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!


Career Productivity Series - Fall 2009
The YLS will host a series of career-focused seminars and small group meetings to help you land the right job! Typically a career seminar will be held on the 2nd Thursday of the Month followed the next month by a Career Committee Meeting on the 1st Tuesday of the month that will allow for small group discussion on the topic addressed at the seminar.  View agenda in PDF.

Upcoming programs include:

• Online Networks: A New Way To Drive Opportunity To Your Career
  Held on September 10, 2009
  Watch online at CBA Webcast Center
  
  Curtis A. Linder, President of Linder Legal Staffing Inc. in Chicago, and Nancy Roberts Linder, CFO of Linder Legal Staffing Inc., will discuss how LinkedIn, Facebook and now Twitter are revolutionizing the way lawyers can create and uncover career opportunities and attract new clients.  Learn from two law firm experts how to use these tools to raise your "Google" factor, build relationships, open doors for your career and law practice, as well as the ethical considerations associated with these online tools.
  
  

• The Curmudgeon’s Guide To Practicing Law
  Held on October 8, 2009
  Watch online at CBA Webcast Center
  
  Mark Herrmann, a partner at Jones Day in Chicago, will talk about his book "The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law." He will share advice for surviving and thriving in a law firm and what you need to know about billing, managing your assistant, drafting internal memos, dealing with clients and building your law practice. 
  A special thanks to The John Marshall Law School.
  
  

• How to Conduct a Productive Job Search - November 12
  Sheila Nielsen, Nielsen Career Counseling, will help attendees gain insights on the following: Assessment of What is and is Not Working Well in this Market Compared to the Past; The Role of Self-Assessment and why and How to Do It; De-Mystifying Networking; and Common Questions and Problems and What to Do About Them. View details and registration.
  
  
• How to Conduct a Productive Interview - December 10
  Sheila Nielsen, Nielsen Career Counseling, will help attendees gain insights on the following: How to Think Constructively About the Interview; The Biggest Mistake Lawyers Make When They Interview; How a Good Interview is Like a Good Oral Argument; and Common Questions and Concerns and What to Do About Them. View details and registration.
  
  
  

Goose Island Beer Tasting conducted by Brew Master Tom Korder-November 12
Join the YLS for a social media presentation and professional networking presentation following by Goose Island Beer Tasting! Find out how to use social media to connect and collaborate with other legal professionals using online tools.

* Getting new business
* Extending your reputation online
* Finding new ideas and peers
* Discovering answers to questions online
* Reaching outside counsel
* Connecting online

Learn tools to Online Professional Networking that help legal professionals find one another, interact, collaborate, and share information essential to achieving a business objective. This event is generously hosted by LexisNexis. Space is limited. You must be a CBA member or law student member to attend. Click for further details and registration.

YLS November Social--November 18
Football season’s in full swing and Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  Start your holiday celebration early and join the YLS at Stretch Run Sporting Club & Grille (544 N LaSalle St) from 6-8 p.m.  for the November Social!  Considered Chicago’s hottest new sports bar, it will be the perfect place to catch up with old friends and colleagues after work. In addition to sports coverage, at Stretch Run you can wager on live horse races happening across the country from anywhere in the restaurant. Complimentary drink tickets and wings and veggies will be available. We hope to see you there!

Lawyers Needed to Judge Annual Moot Court
The Young Lawyers Section will host its 28th Annual Moot Court Competition on November 19-21, 2009, at the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago. The YLS needs attorneys to act as competition judges and brief graders. Volunteer brief graders are asked to review and critique approximately 4-5 briefs near the middle of October and volunteer competition judges are needed on the evenings of November 19 and 20 (5:30 or 7:30 p.m.). Competition judges will receive one hour of Illinois MCLE credit for each round judged. (Please note, the MCLE Board requires a $20 fee from attorneys reporting MCLE credit for non-traditional MCLE activities such as judging the CBA’s moot court competition. This fee is paid directly to the MCLE Board at the end of your MCLE reporting period). To volunteer, contact Jenni Bertolino at 312-554-2031 and indicate your volunteer preference.


YLS Children’s Book Drive - Nov. 9 to Dec. 11
The YLS will collect new and gently used children’s books from November 9 to December 11, 2009. All books will donated to homeless shelters, the children’s waiting room at the Daley Center, the Cook County Juvenile Justice Center, and the William C. Goudy Elementary School (the CBA’s adopted school). Donations may be dropped off in the CBA lobby (321 S. Plymouth Ct.)


Dear Santa Letters
Help a child enjoy the holidays...answer a Dear Santa Letter! The YLS will be distributing "Dear Santa" letters from disadvantaged Chicago youth provided by the Chicago Post Office. Simply select a letter, purchase a few items the child has requested, and mail the package. Letters will be available at the CBA (321 S. Plymouth Ct.) in early December or if you would like to distribute letters at your firm, contact Jenni Bertolino at 312-554-2031 or yls@chicagobar.org. Complete instructions will be attached to the letter.

Volunteers interested in preparing letters for distribution in late November (date TBA), from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at CBA Headquarters, should contact Jenni Bertolino at 312-554-2031 or jbertolino@chicagobar.org. Pizza dinner will be served to volunteers.


CBA Night with the Bulls-December 8 and December 21
On these special nights all Chicago Bar Association members, family and friends can purchase tickets at half price! For seats on the 100 level, tickets regularly priced at $130 are available for only $65. For seats on the 200 level, tickets regularly priced at $100 are available for only $50. To order tickets, fill out the form and fax or mail it back to the Chicago Bulls.


Blood Drive-December 15
The Young Lawyers Section will host a blood drive at CBA Headquarters (321 S Plymouth Ct) in Corboy Hall on December 15th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment contact Katie Liss or register on-line and use sponsor code: 391E Click here for further information.


Lunch with a Judge-December 16
You're invited to have lunch with the Hon. Richard A. Posner, United States Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. The Judge will discuss courtroom decorum and how young lawyers can practice successfully in Court. Event includes free pizza lunch. 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.