ABA Young Lawyers to Launch National Public Service Project,
Voices Against Violence, at Fall Conference in San Diego

CHICAGO, Sept. 18, 2008—Young lawyers aim to have their voices be heard as they kick off the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division 2008-2009 national public service project, Voices Against Violence, during the Division’s Fall Conference, Oct. 2-4 at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego.

The Voices against Violence project is designed to educate young lawyers about domestic violence issues and prevention, particularly amongst the teen population. Its Web site, www.abanet.org/yld/dv, contains information to help engage lawyers in efforts to respond to and prevent domestic violence by doing things like taking on pro bono cases, coordinating roundtable discussions in their local communities, delivering presentations to the public about domestic violence issues and taking part in legislative advocacy.

“This project is a call to action to our 147,000 members to get involved in raising awareness of domestic violence issues while addressing the unmet legal needs of domestic violence victims,” said Lizz Acee, chair of the ABA YLD. “It provides the tools and resources for young lawyers and young lawyer bar groups across the nation to make a difference in their own communities.”

Voices Against Violence will launch on Friday, Oct. 3 when Cindy Dyer, director of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), U.S. Department of Justice, moderates a roundtable discussion among young lawyers, judges and local representatives of the domestic violence community. The group will tackle such topics as major issues related to domestic violence, how they are being addressed, funding challenges and ways the legal profession, specifically young lawyers, can help.

The kick off will continue  the following day on Saturday, Oct. 4, with a keynote address from Sarah Buel, a law professor and survivor of domestic violence who has become an advocate for victims and survivors, and a welcome introduction by Casey Gwinn, founder of the San Diego Family Justice Center at 9 a.m.

In addition, a teen dating violence video created by the YLD that educates young lawyers about the issue and shows how they can get involved will be screened for the first time at the conference. Attendees also will be encouraged throughout the duration of the meeting to create signs that will be used in the San Diego County YWCA’s inaugural Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event, where men will walk a mile in heels to raise money to support its Becky’s House Domestic Violence programs.

Other conference highlights include:

Introduction to Domestic Violence Issues
This program provides an overview of violence in domestic and teen dating situations, including essential definitions, demographics affected and statistics. Other topics include restraining orders and other legal advocacy vehicles, as well as some of the latest undertakings in California to protect victims, especially teens.
Oct. 4, 10:15-11:15 a.m.

Same-Sex Marriage: California and Beyond
The recognition of same-sex marriage and the rights that come with it, including parental rights and spousal benefits, vary significantly from state to state, if offered at all. This program will address the legal context surrounding same-sex marriage, and the practical difficulties and realities it causes in today's world as access to marriage continues to elude many gay and lesbian couples.
Oct. 3, 10:15-11:15 a.m.

Guantanamo Detainees and the Right to a Fair Trial
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Boumediene v. Bush granted suspected terrorists the right to challenge their detention in federal court. Panelists will examine: how the government will provide a fair trial to these detainees, whether detainees can get access to exculpatory evidence, how detainees can utilize their constitutional protections and how the federal courts will handle these new cases.
Oct. 3, 10:15-11:15 a.m.

Campaigns and Compliance: The Basics of Election Law
This session will relay the basic knowledge needed on matters relating to elections and campaigns, including regulatory compliance and field operations issues such as the Voting Rights Act and voter identification issues, as well as concerns that arise when advising a candidate for office.
Oct. 3, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

For more details related to the meeting, visit: http://www.abanet.org/yld/fall08/home.shtml. For more information regarding the Voices Against Violence project including resources for lawyers and a listing of domestic violence resources across the United States, visit www.abanet.org/yld/dv/.

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, composed of approximately 147,000 members, is the home of young lawyers. The Division is committed to assuring that the legal profession reflects the society it serves and to providing the tools and opportunities that young lawyers need to succeed both professionally and personally.

With more than 407,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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Editor’s note: The Voices Against Violence roundtable discussion on Oct. 3 is closed to the media. However, Cindy Dyer, director of the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW), U.S. Department of Justice, will be available for comment before the session. Advance notice is requested by Thursday, Oct. 2 at noon.  If interested in speaking with her or in covering any other program at the conference, please contact Suzanne Cibotti at 312/988-6142 or cibottis@staff.abanet.org for credentials.

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