CBA Record January-February 2024

YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

A Great 2023, Plus New Beginnings By Martin D. Gould

CBA YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

Chair Martin Gould Romanucci & Blandin LLC First Vice-Chair Kenneth Matuszewski Goldberg Segalla LLP Second Vice-Chair Gavin Phelps Phelps, LLC Member Service Manager Kernisha Padilla Latham & Watkins LLP Public Service Manager Alexander Passo Latimer LeVay Fyock LLC Project Officer Aleksandra Petrovic Damisch & Damisch, Ltd Project Officer Stephanie Moon Armstrong & Teasdale LLP Secretary/Treasurer Alexander Passo Latimer LeVay Fyock LLC Co-Editors in Chief YLS Journal Jacob Berger Tabet DiVito & Rothstein Nikki Marcotte Tabet DiVito & Rothstein Vice Chair of YLS Journal Joanna Kopczyk Latimer LeVay Fyock, LLC Co-Editors in Chief @theBar Blog Brian Bentrup Pluymert, MacDonald, Hargrove & Lee, Ltd. Teresa Dettloff Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office YLS Administrative Director Emily Anderson

The festivities were enlivened by excel lent music from the Scales of Justice. The party was also a great way to emphasize the importance of community service by providing attendees an opportunity to wrap and drop off the Christmas presents purchased for Chicago Public School stu dents in the Dear Santa Letters program. While it is good to remember and honor the past, particularly during the CBA’s 150th Anniversary, the start of a new year provides a fresh start and new beginnings. If your new year’s resolution is to get more involved in the CBA, the Young Lawyers Section has several opportunities lined up for 2024. In the spring, the YLS will host its second competition for law students, a transactional competition, which will need members who are familiar with various aspects of transactional law to serve as com petition judges. Diversity, equity, and inclu sion will remain at the forefront as the YLS not only hosts its second annual Diversity Week, but also looks to relaunch its Racial Justice Coalition. We also look forward to continuing our community outreach and engagement, whether it be serving first responders with the Wills for Heroes program, marching in the Pride parade, or hosting the YLS’s annual fundraiser to benefit the Lawyers in the Classroom Pro gram (additional details to come at www. chicagobar.org). If you are interested in get ting involved with any of these upcoming programs, please reach out to me. Just as importantly, new beginnings also allow us to take stock of what is most important in life. In my family’s case, in November we welcomed our third son, Archer Joel Gould, into the world. He and his brothers Dominick and Mason keep me grounded and help me priori tize taking the best course of action in anything I do in life. I cannot wait to see what the future will bring for them and for the YLS. I hope you all have a wonder ful start to your New Year!

H appy New Year everyone! The YLS ended 2023 on a high note by serv ing the community and providing valuable opportunities and resources to the next generation of lawyers. In November, as is our tradition, we hosted the annual Moot Court competition at both the CBA Building and the Dirksen Federal Build ing. Thirty law school teams from around the country argued a problem focusing on employment discrimination in religious institutions, with the University of Hous ton Law Center taking first prize. Special congratulations go out to YLS Special Projects Coordinator Lindsey Avalos, who was a part of the University of Illinois Chi cago Law School team that won second best brief. The YLS thanks the many attor ney volunteers who served as either brief graders or oral argument judges. In December, the YLS again focused on teaching the next generation of attorneys through the Practice Basic Series seminar program: How to Handle Your First Court Appearance. Aleks Petrovic, YLS Project Officer, and Kenny Matuszewski, First Vice Chair, explained how to handle both state and federal court appearances and hearings, giving attendees the confidence to handle the courtroom in any situation. To celebrate all of the Executive Coun cil’s hard work to make 2023 a successful year, the YLS celebrated with its signa ture annual Holiday Party in December.

26 JanuaryFebruary 2024