YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION
Young lawyers reuniting , hopefully
Amid all the challenges last year , silver linings stood out on the cloudiest days . Locked-down and limited , our Bar association embraced technology to serve our membership . Our lawyers embraced technology to serve our clients . And in our Bar and in our practices , we innovated at a pace that I doubt any generation of lawyers ever matched .
Throughout the year , younger attorneys were essential , because they often navigated this sea-change . After all , young lawyers are assumed to know all technology , having grown up with a lot of it . Whether that was fair or not , we answered the call . We supported our more seasoned colleagues to ensure that the practice of law was resilient to a shutdown unseen since the Spanish Flu .
Given the amazing work of young lawyers in times that demanded it , I am not just honored , but also proud , to represent the Young Lawyers Division as President this year . And of course , I ’ m excited to write to you , dear readers , in The Docket each month to keep you informed about the YLD .
This year , the Young Lawyers Division hopes to host events that bring people back together . Events have always been our Division ’ s strength , and we will lean into setting the stage to ensure our membership can reinvigorate their relationships and referral networks in the local Bar .
Let me give you a summary of what to expect , hopefully .
We hope to restart our Second Thursday Happy Hour events . These events are welcome to all . We will be selecting fun venues , and we will focus on reaching out to our membership to ensure these events are well attended .
We hope to host a Kickoff event early this year . While we ’ ll share a little bit about our committees and how we expect the year to progress , we ’ ll spend most of the event focused on
YLD PRESIDENT ’ S COLUMN
Patrick McArdle , Esq . McArdle Law , P . A .
reconnecting . We hope to host a Speed Networking , Quick Chat event . In years past , this event has brought together some of the newest lawyers in the community and the core group of practicing young lawyers . Now , more than ever , an event like this can allow the newest generation of associates to meet folks face to face in an efficient and fun way .
On the charitable front , we are recommitting to our support of Tanner ’ s Turkeys . This great organization builds and delivers hundreds of Thanksgiving dinners in our community . After a year where many in our community struggled like never before , we are excited to get involved and give back , with gratitude .
And we hope many of our flagship events will also return . First , our mock trial competition for high schoolers in the 12th Circuit will continue . This event always highlights the amazing homegrown talent that is cultivated in our local schools . Second , we hope to host a baseball event at Ed Smith Stadium , so that we can start the Spring off the American way : with in-person Major League Baseball . And we hope the beloved Judicial Luncheon will return , where we can join the judges and their judicial assistants over lunch and cold delights .
Finally , the Young Lawyers Division will commission a Salary Survey from the local bar . This information will add tremendous value to our Young Lawyers and more seasoned lawyers , giving us a snapshot of our legal community after the major transitions that occurred during the COVID era .
To do all that without suffering a midlife crisis , I have an amazing Board and talented committee members .
On the Board , our President-Elect this year is Caroleen
Brej . Our Secretary this year is Natasha Selvaraj . Our Treasurer this year is Warren Chin . Our South County Representative is Frank Malatesta . And our
Immediate Past President is Sara Castro .
Additionally , our Directors include Jill Bowen , Jade Davis , Mallory Moretti , John Getty , and Michael Cowgill .
For our committees , Sara Castro and Frank Malatesta will co-chair the Social Activities and Events Committee . Mallory
Moretti will chair the Health & Wellness Committee . Jade Davis and John Getty will co-chair the Charitable Organization Committee . Warren Chin and Jill Bowen will co-chair the Diversity Liaison Committee . Natasha Selvaraj and Michael Cowgill will co-chair the Technology Committee . Jennifer Hicks and Caroleen Brej will co-chair the Education Committee . Warren Chin will chair the Sponsorship Committee . And myself and Brian Goodrich will co-chair the YLD Salary Survey Committee .
As you can see , we have many young lawyers dedicated to making this year a great success . If you are interested in getting involved , please reach out to me or any of the great people listed above .
I
have used “ hope ” a lot in this article . Public policy is going to drive a lot of what we are able to do this year , just like last year . I know no matter what happens in the world , we are ready for the challenge . And that reminds me to add this final thank you . I would like to thank our outgoing President Sara Castro and our Executive Director Holly Lipps . Sara and Holly were at the helm during one of the more challenging years in Bar leadership . Through leadership and hard work , both did an incredible job adapting and thriving to every challenge . Thank you both . I know we will be up for any challenge in the year to come .
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THE DOCKET · SEPTEMBER 2021 7