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PAIDAmerican Bar Association

American Bar AssociationYoung Lawyers Division321 North Clark StreetChicago, IL 60610-4714ISSN: 0360-5485

FFILIATEaFFILIATEThe

The newsletter and resource guide for bar leaders nationwide

Volume 32 Number 3 • January/Febraury 2007

A Pub l i ca t i on o f t he Amer i can Ba r Assoc ia t i on Young Lawye rs D iv i s i on • h t t p : / /www.abay ld .o rg

Ten years ago, in April 1997, the American Bar Asso-ciation hosted its first “ABA Day in Congress.” Theevent brought more than seventy-five leaders to

Capitol Hill. Organized by the ABA Section Officers Con-ference, with the support of the Governmental Affairs Of-fice, ABA Day was designed to bring section leaders toCapitol Hill to discuss legislative issues important to theirsections, as well as ABA legislative priorities. Last year, ABADay brought nearly four times the original attendance—

close to 300 bar leaders—to Capi-tol Hill to meet with members ofCongress, making it the largestturnout ever.

Last year, participants focusedon the following issues with theirelected officials in Washington: asignificant funding increase for theLegal Services Corporation; re-versing federal government poli-cies encouraging federalprosecutors to require companiesand other entities to waive theirattorney-client privilege andwork-product protections as a

ABA Day in Washington:Your Opportunity to Shape the Legal Profession

By Mercedes Pino

condition for receiving cooperation credit during investi-gations; urging senators to oppose S.354, S.22, and S.23,which would preempt state medical liability laws and limitinjured patients’ rights to compensation; and supportingcomprehensive immigration reform legislation that pro-vides a path to permanent residence for undocumentedworkers currently in the United States. For more informa-tion or for resources on ABA Day 2006 “Priority Issues”and “Hot Topics,” visit www.abanet.org/poladv/abaday06/re-sourceshome.html.

Make Connections/Build RelationshipsIn addition to the “Priority Issues,” ABA Day provides anopportunity to address issues and topics that matter toyou, your practice, your clients, and your bar association.As a young lawyer, ABA Day allows you to participate inthe legislative process and help shape the future of the legalprofession by making connections and building relation-ships with members of Congress and their staffs. ABA/YLDChair-Elect Justin Goldstein, of National City Bank ofPennsylvania, noted, “At some level, the bar is a trade or-ganization and has as its goal the pursuit of justice. Thereis no better place that we can protect our profession andthe public than in the halls of our nation’s capital. Having

Karen J. Mathis of Denver, Colorado, became President of the American Bar Association at theAssociation’s 2006 Annual Meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii. During her distinguished career shehas served the ABA as Chair of the Commission on Women in the Profession, as Chair of theABA House of Delegates, and as Chair of the ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Sec-tion (now Division). She is a partner in the Denver office of McElroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney &Carpenter, LLP, where she concentrates her practice in commercial and business law.

A past Speaker of the ABA/YLD Assembly, Ms. Mathis graciously took time from her busyschedule to share her thoughts about leadership, service, and her year as ABA President withThe Affiliate.

The Affiliate: How did you start off your law career? Mathis: In 1975, I graduated from the University of Colorado Law School and went

to work at KPMG (then Peat Marwick) as the first woman hired directly into the DenverTax Department. I wanted to learn tax, and I did. I left two years later to practice law in asmall firm with an incredible mentor, Sandra Rothenberg, who has been a ColoradoCourt of Appeals judge since 1987. The truth is that I’ve always been drawn to servingother people and first thought I’d be a school teacher or a nun. But the law was the per-

fect outlet for those hopes. The legal profession is rooted inserving the common good—most of us believe that service is anessential part of our calling as lawyers. When we serve, we ac-knowledge that we are part of the greater whole, and we be-come more productive members of society.

The Affiliate: When did you first become involved in theABA?

Mathis: In 1978 I served as Chair of the Denver Bar Associa-tion’s Young Lawyers Section. In that capacity I attended anAOP conference in Las Vegas. I was hooked! I learned as a kidthat I could stand on the sidelines, watching others play ball, orget out on the court and join them. So, I’ve always been some-one who wants to get involved. I’ve been an active member ofthe ABA for almost thirty years. The opportunities have helped

me become a better lawyer, and a better person.The Affiliate: How did you progress through

the Young Lawyers Division? Mathis: I served on a number of committees,

including YLD liaison to the American Bar Associ-ation Committee on Membership, as a director,the Clerk, and then Speaker of the Assembly.Then I aged out! But my time in Young Lawyersremains a big part of who I am as a lawyer. I made some extraordinary friendships in YLD,and many of those friendships are still going strong today.

The Affiliate: When did you decide you wanted to serve as president of the ABA? Mathis: Perhaps others decide ten years before they are elected that they want to be

ABA President, but that wasn’t the case for me. I just wanted to do the jobs I had well—chair of membership, chair of the Commission on Women, an officer in GP|Solo. It wasn’tuntil I served as Chair of the House of Delegates that I seriously considered a run for thePresidency. The ABA and the organized bar have been such a rich part of my experience asa lawyer that it seemed like a great opportunity to be of service.

The Affiliate: Have mentors been an important part of your ascension through theABA ranks?

Mathis: Absolutely. It’s dangerous to name some, and forget to mention others. Howev-er, Jerry Shestack, Martha Barnett, and John Krsul come to mind immediately. I have neverbeen a big fan of the word “I.” Almost everything of value benefits from collaboration. Evennow, as ABA President, it’s important to draw on the wisdom and experience of others.Probably the most important thing any young lawyer can do is to find lawyers with greaterseasoning and experience, to help guide them through the early stages of their careers.

The Affiliate: Do you have any advice for young lawyers who aspire to becomeABA President?

Mathis: Sleep a lot before you begin your President-Elect year!The Affiliate: Why should a young lawyer join the ABA as opposed to another entity?

Mercedes Pino is an

assistant editor of The

Affiliate and is the

assistant director of

Career Services at the

Touro Law Center in

Central Islip, New York.

an impact on the issues of the day with those who shapepolicy is an incredible accomplishment. ABA Day providesthis opportunity not just to Association leaders, but to itsmembers.”

As former ABA President Dennis Archer once wrote,“Every spring, bar leaders from around the country havethe unique opportunity to help implement the organizedbar’s legislative agenda, receive briefings from congression-al leaders, and meet with members of Congress and theirstaffs on issues important to the profession.” This spring,ABA Day is planned for April 18–19, 2007, and will in-clude an optional Supreme Court Breakfast/Swearing-InCeremony, an Interactive Lobbying Workshop, and Capi-tol Hill visits.

Learn the IssuesWhile the Capitol Hill visits make up the most importantcomponent of ABA Day, they may also be the most daunt-ing for newcomers. With this in mind, the ABA providesthe following guidelines for planning your meetings:

• Learn how the issues the participants will be lobbyingon directly impact your state, your district, yourclients, your law practice, and the justice system. Par-

continued on page 8

continued on page 8

Marguerite L. Carr is

an assistant editor of

The Affiliate and an

assistant district

attorney in Farmington,

New Mexico.

A Great Opportunity to Be of Service:An Interview with ABA President Karen J. Mathis

By Marguerite L. Carr

Karen J. Mathis

2

a

W here do you see your affiliate five years fromnow? Ten years from now? Fifteen years fromnow? The only real way to know the answer

to these questions and to feel assured that you have ap-propriately prepared your affiliate for the future is to de-velop a long-range plan.

Importance of a Long-Range PlanAlthough it is quite easy for bar leaders to becomeoverwhelmed with their affiliate’s current activities,affiliates must make establishing a long-range plan apriority. According to Affiliate Director Ryan Reed ofBowling Green, Kentucky, “in order to be a healthyorganization, an affiliate should expect to do a long-range plan every two or three years.” Long-rangeplanning is important because it helps affiliates definetheir organization and focus on specific objectives.ABA/YLD District 23 Representative Elizabeth Hill ofPhoenix, Arizona, believes that long-range planningis beneficial to affiliates in her district “because it en-courages affiliates to establish development goals andobjectives and points them in a specific direction. Toreach those goals the affiliate must critically evaluateits strengths and weaknesses, determine what re-

sources it has available, and decidehow it is going to use those resourcesto capitalize on its strengths and im-prove its weaknesses in order to ac-complish its goals. Ultimately, theaffiliate will be more productive andefficient.”

In addition, even though an affili-ate’s executive leadership changesevery year, having a long-range planhelps to maintain the continuity ofthe affiliate’s mission and program-ming. A long-range plan can also helpan affiliate measure its success be-

ment and retention strategies for young lawyermembers; and

• a leadership development component providingspecific goals for your affiliate’s officers and otherleaders.

