Bench & Bar January/February 2026

ASK NOT WHAT THE YLD CAN DO FOR YOU— ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE YLD: A CALL TO ACTION BY KYLE R. BUNNELL YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION

P resident John F. Kennedy’s quote from his 1961 inaugural address— “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country”—has always stuck with me. Sure, many of my columns and conversations with YLD members—and members of the Bar writ large—are what services and bene fits the YLD provides to its members. While I hope those myriad benefits of YLD mem bership—along with the Camelot-esque hue of my administration—are enough to assist and engage our current YLD members and recruit the next generation of its members— the good works that the YLD does are not accomplished by some invisible hand. That work is done through the time and vision of servant leaders who seek to make the lives of young lawyers across the Commonwealth better. It is a daunting task to become more involved than many of you already are. Even if you desire to, a person often still faces the questions of how can I help and, more importantly, what is needed? I truly believe that most folks want to be of service—espe cially young lawyers—but hesitate because of natural fear: either they do not know what part or how much of themselves to give or, even worse, that the parts that they want to give are not wanted. When we make the decision to donate our time and become involved, those questions dissipate after action by taking the first step into that commitment. So, what can I do for the YLD? How can I be of service? I’m glad you asked—and want to answer the call to action. GET INVOLVED WITH THE YLD AND THE KBA! Consider running for YLD District Rep resentative 1 or inquire about appointment to the YLD as an At-Large Representative. 2 Each of you can bring your own experiences,

vision, and insight to the YLD. Be the change you wish to see in the world—or the YLD. Additionally, the KBA has numerous sections and committees 3 with which you can get involved—reach out to those section leaders or committee members if you’d like to join. Another important way you can get involved with the YLD is signing up to captain your firm or organizations Legal Food Frenzy team. Now in its 10 th year, the Legal

YLD members Carlin Conway and Zoe Jessie staffed the YLD booth at the KBA Annual Convention. YLD members enjoy discounted registration rates—join us in June!

Food Frenzy, is a partnership between the YLD, Feeding Kentucky, and the Attor ney’s General Office that has raised nearly $500,000 to help fight hunger in Kentucky. The money raised by your team/orga nization stays in your communities and supports food pantries in your Supreme Court District. This year’s campaign runs from March 11 – 27, 2026 –and registration opens in early 2026. This year’s goal is to recruit 75 teams and raise $75,000. More than 753,000 Kentuckians—or 1 in 6—face food insecu rity every day. 4 Please consider organizing a team to help fight hunger in Kentucky. Please contact Legal Food Frenzy Com mittee chair/committee members: Joye B. Spinks (jspinks@elpolaw.com), James Yoder (james@yoder.law), Lincoln Caudill (lhcaudill@gmail.com), Shelby Lamar Mills (shelby.lamarmills@ky.gov), and/or Zach Smith (zjsmithlaw@protonmail.com) for more details. UTILIZE YOUR LEGAL KNOWLEDGE TO MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY BETTER. Your legal education allows you the oppor tunity to bridge the access to justice barrier

that many Kentuckians face. Too often, folks find themselves with problems in our legal system and cannot afford representation to help them navigate those issues. Numerous organizations exist to help our friends and neighbors who confront this struggle. Kentucky Legal Aid and its network of organizations help low-in come families navigate civil and family law disputes with brilliant and dedicated attorneys. But those attorneys have exten sive caseloads, and Legal Aid often looks to attorneys outside their organization to provide pro bono support. Engaging in pro-bono representation to assist Legal Aid and its clients can range from expungement clinics that often occur in one day to more long-term representations like adoptions or custody. Please reach out to your local Legal Aid to discuss how you can get involved and give back. 5 Additionally, the Kentucky Access to Jus tice Commission has opened four Legal Help Centers across the Commonwealth. Those Centers are located in Fayette, Jeffer son, Kenton, and Warren Counties. While the centers do not provide legal advice, volunteer attorneys provide legal answers

18 january/february 2026