ABA YLD Update

New bar year brings familiar faces to the ABA YLD
By: Baylor Wortham

As we kick off the new bar year, you will no doubt notice a slew of new names and faces across the bar leadership. However, I am pleased to report that this year there is an exception to that rule, at least as it pertains to your representation at the American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) level. After serving on the TYLA Board of Directors for five years, I was honored to be appointed as your ABA YLD representative for District 25. For those who may not know me, I am from Beaumont where I have served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas for seven years. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I was an assistant district attorney with the Jefferson County DA’s Office for three and a half years. I am a graduate of Baylor Law School. I have been married to my wife, Lindsay, for almost 10 years and we have two amazing children. 

As one of your district representatives, I have the privilege of being your voice to the ABA YLD, and I am also responsible for keeping you abreast of major news and developments within the organization. Now you may be thinking, “I am not an active member of the ABA YLD, so why should I concern myself with anything that transpires at the ABA level?” The answer is simple. The State Bar of Texas is an affiliate of the ABA. Therefore, if you are a current member of the State Bar, then you still have an affiliation to the ABA. In addition to the state level, the ABA YLD also provides direct support to local bar associations across Texas by providing grants and other valuable resources that contribute to the success of local projects within your communities. Therefore, even if you are not paying dues to the ABA, you may still benefit from what the ABA YLD has to offer.

Joining me in representing Texas young lawyers is Rusty O’Kane, ABA YLD representative for District 26. Rusty also isn’t a stranger to bar service, having volunteered his time to help in the state moot court and national trial competitions. Rusty resides in Dallas and is an associate in the litigation section of Wick Phillips Gould & Martin, LLP. 

For those who may be unfamiliar with the breakdown of the Texas districts, District 26 encompasses the northern and western portion of the state, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Tyler, Texarkana, Waco, Midland, Odessa, Lubbock, Amarillo, and El Paso. Meanwhile, District 25 covers the southern and central portion of the state, including Houston, San Antonio, Beaumont, Bryan/College Station, Austin, Laredo, and McAllen/Brownsville. If you are unsure which district representative represents you and your area, you can find additional information at www.ambar.org/yld.

Another familiar name you will see this year is Lacy L. Durham, who will be serving as the chair of the ABA YLD. Lacy has proven herself as a dedicated leader, having previously served on the TYLA Board of Directors from 2010 to 2014 and contributed to countless bar projects over that time. As ABA YLD chair, Lacy will now help lead young lawyers across the country as ABA YLD projects are rolled out nationwide. Lacy is a resident of Dallas and currently works as a tax manager for Deloitte Tax, LLP.

Right now is an exciting time to be a young lawyer, and you should expect to see great things from the ABA YLD in 2015-2016. As the year unfolds, please stay tuned to eNews for the latest updates on the ABA YLD meetings, benefits, and upcoming projects.