Each of these long-range plan components alsoshould include a strategy, objectives, action items, nameof the person or persons in charge of the action items,and a completion date for each action item. This way,even as the executive leadership changes, new leaderscan look to the long-range plan to make sure their goalsare consistent with the organization’s mission.

Implementation of a Long-Range PlanImplementing a long-range plan requires the cooperationof the entire young lawyer organization. Hill noted that“aside from trying to create unique goals, one of thebiggest challenges of implementing a long-range plan isdeveloping achievable and measurable objectives to reachthose goals.” It is also important to remember that long-range plans are intended to be—and in fact should be—fluid documents. “When you are dealing with somethingthat is looking out three-to-five years, circumstances areguaranteed to change and the plan must be flexibleenough to change with them,” Hill stated.

Similarly, Reed believes that developing a long-rangeplan should be part of an affiliate’s “regular activity,”

Funding for Membership Support ProjectsAvailable from the Member Service Subgrant Program

By Jodi L. Cramer

Planning for the Future: A Necessity of SuccessBy Rachel E. Kopp

Rachel E. Kopp is an

assistant editor of The

Affiliate and practices

with the firm of Spector,

Roseman & Kodroff,

P.C. in Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania.

EditorScott D. Laufenberg, Bowling Green, KY

Associate EditorsJulia A. Bahner, Seattle, WAJodi L. Cramer, Rockville, MD

Assistant EditorsMelissa Dewey Brumback, Raleigh, NCIsa Gonzalez-Zayas, Milwaukee, WINatalie Holder-Winfield, Stamford, CTRachel E. Kopp, Philadelphia, PAMercedes Pino, Central Islip, NYJeffrey J. White, Hartford, CT

Managing EditorRichard W. Bright, Chicago, IL

Art DirectorTamara Nowak, Chicago, IL

ABA YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

ChairJay E. Ray, Plano, TX

Chair-ElectJustin B. Goldstein, Pittsburgh, PA

Secretary-TreasurerElizabeth K. Acee, New Haven, CT

Assembly SpeakerDaniel W. Van Horn, Memphis, TN

Assembly ClerkDeborah Smith, San Francisco, CA

DirectorsKelly-Ann F. Clarke, Galveston, TXAlfreda D. Coward, Fort Lauderdale, FLKendyl T. Hanks, Dallas, TXChauntis T. Jenkins, New Orleans, LAMaralee MacDonald, Sacramento, CARyan C. Reed, Bowling Green, KYDaniel Schwartz, Stamford, CTAndrew J. Schaeffer, Covington, KYMichael Vercher, Birmingham, ALJonathan W. Wolfe, Livingston, NJ

The Affiliate (ISSN: 0360-5485) is published sixtimes yearly by the Young Lawyers Division ofthe American Bar Association, 321 North ClarkStreet, Chicago, IL 60610-4714, for theDivision’s state, local, and specialty affiliatedyoung lawyer groups.

In addition to conveying information to barleaders around the country as to events, meet-ings, subgrants, and other resources offeredthrough the Young Lawyers Division, TheAffiliate seeks to inspire new projects throughfeature articles highlighting individual affiliateprojects and persons involved in public serviceand membership support.

For information about services andresources available to affiliates through theYoung Lawyers Division, contact Jill EckertMcCall, YLD Director, at 312/988-5614 ormccallj@staff.abanet.org.

The views expressed herein are notnecessarily those of the American Bar

Association or its YoungLawyers Division.

© 2007 American Bar Association.Produced by ABA Publishing.

aFFILIATE

cause it can compare its yearly progress with the goalsset forth in the long-range plan.

Creation of a Long-Range PlanCreating a long-range plan requires careful thought andplanning. In Hill’s opinion, “it is one thing to create a listof goals. It is quite another to create measurable, specif-ic, short-term objectives, that will allow the affiliate torealistically and practically achieve those goals in atimely manner.” Therefore, before delving into the long-range planning process, Reed recommended that affili-ates find an organization that they admire, study thatorganization’s plans, and consider the process used bythat organization in drafting its long-range plan.

Daniel Van Horn of Memphis, Tennessee, who is theABA/YLD Assembly Speaker and the immediate pastpresident of the Tennessee Bar Association YoungLawyers Division, also suggested that affiliates form a“working group” to help develop a long-range plan. Thegroup can include members of the affiliate’s executiveleadership, as well as other members of the younglawyer organization. The more diverse the group, thebetter the final product will be, because the long-rangeplan should reflect the views of the entire young lawyersorganization, not just the organization’s leadership.

Although long-range plans differ in both appearanceand focus according to the particular young lawyer or-ganization, successful long-range plans will likely in-clude the following:

• a mission statement outlining the purpose andnature of the affiliate;

• a financial component, which helps the affiliateset and review financial benchmarks and address-es how the organization will be funded (e.g., bythe senior bar or through fundraising);

• a public service component setting forth the orga-nization’s public service mission;

• a member service component outlining recruit-

Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis YLDFamily Picnic

Lawyers Association of Kansas City YLSJudicial Reception

Nebraska Young Lawyers SectionThe YLS Affiliate Newsletter

New Hampshire Bar Association NLCBench & Bar Meet and Greet Event

New Hampshire Bar Association NLCFisher Cats Event—An Evening at the Ball Park

Multnomah County Bar Association YLSNew Admittee Survival Guide

West Virginia Bar Young Lawyers SectionYoung Lawyer of the Year Award

The ABA/YLD awards Member Service Subgrants in dol-lar amounts up to $500, and affiliates may submit an appli-cation for more then one program. During the 2005–06bar year, the Division awarded $3,800 for affiliates’ proj-ects. Because the application can be time consuming,organizations are encouraged to submit their best project.

Priority is given to affiliates with small annual budg-ets, new affiliates, and minority projects. The selectioncommittee will be looking for creative ideas to increaseprofessionalism/ethics development, increase member-ship, or assist law students.

Applications were sent to affiliates in January and arealso available electronically on the ABA/YLD webpage atwww.abanet.org/yld/affiliateleaders/subgrantfunding.html.The deadline for all subgrant applications is February28, 2007. Subgrant recipients will be announced at theABA/YLD Spring Conference in Montréal, Québec.

For more information and to download an applica-tion package, please visit the ABA/YLD webpage or con-tact Ryan Reed, the subgrant chief judge, at 270/782–7911or ryanreed@abanet.org, or Gina Sadler of the ABA/YLDat 312/988-5671 or sadlerg@staff.abanet.org.

continued on page 8

a

Every year, the ABA/YLD provides funding in the formof subgrants for affiliates undertaking member serviceprograms. As required by the subgrant criteria, theseprograms should involve professionalism/ethics, mem-ber development/recruitment, and member support,including projects designed to assist law students.

Last year’s Member Service Subgrant recipientsincluded the following projects:

The Chicago Bar Association YLSChicago Lawyers’ Court Handbook

Washtenaw County Bar Association YLS New Lawyer/Mentor Reception

Lawyers Association of Kansas City YLDLAKC Annual Luncheon Recruitment Programs

Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis YLDYLD Family Picnic

Montana State New Lawyers SectionMontana NLS E-Newsletter

New Hampshire Bar Association NLC Bench & Bar Meet & Greet for New Lawyers

Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association YLDMembership & Recruitment Drive

Washington Young Lawyers DivisionWYLD Lending Library

Clark County (Washington) Bar Association YLSYoung Lawyer vs. Senior Lawyer Softball Game/

Family Barbecue

During the 2004–05 bar year, subgrant recipients were:

Maricopa County Bar Association YLDCollege of Law Reception

Maricopa County Bar Association YLDRecruitment Reception

Connecticut Bar Association YLSThe Equilibrium Project

New Orleans Bar Association YLSNew Admittee Reception

Jodi L. Cramer is an

associate editor of

The Affiliate and

practices in the Office

of General Counsel

of the Federal

Emergency

Management Agency

in Washington, D.C.

YLD organizes a “New Admittee CLE,” which is held afterthe bar results are released in Washington. This two-dayCLE includes tours of the state and federal courthousesand presentations by judges and senior attorneys onissues such as jury selection, motion practice, ethics, andprofessionalism. The YLD also sponsors a social event fol-lowing the first day. According to President-Elect KammiMencke, who practices in Spokane, this event provides “afantastic opportunity for the newly admitted attorneys tonetwork with not only other young lawyers, but also withthe CLE speakers as well.”

