I’ve been involved with KCBA’s Young Lawyers Division, or “YLD,” since 2003. As I step into the role of YLD chair this year, I realize that I still struggle at times to come up with model answers to the most common questions: “What is the YLD and what can the YLD do for me?”
To answer the first part of the question is straightforward: “The Young Lawyers Division was established as a committee of KCBA in 1949. As interest and activities grew, it became a section, and in 1988 was formalized as a division with a separate board. YLD provides professional development opportunities and information resources to lawyers who have been in the profession for five years or less or who are 36 years old and under.”
Answering the second part of the question can be challenging because there are so many aspects of the YLD that may appeal differently to everyone. The YLD recently conducted a survey to find out how the YLD can serve our new lawyers better (I prefer “new” over “young” as I don’t remember the last time I actually felt “young”). From the responses, new lawyers find professional development and networking to be the most important, followed by CLE programs, social events, pro bono services and career services (in no particular order).
After reviewing the survey results, I thought to myself: “This ought to be easy, we have so many great programs and events at the YLD to meet all those needs. … Wait, so how come there are still ‘non-members’ out there?”
I once asked my wife, Amy, who’s a public defender with the Associated Counsel for the Accused, “How come not all your co-workers are members of the YLD?” She replied, “Because we are usually in court all day and we just don’t have the time to make the meetings and the CLEs.”
“But, not all our programs and events are held during the day,” I told her. “Well,” she said, “maybe they just don’t know about that. Now, please let me read my magazine.”
“Who’s on the cover?” No response. Perhaps, I thought, some just can’t find the justification to join the YLD because they are not familiar with our programs or not sure how they can get involved. I know we can’t persuade everyone to join the YLD if no one really knows what we do. So, here it is. I’m going to provide a few bullet points about the current state of KCBA YLD.
- The Washington Lawyers Practice Manual (WLPM) is a multiple-volume comprehensive review of the practice of law in Washington. It has generated more than $1 million in income over the years to support the public service programs of the YLD.
- Our Community Involvement Com-mittee (CIC) initiates programs to serve the non-legal community in King County. The CIC projects include Habitat for Humanity construction work, holiday volunteer projects, KCBA Fun Run & Walk to benefit the Neighborhood Legal Clinics, volunteer service initiatives and legal education seminars in under-represented areas of law.
- The Current Events Committee monitors current events affecting new lawyers. The committee researches issues and recommends to the YLD board a course of action such as publishing a statement, lobbying for change or continued monitoring of an issue that may affect the YLD in the future.
- The Neighborhood Legal Clinics began in 1973 when three young and energetic attorneys opened the first clinic at the Country Doctor Medical Clinic in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. Today, the program has expanded to 27 clinics: 15 specialty and 12 general. More than 480 volunteer attorneys and 150 non-attorneys assist more than 7,000 people per year by providing individual sessions of advice and consultation.
- Publications: The YLD publishes numerous pamphlets for the benefit of the public and lawyers. Some of the publications are the “Small Claims Handbook,” “Pro Se Handbook,” “On Your Own Booklet,” and “How to Form and Maintain a Non-Profit Corporation.”
- Services: The YLD Services Committee conducts programs of interest and value to new lawyers and law students. Committee projects include the annual “Bridging the Gap” CLE, judges’ luncheons, Senior Associates Lunch Series and law school outreach.
- Law Sections: KCBA has many sections, each focusing on a specific area of law. The sections meet regularly to discuss various issues and conduct CLEs. Some of those CLEs are even FREE!
This year, the KCBA YLD is going to provide some immediate benefits to newly admitted lawyers. To help with their practices, new YLD members will receive a complimentary section of the WLPM. We think this will greatly benefit new lawyers, as they can choose a particular area of law from the WLPM to help foster their practices.
In addition, the YLD is implementing a new lawyer career program, allowing YLD members to be connected with potential employers. We believe this program makes sense because, as we all know, so many new lawyers are in the job market and it’s tough to find a potential employer that would be a good fit. Similarly, many employers may be looking for new employees, but it can be hard for them to really find the right candidate. We are hoping this program will benefit both sides of the spectrum.
I think that pretty much tells the story of our YLD and I hope everyone can find a shoe that fits. And even if you don’t like wearing shoes, you should really give it a try … you may end up really liking it.
n
Victor N. King is the YLD chair and practices patent and trademark law at Speckman Law Group, PLLC.
