With almost 60,000 members (2,000 law students) and 70 committees and task forces, the American Bar Associatin’s Section of Litigation offers a variety of meetings throughout the year for its members to enhance their legal training and professional opportunities.

As the Law Student Division’s liaison to the Section of Litigation, I am the link between students and the section. I help section leaders promote issues or events that may affect students by disseminating important information to student leaders for the student community, while keeping the LSD Board of Governors informed of my activities. Most important, I try to explain the benefits of section membership to my fellow students.

Foremost, membership in the Section of Litigation offers students the opportunity to meet and network with leaders in the field of litigation. This opportunity may be gained through committee membership or attendance at section meetings—all at either a reduced fee or free of charge.

Joining committees and attending meetings allow students to delve into the section’s business. For example, help may be needed to conduct research on pressing issues that affect the litigation community.

Another member benefit is the discount on section publications. Members receive a subscription to the quarterly magazine Litigation, the bimonthly Litigation News, and the quarterly newsletter Litigation Docket. In addition, there is an online periodical called Tips from the Trenches, available on the section’s web site. These publications can keep students on top of a wide variety of hot legal issues. The $5 student membership fee is a bargain for the opportunity to participate in such a wonderful and enriching community of leaders.

The Section of Litigation wants to increase and enhance student involvement. I have the privilege of sitting on the section’s Council, where I have the opportunity to observe and participate in section business.

I recently attended the Section Council Meeting in Bermuda, where chair H. Thomas Wells Jr. stressed the importance of encouraging women, minorities, and students to join the section. Specifically, encouraging law student membership is a prime goal of Wells. The participation of students and young lawyers is essential for the section to thrive and move forward; participation, in turn, will help the practice of students and young lawyers thrive in the years to come.

For additional information about the section, including how to join it, visit the section’s web site at www.abanet.org/litigation, or call 800-285-2221. •

Khanh Josephson