The opportunities do not end there. The YLD, inconjunction with the senior bar, also offers a “JudicialTheatre CLE” in which state and federal judges act outskits that involve ethical dilemmas. After each skit, theattendees discuss the ethical issues raised in smallgroups and then participate in a larger group discussionfacilitated by the judges. Not only has this CLE been theYLD’s most successful, but it has also proven to be quitea bit of fun. According to Mencke, “the judges enjoystepping outside of their traditional formality by roleplaying, often in costume, and participating in opendialogue about ethical issues in the legal profession.”

Formula for SuccessAs evidenced by these programs, the Spokane CountyYLD continues to provide its members with numerousopportunities to interact with judges, senior attorneys,and their peers. For O’Rourke, “our success stems fromthe YLD’s active membership, great support from theSpokane legal community, and helpful mentoring byformer YLD members.” Based upon this formula, thereis no doubt that the Spokane YLD will continue to leadthe way in Washington.

3

If you ask a junior high student what he thinks alawyer does, he would most likely say that a lawyereither defends people accused of a crime or tries to

put them in jail. His limited exposure to attorneys islikely based upon whatever Law & Order episode ormovies he has seen. Through volunteer efforts in localschools, young lawyers are working to change that per-ception and make a difference in the lives of children.

Mary Beth Hughes, a civil law attorney at Peterson,Johnson & Murray, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was partof a mock civil trial at the Johnson Creek High School.The students participated in the mock trial as part oftheir seventh grade social studies class. Hughesexplained that many of the students only knew aboutcriminal law because of television. Commenting on thestudents’ experience with the mock trial, she said,“They learned about something new and some basics ofwhat it is like to be a lawyer.” When asked if younglawyers would benefit from participating in such pro-grams, Hughes said, “Young attorneys benefit by doingsomething positive for young kids, in particular, teach-ing them about a subject matter they often know verylittle about, introducing them to the practice of law, andputting a much-needed positive face on the legal profes-sion.”

Hughes’s experience is probably no different fromthat of other young lawyers volunteering in their localcommunities and schools. I shared a similar experiencewhen I made a presentation at a retreat for studentsfrom Messmer Preparatory School in Milwaukee. The

students had a wide range ofquestions: “Do you defend peo-ple that killed other people?” “Doyou make a lot of money?” “Haveyou ever lied to the judge?” Ianswered the questions candidly,and I explained to the studentsthat I have defended peopleaccused of abuse as well as vic-tims of child abuse and domesticabuse. Inevitably, they wanted toknow how I could do it. I toldthem that lawyers cannot pre-judge their clients because it is a

lawyer’s job to make surethat the client’s civil andconstitutional rights are notbeing violated. As a criminaldefense attorney, I am notcondoning or defendingwhat my clients may beaccused of. I am defending afellow human being andprotecting their constitu-tional and civil rights. Iexplained that under ourlegal system, you are trulyinnocent until proven guiltybeyond reasonable doubt.Unfortunately, if all youngstudents know is what theysee on TV and in movies,their concept of how thesystem works and for whomthe system works gets mud-died, unless we—as younglawyers—are willing to vol-unteer our time to changetheir perceptions of how thecivil or criminal systemworks.

Jessica King, a staff attorney for Steinhilber, Swanson,Mares, Marone & McDermott, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin,participated in the Winnebago County Bar Association2006 Law Day project. This project was a collaborationbetween Gannett Publishing, Partners in LiteracyProgram and the Winnebago County Bar Association.Twenty-three volunteer lawyers went to classrooms andmet with 450 students in one day. On the same day, aninsert was sent to 20,000 households in the county. Thetheme for that Law Day was the importance of servingon a jury. “I would definitely recommend this [program]to every community. It’s important for children at ayoung age to see lawyers in a positive light,” King said.

King took the idea of this Law Day classroom projectto the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin State BarYoung Lawyers Division, of which she is a member, andin conjunction with its president, Amy Wochos, is plan-

The Jewel of the Inland Northwest:The Spokane County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

By Jeffrey J. White

The State of Washington is known for many thingsincluding the Space Needle, Mount Rainier, andthe award-winning wines produced by Chateau

Ste. Michelle, to name a few. Although much of theattention has always been focused on the City of Seattle,a group of young lawyers in Spokane County, locatedroughly 300 miles away from the Emerald City, havemade their own mark in the “Inland Northwest.”

Founded in the 1970s, the Spokane County BarAssociation Young Lawyers Division has been widelyacclaimed as one of the most active and successful younglawyer groups in the Pacific Northwest. The division’scurrent president, Kevin O’Rourke, an attorney in theCity of Spokane, attributes the success of the division toits ability to meet the needs of its members by offeringlow-cost CLEs and business meetings inside the county.

Success Does Not Go UnnoticedThis success has not gone unnoticed by the WashingtonState Bar Association. In 2003, the state bar selected the

Spokane County YLD to create apilot program for the GreaterAccess and Assistance Program(GAAP), which is designed toprovide legal services for thoseindividuals who do not qualifyfor pro bono legal aid. For areduced fee, those individualswho fall “within the gap” areable to seek the counsel ofyoung lawyers in a variety ofareas including bankruptcy,landlord-tenant, and familyissues. To date, the program has

proven to be a runaway success as it has helped roughly355 individuals. As a result, the Washington State Barintends to expand it to other regions in the state.

As with many programs, one of the challenges inimplementing the GAAP is obtaining the necessaryfunding. Rachelle Anderson, the Spokane YLD represen-tative to the State Bar Association, noted: “We have beenvery successful in garnering interest from outside ofSpokane to help this program grow. Last year, we werefortunate to receive monies through an ABA/YLD sub-grant award and from the Family Law Section of theWashington State Bar Association. We hope to continueto find this kind of support in our local community.”

ABA/YLD ConnectionThe award of an ABA/YLD subgrant is just one exampleof a developing relationship between the SpokaneCounty YLD and the ABA/YLD. O’Rourke credits thisgrowing relationship to improved communicationbetween the ABA/YLD district representative and hisorganization: “In the past two years, our two ABA/YLDdistrict representatives have gone out of their way toacknowledge the local leaders and chapters by directlycommunicating with us. In addition, Rachelle Andersonhas been pivotal in developing and maintaining ourrelationship with the ABA/YLD through her attendanceat several ABA conferences at which she obtained valu-able information and resources for our division.”

Young Lawyer OpportunitiesIn addition to improving its relationship with theABA/YLD, the Spokane County YLD has made greatstrides in providing young lawyers with opportunities tointeract with state and federal court judges. Each year the

Jeffrey J. White is an

assistant editor of The

Affiliate and practices

law with the firm of

Robinson & Cole LLP

in Hartford, Connecticut.

Affiliates Serving SchoolsBy Isa Gonzalez-Zayas

a

Isa Gonzalez-Zayas is

an assistant editor of

The Affiliate and is an

attorney with the

Legal Aid Society of

Milwaukee, Inc. in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

ning the 2007 Law Day to focus on the topic of separa-tion of powers. King hopes that the project is offered inten counties throughout Wisconsin. “Personally, Ienjoyed being a positive face for youth in my communi-ty. I want the students in my community to understandand appreciate their legal system, and understand that itis meant to serve them,” King added.

• • •

Programs like this year’s ABA/YLD’s public service pro-gram, Choose Law, are needed more than ever in ourschools—not only to teach young students about a dayin the life of a lawyer and about their civil and constitu-tional rights and to empower students to becomelawyers, but also to encourage them to have goals andto assure them that there are young lawyers who under-stand their duty to help them achieve their goals. a

4

Compiled by Mercedes Pino

As 2006 came to an end, ABA/YLD affiliates kicked it intohigh gear. Focusing on our youth, raising funds anddonations during the holidays, and welcoming newlyadmitted attorneys, our affiliates are lending a helpinghand to their local communities and paving the way forrecent bar admittees.

Giving BackEach year, the Colorado Bar Association Young LawyersDivision holds an annual CLE program and fundraiser.The 2006 CLE program was followed by the annualfundraiser and beer tasting. The beneficiary of this year’sauction proceeds was the Colorado Alpine Rescue Team,which provides critical search and rescue services to resi-dents of Jefferson and Clear Creek Counties and assistswith rescue efforts throughout the State of Colorado.

The Lackawanna County Bar Association YoungLawyers Division recently conducted a “Project KidCare”day, during which it fingerprinted and provided identifi-cation for over 150 children.

The Maricopa County Bar Young Lawyers Division’sDomestic Violence Committee held its Sixteenth AnnualNecessities Drive in October. The purpose of the drive isto help fulfill the most basic needs of women and chil-dren in domestic violence shelters so they can focus onthe more important aspects of their recovery, such astherapy, seeking employment, and finding housing. The2006 drive went extremely well—providing goods toapproximately 180 women and 160 children. This dou-bled the previous year’s success! The Young Lawyers’Annual Barristers Ball will take place on March 3, 2007,to benefit Youth Evaluation and Treatment Centers. Lastyear, the Ball raised approximately $10,000 for charity.

