YLS committees are a great way to learn more about a specific
practice area. Most committees meet during the noon hour at the
CBA and feature expert speakers, legislative updates and case law
developments. There are no special requirements or extra section
fees to join.
With over 25 committees specifically geared for the new attorney,
make new contacts and develop a network of business referrals that are
critical to growing and maintaining a vital law practice. Join
a committee today!
Bankruptcy
The Committee will continue its tradition of close contact with the
practitioners and judges of the bankruptcy bar. The monthly informal
luncheons are an excellent opportunity for an attorney to network, keep
abreast of current issues in the law, and question prominent attorneys
in the field. The Committee will sponsor two bankruptcy seminars.
Career
Assistance
The Career Assistance Committee sponsors programs for lawyers of all
levels of expertise facing career changes. The Committee addresses job
search techniques, networking strategies, lateral transfers, alternative
career options including contract, part-time and non-legal practice
opportunities, stress management, and more. Forums include monthly
speakers, workshops, support groups and presentations with other CBA and
YLS committees. Members should also consult the CBA's website for
information on the Chicago Bar Career Center.
Chicago
Bar Association Moot Court Competition
The Twenty Seventh Annual Chicago Bar Association Moot Court
Competition, run by the Young Lawyers Section's Moot Court Committee,
will be held in November 2008, at the Dirksen Federal Building in
Chicago. The Competition allows students representing law schools from
across the country to develop their appellate advocacy skills by
preparing briefs on current legal issues confronting federal courts and
arguing their positions before practicing attorneys and judges.
Committee members create the appellate record, score and critique the
briefs, recruit judges for oral arguments, and organize and manage the
Competition.
Committee
on Ethnic & Racial Diversity (CBA/YLS)
The committee strives to build a strong professional and social network
for minority attorneys as well as develop community outreach programs to
better serve our communities. Meetings feature some of the most
knowledgeable people in the legal community addressing a variety of
innovative issues that are currently facing minority attorneys. The
Committee works to provide a network of acquaintances and explore issues
that face minorities in the legal profession.
Corporate
Practice
The Committee aims to serve the diverse needs of young corporate law
practitioners including those at small and large firms alike. The
committee will sponsor two extended seminars on topics germane to our
committee members' representation of closely held and public entities.
The Committee will assist young lawyers in addressing the needs of their
clients, developing professional skills, and making contacts in the
Chicago legal community.
Creative
Arts
The Committee provides an opportunity for young lawyers to learn about
art and entertainment law topics from seasoned practitioners and members
of the art community. We strive to create a friendly environment where
members can share their experiences, garner valuable tips, and network.
Topics for past luncheon meetings have included the right to publicity,
film production agreements, and representing screen writers. The
Committee also holds two seminars designed to provide practical advice
on an important topic of art or entertainment law.
Criminal
Law
Perceptions about our criminal justice system directly affect society's
confidence in (and respect for) the rule of law. With this concept in
mind, the Criminal Law Committee seeks to provide an opportunity for
young lawyers to actively engage in efforts to improve the quality of
justice in our community. To further this end, the Committee will invite
jurists, current and former prosecutors, and prominent defense attorneys
to share their experiences, opinions and advice respecting the practice
of criminal law.
Estate
Planning
Drafting an effective estate plan involves more than just using the
latest form book or computer program. Today's estate planner must stay
current with recent developments in case law, tax law, and new planning
techniques. Committee members discuss recent developments on a monthly
basis over lunch prior to hearing a presentation on various estate
planning topics such as: innovative drafting and succession techniques,
trust administration, retirement planning, estate gift & GST
taxation and more. Experienced estate planners who share their insight
on the practice and career development typically give presentations.
False
Claims Act
This new committee’s vision is to provide an informative,
interactive forum for members to learn about the history and practical
application of the Federal, State and Municipal False Claims Act.
