By Carrie K. S. Okinaga
You may have noticed the increased presence of the ABA's Labor and Employment Law Section (LELS) at recent ABA YLD meetings and the increasing amount of interaction between the YLD and the LELS. The LELS is actively seeking young lawyers to become involved in the cutting-edge work of the Section, some of which includes writing articles and chapters in publications, speaking at seminars throughout the country, and providing classes for federal judicial clerks to educate them (and their judges) about labor and employment law. An increasing number of young lawyers have expressed interest in the quickly developing area of employment law and are looking for opportunities to become active in the LELS.
The YLD and the LELS have focused on three projects over the past year to strengthen the relationship between the two sections and provide opportunities for young lawyers to become involved in the LELS: (1) developing a YLD liaison program with LELS substantive committees; (2) increasing communication between the LELS to the YLD; and (3) co-sponsoring programs and providing other opportunities for the two sections to interact.
Development of Liaison Program
After gaining eager approval from the LELS, a YLD liaison has been appointed to each of eighteen standing committees of the LELS. These liaisons are on a "fast-track" to the leadership of the committees and are already working on committee projects for their respective committees. Sherri Jefferson serves as YLD liaison to the State Labor & Employment Law Develop-ments Committee and reports that she will be presenting a paper at the Committee's midwinter meeting. She also is the Committee's representative on the ABA Diversity Task Force. Eric Iskra, the liaison to the Federal Labor Standards Legislation Committee, is helping the Committee develop an FMLA treatise and is a member of the Family Medical Leave Act and Workers Adjustment and Retainer Notification subcommittees. He is also liaison to the LELS's new Technology Committee, where he is already being put to work reviewing the Section website and providing comments.
Improving Communication with the YLD about the LELS
Because the number of young lawyers actively attending LELS events and meetings is increasing, an updated schedule of LELS meetings and CLEs has been posted on the YLD Labor & Employment Law Committee's webpage.
Creating Opportunities for Members of the YLD and the LELS to Meet Each Other and Work Together
At the YLD AOP meeting in Washington, D.C., the LELS and the YLD co-sponsored a session entitled, "What Every Lawyer Should Know About Employment Law." The session was packed, standing room only, and speakers from both the LELS and the YLD participated. LELS Chair Mark Dichter attended the AOP meeting and spoke formally and informally to the attendees about becoming involved with the LELS. In addition, the LELS sponsored a breakfast that drew more than 100 young lawyers. The LELS received a thank-you letter from the YLD Chair for its contributions to the Washington, D.C., meeting that helped make that meeting such a success.
During the New York Annual Meeting, the LELS and the YLD co-sponsored a CLE program entitled, "Top Ten Things Every Lawyer Should Know About Employment Law," which was also well-attended. Again, speakers (Glenn Duhl, Jana Carey, Eric Iskra, Michelle Gallardo, Jeffrey Patton, Elizabeth Grossman) from both the YLD and LELS participated.
Carrie K. S. Okinaga is ABA YLD Liaison to the ABA Labor and Employment Law Section (1999-2000), and practices law with McCorriston Miho Miller Mukai in Honolulu, Hawaii.