As a result of the success of the Mobile BarAssociation Young Lawyers Section’s Golf Tournament,the Mobile Young Lawyers presented a $10,000 donationto the Mitchell Cancer Institute at the monthly MobileBar Association Luncheon on August 25, 2006. TheMitchell Cancer Institute will dedicate and name apatient clinical exam room in recognition of the affiliate.

The New Lawyers Section of the Maine State BarAssociation recently organized a three-week, statewidebusiness apparel clothing drive in conjunction with theSouthern Maine Chapter of the organization Dress forSuccess. The event called on professionals throughout thelegal community to contribute ready-to-wear businessclothing for women or donate to the organization.

The New Lawyers Committee in Oakland County hasfocused its programs to raise money for HAVEN, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating domestic vio-lence and sexual assault. On November 16, a new lawyercelebration, with over fifty attendees, honored newlawyers who had recently passed the bar and also raisedseveral hundred dollars for HAVEN. Proceeds from theupcoming “Holiday Gala” event will be donated toHAVEN as well.

The North Carolina Bar Association Young LawyersDivision maintains a handbook for senior citizens in bothEnglish and Spanish. The handbook includes informationon a variety of legal issues, including federal benefit pro-grams, estate planning issues, health care planning issues,and rights and protections.

The Philadelphia BarAssociation Young LawyersDivision recently completed itshighly successful and widelyattended “People’s Law School,”in which young lawyers educatedthe public about a wide-range oflegal issues.

The State Bar of ArizonaYoung Lawyers Division contin-ues its outstanding work on the“Wills for Heroes” project. TheArizona Young Lawyers have pro-vided this vital service since 2004.To date, the affiliate has completed

1,757 wills and estate planning documents, conductedthirty-nine “Wills Days” in ten counties, and provided2,320 hours of free legal services.

The Pima County Young Lawyers also supported andparticipated in the “Wills for Heroes” program. Through

their very active participation, the Young Lawyers havecreated hundreds of wills for local heroes. Recently,the Board of the Pima County Young Lawyersapproved the donation of funds to purchase at least

one new laptop for the “Wills for Heroes” program.The Young Lawyer’s Section of the Bar Association of

the District of Columbia continues to provide a much-needed service to underserved communities in the Districtof Columbia through “Operation Crackdown,” whichmaintains a group of specially trained lawyers inWashington, D.C., who are willing to devote a portion oftheir time, free of charge, to help bring the menace ofneighborhood drug trafficking to an end. OperationCrackdown provides community groups with free legalrepresentation to combat these problems. Its attorneys usethe civil courts and city agencies to force the owners ofproblem properties to stop illegal drug use, drug sales, anddrug manufacturing on those properties.

Holiday GivingThe Arizona Young Lawyers Division and the PimaCounty Bar Association Young Lawyers Division joinedtogether this holiday season to host a traditional holidayparty for children in group homes in Phoenix andTucson.

In December, the Erie County Bar Association YoungLawyers Section managed the “Fax an Angel Program.”This program obtains names of Erie County attorneyswho are willing to purchase a gift for a child in an Erie-area shelter and matches the attorneys with a specificchild.

The Young Lawyers Section of the Delaware CountyBar Association hosted its annual Holiday Party forunderprivileged children. All members of the Delawarebench and bar were invited to attend this heartwarmingevent. Attendees enjoyed snacks and holiday activities,and of course, the highlight was a visit from Santa Clauswho arrived bearing gifts!

Youth OutreachMembers of the Cleveland Bar Association YoungLawyers Section will be taking part in the statewide OhioMock Trial Competition in February, in which local highschool students compete for a chance to advance to thestate competition. Young lawyers sit on three-judge panelswith other members of the bar association to judge theregional rounds of the competition.

Each year, the Young Lawyers Section of theDelaware County Bar Association proudly sponsors andorganizes local high schools in a mock trial competitionwritten and hosted by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.Students are critiqued on their skills and participate inevery aspect of preparing their cases for trial. Emphasis isplaced during judging on the effectiveness of the overallpresentation, as well as on individual abilities and legalarguments. For more information about this event, visitwww.delcobar.org/YLS/events.asp.

The Young Lawyer’s Section of the Lawyers Associationof Kansas City created the Kansas City “YouthEmpowerment Summit Program” (“YES Program”) to pro-vide sophomores and juniors from area high schools the

opportunity to learn, experience, and discuss issues of jus-tice, pluralism, tolerance, and democracy. The goal of theYES Program is to initiate discussion on issues of diversityand tolerance, as well as to expose students to other stu-dents with different views and backgrounds. It is intendedthat the students take their experiences, as well as the skillslearned and the materials provided, back to their schoolsto continue to address these issues with their peers.

Each year, the Missouri Bar Association YoungLawyers Section sponsors a wide array of projects thatserve Missouri citizens, foster respect for the law, andadvance the role of the legal profession in serving thepublic. Recently, the YLS promoted a grade-school cur-riculum called Junior Judges: Helping Kids Make SmartChoices. The curriculum, which targets elementary schoolstudents in the third, fourth, and fifth grades, is designedto help children make good choices in the tough situa-tions they will likely encounter throughout childhoodand their adolescent years. The program is also designedto inform children of potential consequences, which theyand their families may face if they make the wrong deci-sions. The curriculum covers cheating, property destruc-tion, teasing, bullying, stealing, weapons and gangs, anddrug and alcohol, and includes an award-winning video,which is available from The Missouri Bar.

KudosCongratulations are in order! Andre Carman fromPrescott, Arizona, received one of ten Minorities in theProfession Scholarships. The scholarship is designed tofind qualified applicants from around the country whohave an interest in the ABA/YLD. As a scholarship recipi-ent, Carman was funded to the ABA/YLD Fall Conferencein Baltimore and will be funded to 2007 ABA MidyearMeeting in Miami and the 2007 ABA/YLD SpringConference in Montréal, Québec. “He really stood out asa candidate and I look forward to working with him andhis involvement in the ABA/YLD,” said Mo Chavez, chairof the ABA/YLD Minorities in the Profession Committee.Congratulations, Andre!

The South Carolina Bar has been named to the 2006Associations Advance America Honor Roll, a nationalawards competition sponsored by the American Societyof Association Executives (ASAE) in Washington, D.C.The bar received the award for its Hurricane Katrina reliefefforts, with assistance from the South Carolina BarYoung Lawyers Division.

Attracting Future Bar Leaders and New MembersIn October, the Centre County Young Lawyers Divisioncontinued its “Lunch with the Judges” series at theGamble Mill Inn in Bellefonte. Judge David Grine was theguest of honor.

On November 29, the Columbus Bar AssociationYoung Lawyers Committee held a lunch with MunicipalCourt judges at the Columbus Bar Association’s offices.This lunch allowed young lawyers to sit down for aroundtable chat with the judiciary over lunch.

The Florida Bar YLD will hold its Affiliate OutreachConference, February 1–4, 2007, in Ponte Vedra Beach,Florida. The purpose of the AOC is to exchange ideasand projects among the various groups throughout thestate, including voluntary bar associations.

The Hennepin County New Lawyers Section(Minneapolis, Minnesota) is putting the finishing touches

continued on page 8

Mercedes Pino is an

assistant editor of The

Affiliate and is the

assistant director of

Career Services at the

Touro Law Center in

Central Islip, New York.

2007 Rocky Mountain Regional

Young Lawyers ConferenceSave the Date!

Friday, March 2–Saturday, March 3, 2007Green Valley Ranch Resort Casino

Las Vegas, Nevada

Hosted by theYoung Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Nevada

and cosponsored by theABA Young Lawyers Division

For more information and for registration forms, visit the State Bar of Nevada website at www.nvbar.org.

While the conference officially lasts from May 3–5,attendees should consider extending their trip to enjoymore of Montréal and Québec. “I highly recommend atrip to Québec City, which is about a two-hour drivefrom Montréal. This beautiful city on the bluffs overlook-ing the St. Lawrence River is the only walled city on thiscontinent north of Mexico. Whether walking on its cob-blestone streets, shopping in its many stores, or staying atthe beautiful Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, you willfeel as though you are in Europe. We hope to organize aday trip to Québec City for attendees on Sunday,” Raystated. Wisniewski echoed Ray’s recommendation. “OldMontréal will transport you to Europe: cobble-stonestreets, charming restaurants, and the port area. St-Laurent Street will make you hip [with its] trendy restau-rants where U.S. actors hang out when filming inMontréal,” Wisniewski noted.

