CBA Record Feb-March 2018

YLS Special Issue: The Benefits of Belonging

Returning on Your Investment in the YLS By Jonathan B. Amarilio B ar Associations are often thought of as places to network with colleagues and to obtain continuing legal education credit, and that’s true. But it’s also true that the CBA, and the YLS, in particular, offers much more than that to its members as a return on their investment. Indeed, the YLS itself offers more to its members than any other young lawyer organization in the country and more still than most “big” bar associations. The YLS is the most decorated young lawyer organization in the nation. We are truly peerless. And the reason our organization is so exceptional is because of what the YLS offers its members and what its members offer each other in return. This is something not simply to recognize, but something in which we should take collective pride. To give you an idea of the scope of our work, look at what we’ve accomplished together so far this year. In addition to holding over 150 practice-area committee meet- ings and over 60 seminars by and for our members just since June, we offer practical career support programs. These include a career assistance committee and a career advancement program to help young lawyers navigate the legal market, in addition to an online career center with job flash notifications. We offer student loan balancing advice, a mentoring program for new lawyers, and regular publishing opportunities exclusively reserved for our members (including the CBA Record ). We’ve visited all the area law schools and spoken with the students about the importance of bar association involvement to their future success. We’ve hosted court walk-throughs to orient new lawyers to a sometimes confusing Daley Center. And, on February 28, we hosted a new admittee reception with some of Chicago’s most impressive legal movers and shakers. This is in addition to all the annual Law Week activities, including a judges reception to thank the judges and lawyers who have participated in our joint success over the year. We’ve continued to build on the success of the Future of the Profession Committee–begun by past YLS Chair Mary Curry–critically examining our practice and finding areas for improvement. We’ve also continued to grow the LEAD Committee–begun by past YLS Chair Matt Passen–bringing practical practice advice to associates in mid- sized and large law firms. And we’ve continued the good work begun by past YLS Chair Katie Liss, striving to combat the evils of domestic violence and the illicit sex trade. For those of our members generous enough to donate their time to the community, the YLS also offers an endless stream of opportunities to give back, including: the Spring Fling with dinner and gifts for children and mothers who are victims of domestic violence; an anti-violence task force to channel our energies toward resolving Chicago’s violence problems; the Disco Nights casino and poker fundraiser to raise funds for the Chicago Bar Foundation; a national moot court competition with 30 teams participating from every corner of the country; a Dear Santa letter campaign that provided gifts to over 500 underprivileged area children during the holidays; an e-mentoring programpairing YLS-ers with local high school students; the Law Explorers program sponsoring lectures and activities for student from100 area high schools who are interested in future careers in law and government; the annual pro-bono and community service fair tomatch those interested in volunteeringwith organizations dedicated to helping those in need; the Serving our Seniors program providing low-income seniors with free estate planning, power of attorney, healthcare and end-of- life planning advice; the Wills for Heroes program, holding workshops where our volunteers create thousands upon thousands of free wills, living wills and other estate planning documents for first responders and their families; and the new Access Success programming series, creating practice opportunities for lawyers with disabilities. And, of course, we have fun, too. Thanks in large part to the work of our Social Committee, the YLS monthly socials have seen unprecedented turnout this year and the annual boat cruise was a smashing success—and not a single person fell overboard.

All of this is impressive, but what’s truly amazing is that this list is far from exhaustive. Nearly every day YLS members participate in organization-sponsored activities thatmake us better lawyers, better business generators, better neighbors and better friends. The YLS gives us back as much, if not more, than we put in to it. As we enter the spring and the final stretch of this bar year, I ask you all to continue your impactful work with and investment in each other. YLS Chair Jonathan B. Amarilio, a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, focuses his practice in civil appellate litigation and critical motion practice. Jonathan has also served as a Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois and as a Special Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago in a number of matters. In addition to serving as the CBA YLS Chair and on the CBA Board of Managers, Jonathan has held several YLS officer positions and has served on a number of CBA practice and administrative committees, including the CBA Special Committee on Appellate Practice, the CBA Membership Committee, the CBA Officer Nominating Committee, and the CBA Special Committee Assisting the Illinois Supreme Court to Implement Recommendations of the Conference on the Future of Illinois Courts.

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