I’m excited to announce the 2019-2020 American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division leadership appointments process. Our Division’s theme next year is Your Practice, Your Future. I continue to believe that young lawyers must drive innovation in our Association and the legal profession. While looking forward, we will not forget the present. Your valuable contributions will help thousands of lawyers become better practitioners today. The YLD has an opportunity and obligation to help build the next generation of leaders for our Division, the ABA, our profession, and our country.

Your skills, passion, and perspective are essential to building a vibrant and diverse group of volunteer leaders from all stripes of life, practice, and perspective…

Involvement in the ABA YLD also comes with substantial benefits.  You can:

• Develop leadership skills by taking a leadership role in the world’s largest young lawyer professional organization.
• Work with a diverse group of young lawyers focused on improving the profession.
• Build your knowledge and reputation in a substantive area of the law.
• Serve the public or focus on addressing a special legal interest.
• Network with lawyers from all over the world.
• Drive innovation in the legal profession.

Whether you are newly licensed or a long-serving volunteer leader, I hope that you will consider applying for one of the more than 300 available positions for the September 1, 2019 – August 31, 2020 bar year.  The deadline to submit an application is March 1, 2019.

Review the Available Positions and Position Descriptions & Expectations for 2019-2020 Appointments

• Confirm your Eligibility for a 2019-2020 Appointment (see below)
• Preview Application Questions
• Complete an Online Application
• Submit up to three Letters of Recommendation to Asia Harris (note: Recommendation letters are not mandatory)

You must be an ABA member to receive an appointment. Most ABA YLD appointments are reserved for “young lawyers,” meaning lawyers admitted to practice in their first bar within the past five years or less than 36 years old as of September 1, 2019.  See “Eligibility,” YLD Bylaws § 10.2.

Some appointments, including liaison appointments to other entities, are open to former young lawyers.  All appointees must be members of the American Bar Association. For more information, consult the 2019-2020 Position Descriptions & Expectations.

The ABA YLD is the home for young lawyers. With more than 180,000 members and 300 affiliated groups, the ABA YLD is the largest young lawyer organization in the world. The Division is committed to assuring it is best able to represent the newest members of the profession, ensuring that it reflects the society it serves, and providing young lawyers with the tools and opportunities for professional and personal success. Individual membership is open to American Bar Association members less than 36 years of age or younger or admitted to practice in his or her bar within the past five years. Affiliate membership is open to young lawyer organizations and special interest bars.

If you have questions about the 2019-2020 ABA YLD Appointments process please contact ABA YLD Administrator Asia Harris.