The Spring Conference in Montréal promises to be amemorable one for both novices and veterans of YLDconferences. “I knew Montréal would offer us a city andconference that attendees would remember for years andyears and would have the potential to rank as one of ourbest ever. I think it has this potential because when Imention going to Montréal to individuals who wereactive young lawyers the last time the Division went toMontréal, it is amazing how many stories are thrown outand the laughter it initiates,” Ray said.

5

For the first time in many years, the ABA/YLD isleaving the country for its Spring Conference.Attendees will get the opportunity to experience

old-world Europe without crossing the Atlantic.ABA/YLD Chair Jay Ray has announced that the YLD willbe hosting a joint conference with the Association deJeune Barreau de Montréal, or Young Bar Association ofMontréal (YBAM), in Montréal, Québec, on May 3–5. Inexistence since 1898, the YBAM represents all Montréalattorneys with less than ten years of practice, and itsmembership presently includes approximately 5,000members.

A Unique OpportunityThe genesis of the idea of a joint conference was theresult of Ray’s attendance at several international younglawyer meetings on behalf of the division. Commentingon his international travel, Ray noted, “This has been oneof the highlights of my time as an officer—not because ofgreat venues—but because of the outstanding times Ihave had with young lawyers from around the world.The opportunity to converse and spend quality time withyoung lawyers from other systems and cultures, especial-ly in their own cities, has been an unbelievable experi-ence that I will always remember and be thankful for. Byhaving a joint conference in Montréal, with a large num-ber of Canadian and European attorneys attending, Ihope to give our volunteers and members an opportunityto share in this fabulous experience and opportunity.”

“It did not take much arm-twisting for YBAM to jumpon such a unique occasion,” added Jeremy Wisniewski,who serves as the President of Conference and SpecialProjects Committee of the YBAM. “In fact, we quicklyunderstood that it would be a unique activity for attor-neys on both sides of the border,” he stated.

Outstanding Cross-Border ProgramsAlthough all YLD conferences offer the benefits of top-notch CLE and professional development programs ingreat locations, Ray believes that the Spring Conferencewill offer much more. “The conference will be set up toallow quality mingling and networking opportunitieswith the large number of Montréal, Canadian, andEuropean young lawyers who will be in attendance. Ibelieve the conference will also benefit attendees throughhigh-quality CLE and professional development program-ming, including several outstanding cross-border pro-grams, as well as bar leadership and public service pro-grams. It will also give the attendees a welcome respitefrom work and, hopefully, some life long memories,” Raystated.

Wisniewski shared a similar view and summarized thebenefits of attending the conference as “learning, friend-ship, and networking—in that order.” He noted, “Aboveall, we are planning a wide array of topics on the pro-gramming front, many of which will focus on cross-bor-der issues. Neither our members nor yours necessarilyspend much time in their practice of law to learn aboutwhat is happening elsewhere. When you do, it gives younew horizons for your own practice.”

Memorable Social EventsIn addition to the excellent programming, memorablesocial events are in the works. “On Thursday night wewill be hosting a Welcome Reception at the Newtown,”Wisniewski explained. “This hip downtown restaurant

and club is actually owned by thehip Formula 1 race car driver,Jacques Villeneuve.”

The Friday-night social eventalso promises to be one of themost memorable in at least recentYLD conference history. “Thisblack-tie optional event will beheld in the Château Mont Royalon top of Mont Royal in the mid-dle of a park designed byFrederick Law Olmstead,” Raystated. “This historic buildingoffers a beautiful overlook of thecity. The event will offer a min-

The ABA/YLD typically reimburses three represen-tatives (four if one is a minority or a government,small firm, or solo practitioner) from each YLD

affiliate to attend the Fall and Spring Conferences.These attendees are eligible for up to $100 per diemfor two days for their attendance.

The ABA/YLD is proud to announce that a limitednumber of special reimbursements to the 2007 SpringConference in Montréal, Québec, are available forattendees representing new affiliates or affiliates thathave not sent representatives to a national conferencefor three or more years. These special reimbursementsinclude the lowest discounted round-trip airfares up to$350, up to $20 for ground transportation, and up totwo days per diem at $100 per day.

Five people were selected through this program toattend the Baltimore meeting in October 2006.

ABA/YLD Affiliate Director Ryan Reed is in charge ofthis program. “The Affiliate Scholarship program is thesingle best way for new or recently inactive younglawyer organizations to fund their attendance at a YLDconference, and attendance at a YLD conference is thesingle best way for a new or dormant organization toensure it is on the right path to success,” said Reed.

Affiliates may request consideration for these spe-cial reimbursements through their ABA/YLD districtrepresentatives before the Montréal Spring Conference,which will be held May 3–5, 2007. To find your dis-trict representative and apply for this great opportuni-ty, visit the ABA/YLD webpage at www.abanet.org/yld/ndreps.html. In addition, you can contact Ryan Reed atryanreed@abanet.org for more information about theprogram.

Special Reimbursement Available for Montréal Conference

By Julia A. Bahner

Old-World Europe Without Crossing the Atlantic:A Montréal Spring Conference Preview

By Scott D. Laufenberg

Scott D. Laufenberg is

editor-in-chief of The

Affiliate and practices

with the firm of

Kerrick, Stivers, Coyle

& Van Zant, P.L.C. in

Bowling Green,

Kentucky.

gling of U.S. and Québec cuisine and will allow cross-border and trans-Atlantic young lawyer socializing anddancing.”

North America’s Most European Big CityEven though Montréal is the largest French speaking cityin the Western Hemisphere, attendees should not beintimidated. Commenting on the differences between theUnited States and Québec, Ray noted, “Montréal is differ-ent in that people primarily speak French, the peopledress in more of a French style, and their cuisine is moreFrench in influence, which is one of its biggest charms.But, at the same time, most people can speak English,and it remains a North American city that makes lessadventuresome individuals still feel comfortable.Attendees will experience a city rich in history, the arts,beauty, and culture. They will also find the Montréalers tobe a very friendly group of people who love to have agood time, which is another main reason I chose to haveour conference in Montréal.”

For persons who have never ventured north of theAmerican border or been to Montréal, Wisniewski com-mented, “Montréal is really North America’s mostEuropean big city. It’s got U.S. business know-how andlots of style. It’s the city of Celine Dion, rock musicianMelissa Auf Der Maur (Hole/Smashing Pumpkins), finan-cier Conrad Black, Cirque du Soleil, and Captain Kirkhimself—William Shatner.”

Old Viger Station

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6

This year’s ABA Young Lawyers Division MemberService Project, “101 Practice Series,” was intro-duced in October 2006 at the Fall Conference in

Baltimore, Maryland, through a series of continuing legaleducation programs. The project also includes articlesthat will appear on an ongoing basis on the YLD Mem-ber Service webpage at www.abanet.org/yld/projects.html. These articles and the seminars are designed totarget young attorneys in practice for three years or less.

CLE ProgramAs part of the project, at the 2007 ABA Midyear Meet-

ing in Miami, Florida, the MemberService Committee, along with theYLD Law Practice ManagementCommittee and the ABA Tort Trialand Insurance Practice Section’sEconomics of Law Practice Com-mittee will present a CLE programentitled “Law Practice 101: How toWrite a Solid Retainer Agreementand a Bill That Your Client WillPay.” The seminar will be presentedon February 10, 2007, by a panel ofspeakers that will highlight three

key components of managing a law practice: how to re-tain a client, write the bill, and get paid. Other pro-grams that are part of the project will be presented atthe 2007 ABA/YLD Spring Conference in Montréal,Québec, and at the 2007 ABA Annual Meeting in SanFrancisco, California.

Web-Based ArticlesThe second component of the project is the “101 Series”articles. All YLD committees are urged to write a seriesof articles that young attorneys can use as a mentoringtool for their law practices. “The idea is to provideyoung attorneys practical tips and advice in a quick,easy format on different substantive areas of the law, aswell as law practice management,” said Sunil Harjani,vice-director of Membership. The idea for the projectstarted within the YLD Litigation Committee during the2005–06 year. Harjani chaired that committee last year,and Maralee MacDonald spearheaded the “Litigation101” Project.

To date, a myriad of articles are available for all YLDmembers to review. The articles are brief in nature andencompass topics including litigation and the courts,family law, child advocacy, and bankruptcy. Articles onother practice-related topics like public service, career in-

L aw firms, businesses, and educational institutionshave recognized that if they want to remain competi-tive as America’s demographics change, they must de-

vote more time and resources to diversifying theirworkforces. It is only natural that bar associations also areaggressively looking for ways to increase the membershipof attorneys from different backgrounds. Here are someguiding principles to help your bar association set andachieve its diversity goals.

