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Sections range in size from about 3,600 members to more than 60,000. The sections draw their membership from lawyers or judges with common professional interests, and operate much like independent bar associations with their own officers, dues and committees. They address professional development, improvement of laws, and continuing education through the work of more than 3,700 committees, and publications of outstanding quality, including 14 magazines, 40 newsletters, four annuals and 12 professional journals. Sections also contribute to policy-making, both in their subject areas and association-wide. Sections originate many of the recommendations that become the ABA's policy positions, and act as checks and balances on recommendations of other entities. On matters within their fields on which no association policy has been developed, sections can speak directly on their own behalf through "blanket authority" procedures.
Divisions differ from sections in internal structure. The Law Student Division is governed by a Board of Governors and has an Assembly consisting of law school representatives and student bar association representatives, which meets only at the Annual Meeting. The Judicial Division consists of judicial conferences, several with their own delegates to the ABA House of Delegates, and a committee structure. The Young Lawyers Division is composed of approximately 147,000 members and is open to all American Bar Association members under 36 years old or admitted to practice for five years or less. The Senior Lawyers Division is the ABA’s home of elder law attorneys, and attorneys and law students interested in the practice of elder law, and practicing senior lawyers age 55 and older or admitted to practice at least 25 years may join the Division.
Forums explore and monitor new areas of the law as they develop. Forums are specifically created to further your expertise in exciting new legal areas that are tied to certain industries such as telecommunications, E-commerce, and entertainment. It's easy to become a member of a Forum.
