ABA Young Lawyers Division

Committees

YLD Committee membership offers you the opportunity to exchange ideas and gain insight from other lawyers who share your interests and expertise. It also allows you to receive timely information on developments in your practice area.

You're probably wondering how much time you need to dedicate to committee membership. Well, you can take what you'd like from committee membership and be as involved as you want. Be an active member. Throw yourself into it. Help plan a CLE program. Write an article. Your investment stands to gain sizeable returns.

If you're short on time and are being pulled in too many directions, you can be less involved. Less involved is better than not involved at all! Simply joining a committee gives you access to the latest developments in that area.

Think of what you're missing by not joining, and then think of what your clients are missing. It's up to you. Committee membership is something you can't afford to miss. The best part? Committee membership is FREE to members of the Young Lawyer Division! Go ahead and sign-up today; it'll make a world of difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What in the world is a "Committee"? The Committees are set up across different practice areas to reach out to young lawyers with a particular interest. Each committee is tasked with overseeing the programming and written materials for the ABA YLD in that particular practice area. There are 29 different committees. Each Committee has it’s own webpage with a committee description and resources.

2. They seem overwhelming. How are they structured? The Committees are made up of a Chair and at least one Vice Chair, who are appointed each April to fill the position for the next bar year (running from August to August each year). In addition, they are supported by a Planning Board, the members of which have indicated their willingness to assist in a meaningful way, such as writing an article, or assisting in putting on a program. In addition, there are general Committee members. These members are welcome to simply receive materials about the Committee or participate to the extent that they are able.

3. How do I join a committee? ONce you navigate to the committee you would like to join from the Committee Quick Access Menu, click the Join Our Committee link. Note: you must be logged in when you join a committee or you will be redirected to a login screen. You can also update your committee and section memberships by logging in to MyABA

4. Ok, this sounds REALLY good. How can I get MORE involved? Again, quite simple. Contact the Chair of the Committee and let them know you want to assist more. You won't be turned down. You can then getting signed up to be a planning board member.

5. Is there a way to be Chair for next bar year? Unfortunately, the application process for the 2007-2008 bar year has closed. However, occasionally, positions open up during the year. Showing your active participation in a committee is a great way to get involved for future years. You can also contact the Committee Directors who oversee the committees so figure out more ways to be involved.

6. How can I find out who the Chair is of a Committee? By visiting that Committee's particular webpage. You can also search the Member Directory.

7. Being an ABA member already has dues. Does it cost anything to join a Committee? No. You simply need to be a Young Lawyer and an ABA member. That's it. Doesn't get any simpler than that.

8. I'm not sure what I like. Can I sign up for multiple committees? Absolutely! We believe that Young Lawyers have multiple interests; you can sign up for as many committees as you wish.

9. I'm worried that I'm going to be asked to do lots of work if I sign up for a Committee. What should I do? First, signing up for committees is the ONLY way to learn what the Committees are doing. Second, there is NO pressure that is given. We're all volunteers and appreciate the time constraints that young lawyers have on their schedule.

10. I'm fearful of long-term commitments. Once I sign up, can I ever get "removed" from a Committee? Sure. You can always modify your settings using the Member Settings. Stay for a week, a month, or the year. Just sign up.

11. Is it too late to sign up for this bar year? NO! We're working on projects and producing materials year-round. There's no time like the present. You can sign up today and start receiving the benefits of being a Committee member.

12. What do Committee Directors do? Many of us have previously been a chair of a Committee. We now provide assistance to those Committees and ensure that they run smoothly. Like all ABA members, we're just other Young Lawyers who have been involved for a few years and can share our vast "experience".

13. What's the catch? No catch. We're just young lawyers like you. We enjoy the association for the work that we can do together and the professional relationships we build from that work. We like spreading the word.

14. I still have questions. Who else can I contact? You can always contact the ABA staff person to help guide you along the way. Renee Lugo is one of those great contacts. She can be reached at lugor@staff.abanet.org. You can also contact any of the committee directors.