YLD Hosts Successful Regional Conference

Young lawyers from neighboring states gathered in Oklahoma City for the American Bar Association/ Young Lawyers Division South Central Regional Conference April 20-21. The conference was part of the ABA’s Affiliate Outreach Program (AOP), which affords young lawyers from surrounding states the opportunity to converge in small settings where they can exchange ideas and resources regarding the development of public and member service programs.

Things kicked off on Friday afternoon with guest speaker Hindi Greenberg, president of Lawyers in Transition and author of The Lawyer’s Career Change Handbook: More Than 300 Things You Can Do With a Law Degree. Ms. Greenberg — christened “the Ann Landers for lawyers” by the Los Angeles Times — has been widely acknowledged by major legal publications, news periodicals and television news networks for her expertise on attorney career satisfaction.

That evening, YLD members and conference attendees joined the OBA Board of Governors at Remington Park for a private suite dinner and reception. Also among those the YLD was pleased to welcome were ABA/YLD Chair Jay Ray from McKinney, Texas; Affiliate Assistance Director Ryan Reed from Bowling Green, Ky.; ABA/YLD South-Central District Representative Amy Freedman from Texarkana, Ark.; New Mexico YLD Chair Erika Anderson; Tulsa County Bar Association YLD Chair Adam Marshall; and former OBA Law Student Division Chair LeAnne McGill.

The conference picked up again on Saturday morning with informative presentations by ABA leaders on topics ranging from the development of division membership to budget planning and implementation. Meetings concluded with presentations by YLD affiliates of their various public and member service projects.

The YLD extends special thanks to OBA/YLD Immediate Past Chair Keri Williams for planning an informative conference, and for providing Oklahoma’s young lawyers with a chance to learn from those with unsurpassed bar leadership experience.

YLD Director Visits Nation’s Capital

YLD Director Roy Tucker represented Oklahoma at ABA Day in Washington, D.C. April 18-19. The event focused on meeting our nation’s elected officials on the legislative initiatives and agendas supported by the ABA. During the two-day meeting, Mr. Tucker, along with Oklahoma delegates Judge Jodi Levine, Jack Brown, William Hoch and Dwight Smith, met with Oklahoma’s senators and representatives to ask for support on key legislation.

Among the legislative items discussed were: 1) an increase of $80 million for Legal Services Corporation, the national corporation which provides substantial funding for state legal aid services, including Oklahoma; 2) an immediate and substantial increase in federal judicial pay; 3) a loan forgiveness program for attorneys in public service; 4) reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Act; 5) and reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice Act.

“We appreciate Roy’s willingness to tackle a tough two days in D.C.,” said YLD Chair Christopher Camp. “It is important that Oklahoma’s young lawyers let their voices be heard on matters that directly impact them, their clients, the legal profession and the administration of justice.”

After the first full day of lobbying, participants were invited to a reception at the Library of Congress with ABA President Karen Mathis.

Thank You

The YLD Wills for Heroes Project would like to thank the Tulsa offices of Gable & Gotwals and Lynco Inc. for their generous donation of laptop computers and portable printers. Beginning next month, the YLD will be using this equipment for the off-site preparation of wills and estate planning documents for police, firemen and other first responders.