The Atlanta Lawyer June/July 2013 | Page 41

SECTION UPDATE Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers Section Update By Eugenia Wooten Iredale Fellows LaBriola LLP T he Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers (ACYL) finished up a successful 2012 – 2013 Board year with a busy spring. The ACYL offered numerous events to its members including a CLE, mentoring breakfasts, happy hours, and service events. On March 7, 2013, the ACYL co-hosted a CLE on professional concerns regarding the use of social media. The CLE was simulcast to over 70 participants in Atlanta and Savannah. ACYL President Nicole Iannarone moderated a panel discussion between Judge Stephen Dillard, Professor Kellyn McGee, Bates Lovett, Esq., and Marvin Solomiany, Esq. The panel addressed dilemmas posed by the use of Facebook, legal blogs, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The discussion was timely in light of a recent change to the American Bar Association's Model Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1, which requires lawyers, in order to fulfill their professional obligation of competency, to become familiar with technology and its potential impact on the practice of law. See ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.1, Comment [8] ("To maintain the requisite knowledge and skill, a lawyer should keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with relevant technology…") giredale@fellab.com networking with young, Atlanta lawyers. At the Happy Hour, the Board recognized outgoing President Nicole Iannarone for her outstanding service, which led the ACYL to be awarded as Section of the Year. The ACYL Board is excited to begin the 2013 – 2014 year and is busy planning events for its members. Over the next few weeks, ACYL members will be participating in Service Juris and volunteering at the Gateway Center through Hands on Atlanta. We will also be starting our annual Associates' Campaign for Legal Services, so stay tuned for more details on the Campaign. ■ The ACYL also hosted two mentoring breakfasts. These breakfasts were a new and popular addition to ACYL programming for the 2012 – 2013 year. The April breakfast was held at J. Christopher’s in Midtown and featured Lynn Roberson, Esq. and Matt Simmons, Esq. discussing “Relationships with Opposing Counsel.” The May breakfast was held at the State Bar of Georgia and featured Sarah McCormack, Esq., Board Members Ashten Bailey, Esq. and Jamie Perez, Esq. and incoming President Kristin Zielmanski, Esq. discussing “Intraoffice Relationships and Best Practices for Associates.” On May 23, 2013, the ACYL held its annual End of the Year Social and Networking Happy Hour at Fado Irish Pub. Florida Coastal Law School generously sponsored the event and several students from Florida Coastal attended and enjoyed The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association Photo taken by Judge Stephen Dillard from the panelists' table at the front of the room at the CLE panel discussion on media. June/July 2013 THE ATLANTA LAWYER 41