges, some formal and some less so, but all important to a young lawyer’s career and professional image. Get takeaways that can be applied easily and immediately. This session gives helpful tips to cover these varying contexts:

    1. Brief and memo drafting;
    2. More transient communications -- organizational and etiquette tips for quicker written exchanges as they occur in legal practice;
    3. Writing about one-self (how to present oneself for resumes and social networking purposes).

    This free online event (non-CLE) is open to the public. 

    Speaker

    • Lavanya Sabin, Director, Bar Review Program Strategy, MEE/MPT Content Development, AccessLex Institute

    Moderators

    • Aris Hanchard Ferguson, General Counsel, Housing Authority of the City of Charleston
    • Benjamin M. Woodring, Attorney, MoloLamken LLP

    Sponsor

    • YLD Litigation Committee

     

    Non-CLE Webinar
    Title VII US Supreme Court Decision: A Discussion and Analysis

    Last year, the US Supreme Court heard three cases that could remove current protections LGBTQ people have in the workplace. On Monday, the Court issued its opinion and affirmed non-discrimination protections for the LGBTQ community.

    This webinar analyzes these landmark rulings, what it means for LGBTQ+ individuals, and what impact these decisions will have on other areas of law.

    Speakers

    • Chai R. Feldblum, Partner, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
    • Louis Lopez, Associate Special Counsel, U.S. Office of Special Counsel
    • Carmelyn P. Malalis, Chair and Commissioner, New York City Commission on Human Rights
    • Shannon Minter, Legal Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights

    Sponsors

    • ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice
    • ABA Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

     

    On-Demand Free CLE for ABA Members
    Being Heard: Presentation Skills for Attorneys

    Do you need help with your presentations, in or out of the court? Public speaking is a skill that can be learned, just like any other skill such as writing, playing an instrument, a sport, or being a chef. In this quick and timely program, this session will provide you with basic and advanced techniques. Faith Pincus, author of Being Heard: Presentation Skills for Attorneys, will consolidate the most helpful and effective tips of the trade for you to become a better public speaker.

    Speaker

    • Faith Dianne Pincus

    Panelist

    • Honey Kessler Amado

    Sponsors

    Friday, June 19

    11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT
    Leaders Building Leaders: Creating Your Best Bar Year

    Join Bar leaders from across the country to hear about programs you can implement in your leadership year—from pro bono and diversity projects, to ways to move programming online in the COVID-19 era—this program showcases a double feature.  Attendees will hear from outgoing bar chairs and presidents on what was successful in their year and things they wish they could have improved on.  Finally, in the second hour, attendees will hear presentations from 10 bar associations in the areas of advocacy, programming, pro bono, diversity, and leadership.  This is a must attend program for everyone on your leadership team.

    Moderator

    • Josephine (Jo) Bahn, Affiliates Director, American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

    Speakers for Hour One

    • Allison Block-Chavez, Aldridge, Hammar & Wexler, P.A.
    • Victor Flores, City of Plano - City Attorney’s Office
    • Spencer Rubin, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, LLP
    • Sheila M. Willis, Fisher Phillips

    Programs and Presenters for Hour Two

    “How __ Can I Be?” - A discussion of being your “true self” in the workplace

    • Pierce T. (Perry) MacLennan, South Carolina Young Lawyers, South Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers President-Elect

    One Campaign

    • Ashlea Edwards, Florida Bar Young Lawyers, Fourth Circuit Governor for the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors

    ABA YLD Disaster Legal Services Program

    • Linda Anderson Stanley, ABA Young Lawyers Division, 2019-2021 ABA YLD DLS Director

    Other Programs (TBA)

    • Victor Flores, Texas Young Lawyers Association, TYLA President
    • Meghan Slack, Massachusetts Bar, Massachusetts Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Chair
    • Billy Leslie, Tennessee Bar, Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Diversity Leadership Institute Coordinator
    • Alex Reed, Southwest Louisiana Bar, Past President of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association Young Lawyers Section
    • Peter Handy, Nevada (Western States), Chair Elect of the Nevada Young Lawyers Section
    • Abhay Nadipuram, Iowa, Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division President
    • Nathan Chiccone, South Dakota, Past President of the South Dakota Young Lawyers Section

    Sponsor

    • The YLD Affiliate Assistance Team

    Replay information for this program will be available at a later date.