Establish a Diversity PlanAs with anything in life, when you know where you wantto go, you get there much faster. Start by defining diversityfor your organization, and then determine whether yourcurrent membership, events, and mission comport withthe definition. If they do not, this is an opportunity to de-termine and devise a strategy for meeting objectives. Lawfirms and businesses struggle with establishing a diversityplan, so do not be discouraged if the process seemspainstaking. You may consider hiring a diversity consult-ant to get your organization moving in the right direction.

Assess Your EffortsSimilar to law firms that want to ensure their diversity ef-forts are successfully moving in the right direction, take asurvey of your members. At least once a year, ask yourmembers anonymously for ideas, suggestions, and feed-back on the yearly diversity efforts and programs. This willallow you to gauge gaps in your diversity initiatives.

Offer Diverse EventsMembers feel invested in bar associations when speakersand other programming initiatives reflect their interests.Try to find speakers—for example, judges, attorneys, busi-

ness leaders, and politicians fromdifferent backgrounds—who canshare different experiences andperspectives with your members.If your affiliate hosts dinners orother gatherings, try to find ethnicrestaurants. Affiliates should alsoconsider volunteering in a varietyof neighborhoods and exposingtheir bar association to differentcommunities in their areas.

Create Strategic Alliances withOther Bar AssociationsWhen African-Americans, Asians,and other people of color werehistorically prohibited from join-ing mainstream bar associations,

Ways to Successfully Diversify Your AffiliateBy Natalie Holder-Winfield

they created affinity bar associationsincluding the National Bar Associa-tion, National Asian Pacific AmericanBar Association, and National Hispan-ic Bar Association. By co-hostingevents and conferences with affinitybar associations, a natural cross-polli-nation occurs. Your members get tomeet attorneys from different back-grounds and to inform them about thebenefits of your organization, and viceversa. You may also consider having arepresentative from your bar associa-tion join an affinity bar association.

Offer IncentivesSimilar to any organization that wantsto increase its membership, offer re-duced or waived membership tomembers of affinity bar associations.Similar to the ABA, your bar associa-tion may offer fellowships to attractnew members. For example, the ABA/YLD’s Minorities inthe Profession Committee (MIPC) Scholars Program pro-vides attorneys from underrepresented backgrounds withsignificant travel reimbursement to attend YLD meetings,complimentary tickets to social events during the YLDmeetings, and a formal mentoring program to help thescholars—who are usually new to the ABA/YLD—charttheir courses through the organization. As a result, a num-ber of MIPC Scholars have continued their participation inthe ABA/YLD by pursuing competitive elected leadershippositions and various appointments.

Remember That Attorneys from Underrepresented Backgrounds Are People TooAlthough you may be enthusiastic about recruiting mem-bers from underrepresented backgrounds, you should ap-proach each potential member as a valued individual. Once,a member of a mainstream bar association tried to recruit mefor membership. I was impressed by his enthusiasm until heexplained that his bar association “had” to diversify becausewithout people of color his organization would continue tolose lucrative sponsorships. No self-respecting attorneywants to integrate an organization as a token member. Yourapproach to new members should be genuine.

Show Members That There Is Equal Opportunity to Leadthe OrganizationWhen associates feel that they have encountered a glassceiling, a bamboo ceiling, maternal wall, or any other bar-rier to advancement, they are no longer invested in their

101 Practice Series:Member Service Project Mentors Attorneys New to Practice

By Isa Gonzalez-Zayas

firms and often develop strategies to leave and find otheremployment. Similarly, if members of your bar feel asthough their advancement is limited, they are going to loseenthusiasm. One of the biggest mistakes a bar associationcan make is to assume that members from underrepresent-ed backgrounds want to lead or join its diversity commit-tee. Instead, give all members the opportunity to learnmore about all committees and positions, especially thetop leadership positions.

To assist your affiliate with handling the myriad of is-sues involved in creating and implementing a diversityplan, the following organizations may have useful re-sources:

Minority Corporate Counsel Association (www.mcca.com),

Corporate Counsel Women of Color(www.ccwomenofcolor.org),

National Bar Association(www.nationalbar.org),

National Asian Pacific American Bar Association(www.napaba.org),

National Association of Muslim Lawyers (www.naml.org),

National Native American Bar Association (www.nativeamericanbar.org),

National Lesbian and Gay Law Association (www.nlgla.org), and

ABA Commission on Law and Aging(www.abanet.org/aging). a

Isa Gonzalez-Zayas is

an assistant editor of

The Affiliate and is an

attorney with the

Legal Aid Society of

Milwaukee, Inc. in

Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Natalie Holder-Winfield

is an assistant editor

of The Affiliate and is

a diversity consultant

for QUEST Educational

Initiatives, a consulting

firm that provides

diversity and skills

development training

to law firms, bar

associations, and

law schools.

formation, and legal skills are also available. For example,for young attorneys pondering whether to open theirown practices, they may find helpful the article entitled“Opening Your Own Shop—10 Things You ShouldKnow,” by Matthew B. Butler. New attorneys may also beinterested in articles like “First Arbitration: Ten ThingsYou Need to Know,” by Clinton P. Sanko, or CaraBradley’s article on “Practical Tips for Closing the Deal.”

Writers NeededThe Member Service Project is still looking for writerswho are eager to share their knowledge on these areasof practice with other young attorneys. The MemberService Committee will compile the best of the “101Series” articles and publish them. At this point, it hasyet to be determined how many articles will be selectedfor publication and when the publication will be re-leased, but the committee hopes to make its decisionby the Spring Conference. If you want to see yourname published, what better way than to get it on theABA/YLD webpage.

To participate in this year’s Member Service Project,submit an idea for an article, or to submit an article,please contact Sunil Harjani at sunilharjani@abanet.org. a

7

Attracting Nontraditional Bar MembersBy Jodi L. Cramer

For the most part, bar associations tend to recruittheir members from local private sector law firms.Law firms generally encourage their associates to

join their local bar association and even financially sup-port their efforts by paying membership dues. But bar as-sociations that cater to private firms tend to ignore otherattorneys in government, nonprofit, academic, or nonle-gal careers who could be valuable additions to a bar asso-ciation. To attract nontraditional members, events andprogramming should include new topics that extend be-yond private law firm management to a larger audience.In addition, knowing certain facts about each of thesenontraditional attorney groups is useful when putting to-gether a campaign to recruit nontraditional members.For example:

Government AttorneysUnlike private sector attorneys, government attorneyshave to attend bar functions and events on their owntime. Federal attorneys, in particular, cannot use govern-ment resources including time, resources, or supplies fornongovernment functions, which includes, for example,participating in a conference call during office hours. Afederal attorney would have to take vacation time for thatcall. In addition, federal and other government attorneysmay not be able to speak on specific issues they workedon or that are ongoing as part of their organization. Fed-eral and other government employees may also not be al-lowed to accept certain gifts. For example, federal giftrules may prohibit accepting an invitation to, or even at-tending, certain events if not paid for by the individual.

An additional subset of government attorneys is mili-tary attorneys. Many military attorneys are neither livingin the jurisdiction in which they are licensed nor do theyremain at the same posting for more then a few years. Toaccommodate these attorneys, it is helpful to offer eventsat which they can earn continuing legal education creditduring a weekend event as opposed to an evening one.

Another option would be eveningphone events and allowing theseattorneys to participate via e-mailand other electronic forms fromtheir postings around the world.It is also important to rememberthat military attorneys can andare sent to combat zones. As a re-

should be careful to charge all attorneys in one class (e.g.,government attorneys) the same bar dues. Bar associa-tions also should consider having different fee scales forgovernment versus nonprofit attorneys.

Another way to attract nontraditional members is toform committees within your organization geared to theirinterests. For example, committees for law professors, forgovernment prosecutors, or for military attorneys couldbe established. All of these committees could then createprogramming geared to these groups.

It is also important to make nontraditional bar mem-bers feel welcome. That is probably the most importantthing your organization can do. Although it is nice onpaper to look like you are recruiting from these alterna-tive fields, new members will not stay long if they per-ceive that they are being treated like outsiders. In thesame manner that it has been recognized that not everylawyer practices in a law firm and that solo practitionersare valuable members of bar associations, affiliates needto undertake a similar effort to attract nontraditionalmembers.

Tips for Increasing Membership of Nontraditional MembersTo reach out to nontraditional members, bar associationsshould consider the following ideas:

• Open the organization up by offering reduced feememberships, and be open and friendly to nontra-ditional members.

• Create new committees geared to nontraditionalbar members.

• Move away from practitioner-oriented CLE pro-grams. Focus more on legal issues and less on rain-making. Nontraditional attorneys are moreconcerned with legal issues and less concernedwith billing ones.