Family
Law
This Committee is geared to young family law practitioners. At informal
monthly luncheon meetings, experienced and respected matrimonial
attorneys, jurists, and experts will discuss everyday practical and
legal aspects of practicing in this volatile and dynamic area of law. In
addition, formal seminars will keep the young attorney apprised of
current legal developments and the many sophisticated nuances of family
law practice. Both the luncheon meetings and the seminars will provide
an opportunity for young attorneys to interact with Chicago's family law
associates and prominent family law attorneys and judges.
Health
& Hospital Law
The Committee provides a forum for members to exchange viewpoints and
keep up-to-date, by both committee members and guest speakers, on
current legal issues and developments related to the health care
community. In addition to monthly luncheon meetings and workshops, the
Committee presents two seminars during the year, both of which provide
in-depth reviews of timely health law providers (ie., physicians,
hospitals, and ancillary service providers) and payor and insuring
arrangements (ie., PPO, HMO, PSO, and TPA).
Health
& Wellness
The Health and Wellness Committee's goal is to promote a healthy
work/life balance among attorneys. In connection with the Young Lawyers
Section, the Committee organizes and encourages participation in
Chicago's Most Fit Attorney competition as well as other athletic events
such as Race Judicata. The Committee will host seminars and publish
literature on topics such as nutrition, exercise, and stress
reduction.
Immigration
& Nationality Law
This Committee is intended to provide young practitioners with an
opportunity to address and understand both basic and advanced issues
within the area of immigration law. With an area of law that continually
remains in flux, both procedurally and substantively, this committee
will keep members apprised of new developments in the procedural and
substantive areas of law. The monthly meetings will include
presentations and discussions with seasoned immigration attorneys.
Insurance
Coverage
As new lawyers quickly learn, insurance coverage issues touch upon
almost every area of litigation. The Committee is designed to educate
new lawyers about insurance coverage issues and provide a forum for
members to discuss emerging topics. Insurance coverage issues concerning
a variety of topics will be addressed, including: intellectual property,
construction law, bad faith, and environmental and professional
liability. Guest speakers from the legal community and/or the insurance
industry will address topics relevant to both the insured and the
insurers at monthly meeting. In addition, the Committee also will
present seminars during the year on timely, substantive and procedural
coverage issues.
Intellectual
Property Law
The Intellectual Property Committee presents monthly talks and
discussions on current developments on copyright, trademark, patent, and
trade secret law. Many talks also concern the nexus between the Internet
and IP law. The meetings are not only for IP specialists but are also
for general practitioners with an interest in this rapidly changing
field.
Labor
& Employment Law
The Labor & Employment Law Committee is concerned with all legal
issues that arise from or affect the employment relationship, including
labor-management relations, personnel policies, discrimination claims
and other state and statutory claims affecting employment. The committee
also addresses practice and procedures before federal and state
agencies, alternative dispute resolution forums, and the courts within
which employment issues are resolved.
Law
Exploring
In conjunction with the Career Exploring Division and the Boy Scouts of
America, the Committee teaches trial advocacy skills to high-school
students interested in careers in law and government. Each meeting
during the school year focuses on practicing a different trial advocacy
skill with the students. The program culminates by selecting and
preparing a trial team to participate in the American Bar Association's
national high school mock trial competition. Committee members
coordinate activities and act as teachers and mentors to the
students.
Law
Student
The Law Student Committee provides a forum for Chicago area law students
not only to participate in the CBA, but also to cater a committee agenda
to their specific interests. The Committee is involved in numerous
activities throughout the year, such as orientation displays for
students, the All-School Reception, a meeting with Illinois Bar
Examiners, the Blood Drive Competition, social events, and a law student
newsletter. The Committee often presents students with their first taste
of a professional association or introduction to legal contacts outside
their educational institutions and can provide an eye and career opening
experience to all. Students interested in getting involved with this
committee should call the Chair or contact their school's representative
for more information.
Professional
Responsibility
In these times of increasing public criticism of the legal profession,
we are seeing greater enforcement of the Rules of Professional Conduct
by our courts and bar associations. Through meetings, seminars and
discussions with other lawyers, the Committee will address the issues
relating to the ethical proprieties of professional conduct of lawyers.
