THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL 78 | AUGUST 2026 Young Lawyers Division Are You Ready? Serve Your Profession as a YLD Leader IF YOU HAVE A HEART FOR service, the ambition to lead, and a desire to get more involved in your community and the legal profession, now is the time. Are you ready? As fall rolls around, and with the Annual Meeting quickly approaching, the OBA Young Lawyers Division is looking for our next group of board members to lead the division. The YLD plays a critical service-oriented role in the OBA – a few current YLD initiatives include the Wills for Heroes program, Kick it Forward, and the Bar Exam Survival Kits, among many others. Every year, the YLD elects a new Board of Directors, made up of early-career volunteer attorneys from across the state. The YLD Board of Directors guides the division’s initiatives, effectively carrying on current programs as well as coming up with new program ideas and implementing them. More importantly, board members serve as representatives for their districts, making sure young lawyers across Oklahoma are heard. When you run for one of the open board positions, you can make a meaningful impact on your district, the YLD, and the state as a whole. The YLD serves communities across Oklahoma, volunteering for individuals in need. You are already a member of the YLD if you were first admitted to the practice of law 10 years ago or fewer and are in good standing. And if you’re not ready for a leadership role, encourage a colleague to fill out a nominating petition. And make sure you keep an eye out for volunteer opportunities – there is a volunteer position open and waiting for you! The list of vacancies for 2027 is on the next page. Nominating petitions will be accepted through Aug. 14. Those offices that are contested will be set for voting, and ballots will be sent by email. Those offices that are not contested will be deemed elected by acclamation. NOMINATING PROCEDURE Article 5 of the division bylaws requires that any eligible member wishing to run for office must submit a nominating petition to the Nominating Committee. The petition must be signed by at least 10 members of the OBA YLD and must be submitted by Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. A sample nominating petition is available at www.okbar.org/yld/elections. A separate petition must be filed for each opening, except a petition for a directorship shall be valid for one-year and two-year terms and at-large positions. A person must be eligible for division membership for the entire term for which elected. By Laura Talbert, Immediate Past Chair, Young Lawyers Division Young Lawyers Division members gather to host a Wills for Heroes event at the Puterbaugh Center in McAlester in July. The OBA YLD oversees this service program that provides free wills to emergency personnel in Oklahoma. From left: Alexandra “Allie” Gage, Tulsa; Breanne Gordon, Shawnee; Chloe Moyer, Durant; Brian Goodpasture, Oklahoma City; Randy Gordon, Shawnee; Clayton Baker, Jay; Alexander Smithley, Enid; and Liz Stevens, Norman.
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