The YLS hosts numerous networking events and provides volunteer opportunities throughout the bar year, which are a terrific opportunity to make business contacts and develop friendships, while having some fun.


Notice of 2012 Young Lawyers Section Election 
The Nominating Committee of the Young Lawyers Section announces the 2012 elections for Section Officers.  The Election will be governed by Article V-Elections of the YLS By-Laws. The Offices that are seeking to be filled are as follows: First Vice-Chair (succeeds automatically to Chair), Second Vice-Chair (succeeds automatically to First Vice-Chair), Member Service Manager, Public Service Manager, Secretary/Treasurer, Co-Editor-in-Chief of the YLS Journal of the CBA Record, two Project Officers, and six Directors. All offices are one-year terms, except that six Directors and the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the YLS Journal, will serve two-year terms. Click here to view further details on the 2012 Notice of Election.

YLS members interested in seeking office for the 2012-2013 bar year should submit a letter of intention to Jenni Bertolino, YLS Administrative Director, no later than February 18, 2012.

29th Annual Mock Trial Competition - Spring 2012 (Volunteers Needed)
Every year, hundreds of Chicago Public high school students participate in the City Wide Mock Trial Competition, sponsored by the Circuit Court of Cook County in conjunction with the Chicago Bar Association, the Chicago Public Schools, and Sidley Austin LLP.  The competition uses a hands-on approach to instruct students on the legal system and the courts through the preparation and presentation of a fictitious court case. All rounds of competition will be judged by Circuit Court Judges, assisted by lawyer-evaluators. 

You can volunteer to work with Chicago public high school students this February, March, and April as they prepare for the City Wide Mock Trial Competition to be held at the Daley Center in late March/early April.   At least two lawyer-coaches will be needed for each of the 25 to 30 schools expected to participate in this year's program.  Lawyer-coaches will visit their student teams every week or two and will work with teachers to help students analyze the case problem, become familiar with basic courtroom procedure, prepare opening and closing statements and learn how to examine witnesses.  Also, volunteers will be needed to serve as lawyer-evaluators during the rounds of competition to be held at the Daley Center in late March/early April.  For more information, contact Mary Alice Brice.  Click here to download the volunteer response form.

January Social - January 25
Happy New Year! Join the YLS for the January social at Lizzie McNeil's (400 N McClurg) from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on January 25. Located in Chicago’s Goldcoast, this social will be an opportunity to take a break from the cold winter weather and escape to a warm roaring fire. Join us for a free drink and some light appetizers. This social will be the perfect place to catch up with friends and colleagues after the busy holiday season. Slάinte! Sponsored by High Impact Inc., Lateral Link, and Robson Forensic.


Texas Hold'em Tournament for the Benefit of The Chicago Bar Foundation - January 27
Join the Young Lawyers Section on January 27 at its sixth annual charity poker tournament. All members of the Chicago's legal community are invited to play. There is no experience level requirement - novice players can attend a player overview session prior to the tournament start time. All the proceeds from this fun evening benefit The Chicago Bar Foundation. Special thanks to Clifford Law Offices and Navigant Consulting as the evening's premier underwriters. The registration fee to play is $150 before January 13. Get all the details and register online today!


e-Mentoring (Volunteers Needed, February 8 Kick-off Lunch)
The Young Lawyers Section is teaming up with Chicago Public Schools’ Richards Career Academy to host its annual e-mentoring program. The program serves approximately 40 high school students enrolled in Law & Public Safety. Over a 14-week period, lawyer volunteers commit to participating in a February 8 kick-off lunch at the CBA, a weekly email exchange, a mid-term visit to Richards Career Academy, and a May 15 closing lunch at the CBA. Topics of the e-mail exchanges include substantive legal topics in their curriculum, college/law school prep, job interviewing, and the practice of law. For more information or to volunteer, email YLS Project Coordinators Helena Levitz or Gabby Sapia.


Lunch with a Judge - February 8 (Members Only)
You're invited to have lunch with the Justice Mary Jane Theis, Illinois Supreme Court. The Judge will give helpful tips on what young lawyers should know.  You must be a CBA member or law student member to attend and you must register in advance of the lunch. Limit 100 persons. Click here to register.


Wills for Heroes Event - February 25
The YLS will host a Wills for Heroes event on February 25, 2012, from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. There will be a brief training from 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. and document preparation will take place from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Chicago Police Headquarters (3510 S. Michigan Ave.)

If you are interested in volunteering  for this event please RSVP by Friday, February 17, 2012 fill out a questionnaire and enter your information.  *RSVPs received in any other manner will not be accepted.

The YLS Wills for Heroes Committee oversees community workshops at which volunteer lawyers create free wills, living wills, and other estate planning documents for local emergency first responders and their spouses or partners. Since November 2001, the Wills for Heroes program has prepared over 6,000 estate-planning documents for first responders.


Cloud Computing: Healthcare IT Models - March 2
The YLS is cosponsoring “Cloud Computing: Healthecare IT Models” on March 2, 2012 from 12-1:30 p.m. at ABA Headquarters (321 N Clark St.) For the latest way to get what the ABA calls the SciTech Edge, try the SciTechs’ Section’s new Think Outside the Box Lunch Series, featuring box lunches, outside-the-box thinking, and a change to get outside the box you call your office to network and share insights with other forward-thinking practitioners. Fee is $10, which includes lunch. Click here to register for more information.


Most Fit Lawyer Competition - March 10
Are you Chicago's most fit lawyer?  Find out by participating in the YLS Most Fit Lawyer Health and Fitness Expo and Competition!  Participants will learn the basics of exercise through demonstration and have the opportunity to compete in six events that will measure speed, strength, power, endurance, and agility. Click here for more information. Click here to download the registration forms.


YLS Repack Nights at GCFD - March 28
Spend an evening serving the community while getting to know other young lawyers! The YLS needs volunteers to work at the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Volunteers will work on the repacking line inspecting, cleaning, and sorting donated products for distribution to soup kitchens, pantries, and homeless shelters. Volunteers must wear long pants, sleeved shirts and closed shoes with nonskid soles. The GCFD is located on the Southwest side of Chicago (not far from Midway Airport). To volunteer (and receive driving directions), email Project Coordinator Kenya Jenkins-Wright.


Minute with a Judge What You Need to Know Before Going to Court
The YLS has created a new project designed to help improve your practice in court. Minute with a Judge contains short interviews with judges that cover their particular do's and don'ts when it comes to appearing before them. If you have never appeared before a particular judge before, check out Minute with a Judge to get a sense about how he or she operates.


The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin® Special Offer for CBA Young Lawyer Members
The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin® in print and online will give you the information you need to succeed in today’s highly competitive, fast-paced legal profession. Each working day more than 10,000 lawyers count on the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin® for timeliness and reliability. The CDLB provides eyes and ears for what matters most to your practice. In addition each month, the Chicago Lawyer® magazine, looks beyond the day-to-day news to present you with insights, analysis, profiles, commentary; plus annual surveys.   Click here to take advantage of a special offer for young lawyers: 6 months ($119); 12 months ($159); Chicago Lawyer® magazine ($33).


CBA Administrators, Inc. is the Insurance source for The Chicago Bar Association 
Lawyers Professional Liability coverage, Health or Life Insurance for you or your family? The insurance professionals at CBA Administrators Inc., an affiliate of The Chicago Bar Association can assist you with any insurance related need. For more information go to www.chicagobar.org/insurance