• Create events that bring the entire legal communitytogether. This is the organization’s opportunity tounite the entire legal community, so come up withevents that interest everyone.

If a bar organization follows some of these tips, itshould be able to attract nontraditional bar memberswhose wealth of knowledge will bring new ideas to yourorganization. This will also increase membership levels.

sult, there are times when they may be unavailable be-cause of deployment, so it is important to be aware andpatient with their schedules.

Nonprofit AttorneysAlthough nonprofit attorneys are not as restricted as gov-ernment attorneys, many do not have access to the sameresources as private sector attorneys. Their interests mayalso vary from private sector attorneys, and they may bemore interested in issues facing the nonprofit communitybut may enjoy programming that could also attract privatesector attorneys. For example, they may be more likely toattend CLE programs on all facets nonprofit organiza-tions, such as creating and applying for tax-exempt status.

Academic AttorneysAttorneys in academia are a great resource not only as barmembers but also for attracting law students to bar asso-ciation functions. Bar associations should consider part-nering with attorneys in academia to produce journalsand other publications and to promote clinics for law stu-dents. Many different programs can be established to at-tract and involve academic attorneys to the barassociation.

Nonpracticing AttorneysMany attorneys have left the legal field to pursue othercareers. Because an attorney is nonpracticing, however,does not mean he or she would not want to maintain aconnection to his or her legal roots through the bar asso-ciation. Reaching out to this group may be the greatestchallenge because nonpracticing attorneys are the mostdifficult to find and attract. Many of them went to lawschool to learn the law, and CLE programming that involves an in-depth look at an issue from an academic level as opposed to a practitioner’s level could help drawthem in. Many academic attorneys also need CLE credits,so creating CLE programming that is not geared to practi-tioners is a great way to recruit nonpracticing attorneys.

What Your Organization Can DoOne thing that nontraditional bar members have in com-mon is their disconnect with private firm lawyers. Basi-cally, they have different needs and interests. One way toattract these attorneys is to have different fee structures.In developing different fee structures, bar organizations

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Proposing an ABA/YLD CLE But Were Afraid to Ask

By Melissa Dewey Brumback

Did you ever wonder how the ABA/YLD determines whatcontinuing legal education programs to offer at its con-ferences? Ever wish the YLD would hold a CLE program

on a particular subject that you are interested in? Perhapsyou hold a desire to give back to your legal profession? Ifyou answered “yes” to any of these questions, read on.

Led by Team Coordinator David Johnson, a partner atMiller & Martin PLLC in Nashville, Tennessee, theCLE/Professional Development Team designs, implements,and oversees the ABA/YLD’s CLE program offerings eachyear. What that means in a nutshell is the team meets regu-larly to review and recommend CLE proposals to theABA/YLD Cabinet, then assists the CLE proposer/sponsorin implementing the actual CLE.

Anyone in the YLD can propose a CLE program topicby filling out a Program Presentation Nomination propos-

al. The CLE Team, made up of sixdedicated YLD members fromacross the nation, reviews propos-als for CLE seminars from individ-uals, YLD substantive lawcommittees, and bar entities. TheTeam then makes recommenda-tions to the YLD Cabinet on whichCLE proposals best meet the YLD’smission and goals, includingwidespread YLD appeal, diversityof presenters, and originality oftopic. After the CLE Team makesits recommendations and the YLDCabinet acts, the selected propos-

topic that is too specialized or too narrow for theABA/YLD membership as a whole.

• If possible, line up a well-known speaker, or identifypotential speakers, in your proposal.

• If your speaker(s) represent(s) a diverse group orotherwise meet(s) the YLD goal of diversity at confer-ences, indicate that in your proposal.

Although this year’s CLE proposal deadline has passedfor the Miami and Montréal conferences, the Team is stillaccepting proposals for the 2007 ABA Annual Meeting, tobe held in August 2007 in San Francisco, California.

Moreover, in addition to live CLE programs at ABA/YLDconferences, the CLE Team is in the process of implement-ing CLE teleconferences. The first ABA/YLD teleconferenceon internal investigations was held earlier this year. Fur-ther, in conjunction with the senior bar, the YLD offers itsmembers free CLE programming through online CLE pro-grams, including more than forty programs available in theCLE Library, which can be accessed at www.abanet.org/cle/clenow/home.html. The CLE Team is accepting proposals forteleconference CLE programs year-round.

The CLE programs offered at both the conferences andthrough the teleconferences are all offered free of charge tomembers of the ABA/YLD. Now it’s your turn to makesure those CLE topics are useful to you and your col-leagues by stepping up to the plate and proposing yourown substantive CLE program. With the support and as-sistance of the entire CLE Team behind you, submitting aCLE proposal should be a breeze. Think of the skills youwill learn, the contacts you will make, and the good willyou will generate!

als are placed on an upcoming conference agenda. TheCLE Team then contacts the nominating person or groupto assist in making the CLE program a truly successfulevent. The Team does this by appointing a specific teammember to act as point person for the CLE topic propos-er/sponsor and to assist with obtaining CLE credit, solicit-ing manuscripts, advertising the program, and confirmingspeakers.

Interested in submitting your own CLE proposal? Yourfirst step is to visit the ABA/YLD’s CLE program nominationwebpage at www.abanet.org/yld/programpresentationform.html to submit your suggestion.

You will be asked such questions as which (if any) ABAentities you are working with, whether the program hasever been presented before, and who might be potentialspeaker(s). Many YLD CLE presenters, for example, com-bine forces with a senior bar committee in the same sub-stantive area to generate speakers and support.

Although the interactive CLE program webpage asks formany particular details, you should not hesitate to submita proposal even if you do not have all the details workedout. According to Johnson, you can submit a general CLEconcept proposal, with details such as the exact speakerpanel to be determined later. The CLE Team can even as-sist you with identifying appropriate speakers for the cho-sen CLE topic.

For the best chance for your CLE proposal to be accept-ed, Johnson suggests the following:

• Do not let the absence of all CLE details dissuadeyou from submitting a proposal.

• Be mindful of the criteria, including not picking a

Melissa Dewey

Brumback is an

assistant editor of

The Affiliate and

practices with the firm

of Ragsdale Liggett

PLLC in Raleigh, North

Carolina.

Jodi L. Cramer is an

associate editor of

The Affiliate and

practices in the Office

of General Counsel

of the Federal

Emergency

Management Agency

in Washington, D.C.

a

a

8

ABA Daycontinued from page 1

Around the Country . . .continued from page 4

ticipants will be provided with talking points to assistthem in intelligently discussing ABA Day issues withtheir members of Congress.

• Attend the ABA Day Opening Session. During thissession, you will learn more about the substantivelegislative issues that will be the primary focus ofABA Day 2007 Capitol Hill visits.

• Newcomers and ABA Day veterans are encouragedto attend the Lobbying Workshop, during whichparticipants will learn more about how to effectivelycommunicate the organized bar’s message during thevisits, the importance of establishing and buildingrelationships with members of Congress and theirstaffs, and how to have fun while doing it.

Make a DifferenceABA Day is a great way to make a difference for the peoplein your home state. “What better way is there, other thanthis face-to-face opportunity, to assure that our representa-tives in Washington, D.C., understand the needs of thejustice system and the folks back home? Many past statebar presidents have told me the connections they made atABA Day have benefited the cause of justice in their homestates far beyond their expectations,” answered JusticeDouglas S. Lang, president, National Conference of BarPresidents, in response to being asked why state and localbar leaders should attend ABA Day. If that does not con-vince you, consider this quote by former House SpeakerTip O’Neill: “All politics is local.”

For more information, visit the ABA Day 2007 webpageat www.abanet.org/poladv/abaday07/home.html.

on its largest annual event—the “Nuts & Bolts CLE.” Thisall-day continuing legal education program is targeted tonew lawyers and features speakers on litigation and trans-actional practice topics. It also features a judges’ panel andan associates’ panel. For its members, the Hennepin CountyNLS is hosting monthly lunchtime CLE programs address-ing topics like the Fair Labor Standards Act and electronicfiling in federal courts. The Hennepin County NLS contin-ues to be active in its community. Besides a school supplydrive and volunteering to serve meals at People ServingPeople, the affiliate is recruiting volunteers to participate inthe Minneapolis Community Justice Program, a mentoringprogram for newly released prisoners.

Recognizing the fact that new attorneys face many chal-lenges and exacting expectations as they begin their legalcareers, the New Lawyers Section of the Maine State BarAssociation prepared a forty-page Survival Guide to pro-vide new attorneys with tools and practical advice to helpthem start their careers on the right path. Topics includemanaging a law practice, marketing and client develop-ment, making an impression with the client, and makingan impression with the firm, among others.

