ABA YLD Update

ABA Update
By: Travis Patterson

This year, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division is launching a new national public service project—Project Street Youth: Young Lawyers Advocating for Homeless Youth. There are over 1.7 million homeless youth in the United States, and the project is aimed at providing access to justice to this extremely underserved population. Project Street Youth has three main components: (1) educating and raising awareness of the issue; (2) legislation; and (3) legal clinics. Stay tuned for more information on how to roll out the project in your own local young lawyer associations.

The ABA YLD is the largest young lawyer organization in the world. The division helps young lawyers navigate the early years of their careers (with resources such as TYL, a print and digital publication designed to help new lawyers succeed in today’s legal marketplace); gain hands-on experience through YLD-sponsored public-service projects; connect with a community of lawyers of similar experiences, interests, and practice-settings through YLD events and committees; and showcase their talents on a national platform through writing, speaking, and leadership opportunities. If you are an ABA member under 36 years old or admitted to practice for five years or fewer, you are automatically enrolled in the YLD at no additional charge, so I encourage you to take advantage of the ABA YLD’s great resources.

Travis Patterson is an associate in the Fort Worth office of Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP.