About the Division
The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) is the home for young lawyers. With over 150,000 members and 300 affiliated groups, the ABA YLD is the largest young lawyer organization in the world.
The Division is committed to assuring it is best able to represent the newest members of the profession, ensuring that it reflects the society it serves, and providing young lawyers with the tools and opportunities for professional and personal success. The Division also supports the activities of its Fellows, ABA members once active in the Division who have “aged out”.
Individual membership is open to American Bar Association members under 36 years old or admitted to practice for five years or less. Affiliate membership is open to young lawyer organizations and special interest bars.
YLD News
- 2010 ABA YLD Child Advocacy Award: This annual celebration honors the extraordinary commitment and legal contributions of lawyers and judges serving on behalf of children. Submit your nominations by April 30.
- 2010-2011 Leadership applicants list has posted. Review the list for your name.
- The Rosner & Rosner Young Lawyers Professionalism Award: This award honors young lawyer commitment to legal and judicial ethics, lawyer professionalism, client protection and professional regulation. The award recipient receives a lifetime complimentary membership in the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, complimentary registration for the Center’s National Professional Responsibility Conference, and a complimentary one-year subscription to the web-based version of the ABA/BNA Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct. Submit your nomination by March 31.
- 2010-2011 ABA YLD Scholarship Program: This program provides partial conference funding and an opportunity to become more involved in the Division. Submit your application by April 15.
- ABA Women in Law Leadership (WILL) Academy, April 29-30, 2010 in Philadelphia, PA: Registration is now open.
- ABA Recession Recovery Teleconference Series: Available as a free download this series consists of four audio programs providing practical tips and strategies for success in today’s career climate. Download the series today.
Initiatives
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They Had a Dream Too: Young Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement is designed to educate 11th and 12th graders about the important and often little known role of students, teenagers and children in the Civil Rights Movement. Learn more |
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When a disaster is declared, FEMA may call upon the Young Lawyers Division to assist victims through a disaster legal services hotline. Learn more |
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The Mentorship Project is an online collection of resources, designed for mentors, mentees, and organizations. As part of the project the YLD teamed with StoryCorps® to share stories on mentorship in the legal profession. Learn more |
Practice Tools
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The Young Lawyer, circulating to over 150,000 readers, is the Division's practice-oriented publication which focuses on matters of interest for the new lawyer.
TYL Online-Only Article |
The 101 Practice Series: Breaking Down the Basics is an online resource for new lawyers covering basic training in both substantive and practical aspects of law practice. With over 170 quick tips and tools, this series is an essential resource for lawyers in their first three years of practice and is exclusively available to ABA members. |
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2010 Spring Conference
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ABA Young Lawyers Division Spring Conference |
Keep up with the Division
Division Sponsor
2009-2010 Calendar and Key Dates
Submit a Program Proposal Today!
Program submissions are considered for YLD conferences and teleconferences.