The Committee will also review news and developments in the area of
professional responsibility from court decisions, ethics opinions, and
disciplinary proceedings.
Real
Estate Law
This Committee discusses basic issues in property sales, ownership,
management, and taxation. In addition to extensive seminar offerings
that address practitioners' concerns and basic principles of commercial
and residential real estate transactions, the committee meets each month
for lunch presentations. In addition to presentations from judges,
recent topics have included technical requirements of perfecting
mechanic's liens, new HUD regulations requiring lead-based paint
disclosures, purchasers' due diligence requirements in commercial
transactions, tax sale proceedings, choosing lease escalation terms,
forcible detainer practice, consumer fraud issues, and ethical
considerations.
Social
The Committee arranges for gatherings of friends and colleagues at
different festive locations in the Loop, River North or Lincoln Park.
Socials are generally held on the second Thursday of each month. This is
a great opportunity for young lawyers to unwind and relax after a busy
day of legal work. Each social gathering lasts from approximately 6 to 8
p.m. and includes savory appetizers as well as discounted (and sometimes
free) beverages.
Tort
Litigation
The area of tort litigation covers a vast spectrum of problems and
challenges. Practitioners may be faced with handling everything
from a simple auto accident case to a class-action products liability
lawsuit. Attorneys practicing in this area must become conversant in
complex scientific principles and medical procedures and, in turn, must
convey these concepts to a jury. Additionally, attorneys must be
familiar with venue and jurisdictional rules, and be aware of any quirks
in the local law. The Committee's purpose is to provide its members with
the information necessary to pursue or defend their cases from the
initial investigation of the case to its resolution. Monthly meetings
keep attorneys current on new theories of liability and methods of
practice and procedure. Luncheon and seminar speakers are drawn from the
most notable members of the bench and bar.
Trial
Techniques
The Trial Techniques Committee provides young attorneys with practical
skills designed to increase their success in the courtroom such as
addressing specific aspects of trial preparation, technique, and
strategy. Bimonthly seminars examine more comprehensive subjects
of trial practice, procedure, and persuasiveness. Attendees will
receive an array of draft pleadings, discovery, and other useful
resources.
Veterans
& Military Assistance
The Veteran Legal Assistance and Military Law Committee was specifically
conceived and solely designed to assist active duty military personnel
of all uniformed services, honorably discharged veterans and the
immediate family members of these current and former service members in
resolving civil legal issues and disputes by referring such matters to
suitable attorneys who agree to handle these matters on a pro bono or
reduced-rate basis. The committee itself does not handle issues or
litigation. Moreover, although veterans' benefits and Veterans
Administration-related issues fall outside the scope of our charter, we
regularly and happily refer those seeking assistance to appropriate
organizations in Chicago and northern Illinois, the areas our committee
currently serves.
Wills
for Heroes
Working with the Wills for Heroes Foundation, this committee will help
to provide essential legal documents free of charge to first responders
(historically policemen and firemen) in the greater
Chicagoland area. This primarily consists of the coordination of
community, business and legal resources to address the needs of families
of first responders injured or lost in the line of duty. Events
are typically scheduled for the committee to prepare wills, living
wills, and powers of attorney for qualified first
responders. Secondarily, this committee seeks to develop materials
about estate planning for first responders and to promote public
education of the need to support first responders and their
survivors.
Women
in the Law
The Committee sponsors an annual seminar that addresses women's issues
within the legal, political, and societal arenas and provides a forum to
discuss current issues affecting women. The Committee also runs a
mentor program that joins new and experienced attorneys together in a
mentoring relationship. The Committee further co-sponsors events
throughout the year with organizations such as the Women’s Bar
Association of Illinois, the Chicago Bar Association’s Alliance
for Women, and the National Association of Women Lawyers. The
Committee provides an excellent opportunity for women within the legal
profession to meet other women in diverse practice areas, discuss issues
of special interest to women, and be a strong voice within our
community.
