The Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources will again offer a membership subsidy program designed to facilitate the active engagement and integration of lawyers who traditionally have been under-represented in our Section membership. This program is available to government and non-profit attorneys, as well as lawyers meeting the admission criteria for the Young Lawyers Division and minority lawyers whose employers will not pay ABA and Section dues. Up to forty individuals may be selected to participate in the program this year. Individuals are selected to participate in their personal or individual capacities and not as representatives of their employers.

The Section’s principal goal is to have its programs, publications, and other activities reflect the diverse perspectives and interests of all lawyers who practice in the environment, energy and resources areas. We are looking for government, non profit, young lawyers, and minority lawyers who are interested in being actively involved in the development of Section programs and publications, and who have a demonstrated record of participating in professional or civic organizations. Individuals should have sufficient expertise and experience to provide meaningful contributions to the Section’s discussions, programs, publications, or other activities. Those qualifying under the Young Lawyers criteria of the subsidy program are lawyers who have been admitted to practice in their first bar within the past five years or who are less than 36 years old.

The program is open to lawyers for the Federal, state, tribal and local governments, lawyers working for non profit organizations (e.g., NRDC, Environmental Defense, ELI, EarthJustice, trade associations), as well as lawyers qualifying for membership in the Young Lawyers Division and minority (people of color) lawyers not falling within the above categories whose employers do not pay ABA and Section dues. Individuals seeking selection must agree that if selected they will 1) pay the portion of ABA dues not covered by the subsidy program within 30 days of notification 2) join at least one substantive committee, 3) provide their e-mail address to the Section, and 4) participate in Section activities in some meaningful way, such as writing an article for a Section newsletter, Trends, or NR&E, agreeing to serve as a Vice Chair for a Committee, participating in the planning or delivery of a program. Please note that applicants must be new ABA members. For the purposes of the program, the Section defines new ABA members as those who have not held lawyer membership within the previous three years. Those young lawyers who held student ABA memberships are encouraged to apply.

Interested individuals must submit an application to the ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources on or before Monday, July 16, 2007. A sub-committee of the Membership Service Group will evaluate all applications and select up to 40 participants by August 30, 2007. If selected, the membership is for the specific individual and is not transferable. A selected individual receives a subsidy for the ABA year 2006-2007 (September 1, 2006-August 31, 2007) and is eligible to reapply for one additional year.

The following materials must be submitted by July 16, 2007:

1. Completed application form
2. Resume or biography - the resume or similar summary should highlight relevant expertise and experience

The Section prefers to receive completed applications and related materials electronically. Materials should be sent to Yumeka Brown. If packages are mailed, please send them to:

ABA Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources
Section Membership Subsidy Program
321 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60610
Fax: 312-988-5572

Please address any questions to Yumeka Brown, Program and Membership Coordinator 312-988-5577.