The Nevada Young Lawyers Section will host theRocky Mountain Regional Conference in Las Vegas thisspring. The conference will provide a great opportunity foraffiliate representatives from Idaho, Wyoming, Montana,Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico tomingle with fellow young lawyers.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association Young LawyersSection visited law schools throughout Pennsylvania,New Jersey, and Delaware to speak with law studentsabout the important benefits of joining a bar association.

As a result of such visits, over 460 law students obtaineda law student membership to the PBA and its LawStudent Division.

• • •

To highlight the achievements and successes of your affiliate, please send updates of member service or public service projects and related pictures toAffiliate_Newsletter@yahoo.com. Note that “Wills forHeroes” is a project the ABA/YLD plans to focus on in2007-08. We look forward to recognizing your projectsin future editions of The Affiliate!

Mathis: It’s not either/or, it should be both! All bars pro-vide useful service, because they help us remember and up-hold the values that caused us to become lawyers in the firstplace. They also give us the tools to keep learning the lawand practice at our highest level. Only when a person rollsup her sleeves and gets involved can she change things. Soit’s important that all ABA members get involved, if not atthe national level, then with their local or state bars. But Ido believe that the ABA holds a special place. It is the largestvolunteer professional organization in the world, it repre-sents every conceivable specialty among lawyers, and it tru-ly is the voice of the legal profession.

The Affiliate: What is your theme or themes for theyear?

Mathis: “Service” is the theme for this bar year. Whenwe think back, what originally attracted many of us to thepractice of law was the desire to do good.

We serve because it is our nature. Service is the guidingprinciple behind what we do from the bar and from thebench.

This is a complicated time in America, and a complextime in the lives of lawyers. But whether we prosecute ordefend, draft legislation, or help clients comply with it, weserve the legal system, and through it, our country. Ourtraining and work prepares us to serve others.

The American Bar Association prepares us, too. The de-sire to serve the profession is what brought many of us tothe ABA: we recognized that membership in the Associa-tion offered an ideal way to improve the legal professionand our country’s justice system.

The Affiliate: Do you have specific plans for how toimplement them?

Mathis: This year, we are recognizing and supporting,encouraging and building on the Association’s tradition ofservice. The ABA is reaching out to both ends of our na-tion’s age continuum through two exciting initiatives:Youth at Risk and Second Season of Service.

America’s youth is our most important asset—our fu-ture is in their hands. Yet many young people face prob-lems that are getting wider, deeper, and more complex. Wesee this in the growth of girl gangs and the dramatic rise ofadolescent girls in the juvenile justice system, in fosterchildren released to the streets at age eighteen with littlepreparation for life, in the failure of courts and schools toassist “status offenders,” such as truant students and diffi-cult-to-parent children. As lawyers, we can use our uniqueskills and vantage point to play a new role in helping ournation’s most at-risk youth. The ABA can “connect thedots,” by facilitating schools, doctors, police, courts, fostercare providers, youth serving organizations, and govern-ment agencies in their efforts to work collectively. We can

greatest challenge so far during your Presidency? Mathis: Finding more than 24 hours a day—there’s lots

of work and never enough time.The Affiliate: If you could see any performer in con-

cert, who would it be? ElvisThe Affiliate: Did you have a childhood hero growing

up?Mathis: I had a lot of good guidance. I grew up as an

Army brat, from a family with four generations of militaryservice, and attended thirteen different schools before final-ly graduating high school in Colorado Springs. Everywherewe lived, family came first, and so did a sense of duty. I at-tended Catholic elementary and junior high schools. Beforethe age of feminism officially began, the nuns gave me a dai-ly example of strong leadership and commitment to service.In many ways, the nuns were my heroes.

My mother also taught me to reach high. There’s a jokein my family that as a kid my mother told me, “You argue somuch, you ought to be a lawyer.” She even called me “KJ,”because she said people wouldn’t know if I was a woman orman, which would make it easier to be a professional!

The Affiliate: You were a managing partner in yourown small law firm. Any advice for young lawyers whohave thought of going that same route?

Mathis: Law is a profession, never forget that. You haveto pay your bills and care for your employees or partners,but the clients always come first.

The Affiliate: Were you given any advice as a younglawyer that you reflect back on now and say “that’s thebest advice I ever received?”

Mathis: I’ve received a lot of great advice along the way,but some of the people closest to me have taught me thatsuccess is a total package. We need to balance a successfulcareer with a successful life.

My friend, Steve Keeva, says, “Don’t neglect your innerlife just because law practice is so demanding, especiallywhen cultivating a vibrant inner life can make it easier tohandle the demands, while noticing opportunities for per-sonal growth along the way.”

Mary Mocine, a lawyer and spiritualist, believes that:“Being kind in an adversary system can be an act ofcourage. As zealous advocates we may pay a high price interms of stress, personal relationships, and ultimately pro-fessional success if we submit to the temptation to forgetour common humanity.”

Or as a law partner of mine, a litigator, says, “I want tobe the nicest lawyer who ever beat you.”

I think these are some of the keys to happiness as alawyer: Choose the right employers, and stay with them;set clear goals and manage your expectations; find influen-tial mentors and be a mentor; network, network, network;build an external reputation, but be well rounded.

Finally, be proud of our profession, and always do ourprofession proud.

work with policymakers to change the law. We can workwith courts to help youngsters before their lives slip hope-lessly off course.

At the other end of the age spectrum, the legal profes-sion in the United States is facing a massive movement oflawyers who will be leaving the full-time, active practice oflaw: as many as 400,000 over the next ten to fifteen years.Lawyers departing from full-time practice are entering aSecond Season of Service. Our communities still need usas we leave full-time practice, and baby boomer lawyersrepresent a potent combination of talent and availabletime. If each retiring lawyer gives fifty hours of volunteerservice, one work week for a typical lawyer, we will have a2 million hour resource for good each year! The ABA isuniquely able to assist in this transition, and we will bringall of our resources to channel this talented group’s atten-tion back into the communities that need it.

Finally, helping build comprehensive capacities and in-frastructure for systems of justice is among the ABA’s mostimportant goals. Convening policy leaders and expert legalprofessionals to work collaboratively to create and employrule of law initiatives is a particular priority for this year. InSeptember, the ABA hosted an invitation-only PresidentialConference on the rule of law, co-sponsored by the Inter-national Bar Association. Working groups from that two-day session will reconvene in New York City in 2007 at theABA International Law Section’s U.N. Day, and we plan tohave a legislative program to present to the ABA House ofDelegates in August 2007.

The Affiliate: What can we as young lawyers do tohelp you fulfill your goals for the year?

Mathis: The YLD has a well-deserved reputation forservice and volunteer work. The “Youth at Risk Initiative,”especially, can use the effort of young lawyers willing to getinvolved to help the next generation. A starting pointwould be to go to the Youth at Risk Commission webpageat www.abanet.org/initiatives/youthatrisk.

And, of course, YLD members should vigorously takepart in the Division’s own program, Choose Law: A Profes-sion for All. This outstanding public service project, whichis targeting high school students of color, is described atwww.abanet.org/media/issues/chooselaw06.html.

The Affiliate: Will the ABA be partnering with othernational organizations to implement your projects?

Mathis: The ABA has already begun partnering with sever-al youth organizations, most notably the Girl Scouts of Ameri-ca and the Boys & Girls Club of America. These partnershipsare one of the most exciting parts of the “Youth at Risk Initia-tive.” With the Girl Scouts, we already have begun doing pilotunits with different Girl Scout troops, in which lawyer volun-teers give young girls skills in violence prevention and teachthem about careers in the legal field. It’s so important to giveyoung people hope and options, and our goal, after the pilot-ing stage is over, is to make this a national program.

The Affiliate: What do you envision has been your a

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Karen J. Mathiscontinued from page 1

Planning for a Futurecontinued from page 2

even if the affiliate does not redo its plan every year. Reedsuggested that affiliates should not allow officers to cycleall the way through a three-year executive leadership peri-od without contributing to the affiliate’s long-range plan.

Help Is Out ThereAs an affiliate leader, the future of your young lawyer or-ganization rests in your hands. You are not alone, however.When drafting a long-range plan, you should use and lis-ten to your members to provide you with valuable input asto the direction of your organization. You should also drawon the knowledge and experience of members of the sen-ior bar and its staff. Most importantly, you can schedule asite visit from the ABA/YLD Affiliate Assistance Team,which will find you a sample long-range plan and facilitatethe long-range planning process for your affiliate. Interest-ed affiliates can request such assistance via the Affiliate As-sistance Request form at www.abanet.org/yld/aff.html.