Public Service Project
Current Public Service Projects
During
the 2007–2008 bar year, the ABA Young Lawyers Division will show
its respect and support for first responders by naming the Wills for Heroes® Program
as its public service project. In partnership with The Wills for Heroes® Foundation,
the YLD will encourage its affiliates and 140,000 members to bring this
unique, much-needed program to their local first responders. Wills for
Heroes programs provide free wills, living wills, and healthcare and financial
powers of attorney to first responders and their spouses or domestic partners.
Recent Public Service Projects
The goal of the Choose Law project is to encourage individuals of color to become attorneys through use of a video, a written curriculum, a website, and attorney volunteers. Through Choose Law, students learn the importance of the legal profession and how the law affects all aspects of their lives. The students also learn that the legal profession is an honorable profession and that attorneys of color have played a crucial role in its development. Finally, the students learn that there are wonderful and diverse opportunities for individuals pursuing legal careers, but that they must begin now by obtaining a good education, making good grades, and staying out of trouble if a career in the law is what they truly desire.
Past Public Service Projects
All the Division's meetings and conferences include several different kinds of programming. One type programming is public service. The public service programs benefit both affiliate organizations, who can duplicate the programs in their own communities, and the individual young lawyers who attend.
We have archived our past member service so that they may be duplicated and referenced in the future.
Subgrants for New Programs
To promote public service and member support, the ABA Young Lawyers
Division awards subgrants to young lawyer affiliates to assist them
in undertaking projects in these areas. Funding for these subgrants
is provided by the American Bar Association Fund for Justice and Education.
Every year the public service subgrant and member service subgrant
programs begin with a mailing to affiliate chairs and chair-elects
in early January. The mailing announces the start of the program for
that year and provides an updated application form. These applications
are usually emailed to affiliate leaders in January and must be submitted
by mid- March for consideration. The judging team is comprised of
ABA YLD affiliate members.
Public service subgrants are given to affiliates whose programs
are designed to provide law-related services to segments of the population
not currently being adequately served. Additional priority is given
to public service projects that provide innovative approaches to dealing
with significant public need. Special consideration is also given
to first-time applicants and to affiliates with small annual budgets.
Projects eligible for member service subgrants are those that focus
on: Professionalism/Ethics, Member Development/Recruitment and Member
Support. Judging is based on the submission of well-developed proposals
that demonstrate a need for the project and its potential impact
on the profession and the Bar. Priority is given to affiliates with
small annual budgets, new affiliates and minority projects.
All affiliates are encouraged to apply for subgrants. There is no
limit to the number of applications an affiliate may submit, however,
the competition is keen and affiliates are encouraged to submit only
their best projects for consideration.
Updated applications are available here on the website. For more
information on subgrants, please contact ABA YLD Staff, Gina Sadler
at 312/988-5671.
