CBA Record September-October 2025

YLS Honored at ABA Meeting By Ann Glynn, CBA Public Affairs Director

previously honored at the 2023 ABA Annual Meeting. The CLE, co-sponsored by the Black Women Lawyers’ Associa tion of Chicago, focused on the current administration’s “illegal DEI” plans, phases, and pitfalls. It also examined recent filings against the “illegal DEI” policy as well as its implications for fed eral workers and the country at large. “These awards recognize the YLS’s continued commitment to creating and implementing programming that assists our members in becoming well-rounded attorneys in the community,” said Ken neth Matuszewski of Rozier Hardt McDonough, Immediate Past Chair of the YLS. The ABA YLD has recognized numer ous YLS programs in years past, includ ing the Law Student Mentoring Program; the CBA Law & Debate Club; the Work ing Women’s Legal Summit; the Lawyers Lend a Hand to Youth program; the CBA @theBar Podcast; the Law Committee’s Times Up on Workplace Harassment pro gram; the Intra-Professional Networking Event; a four-week course on represent ing Spanish-speaking clients; and the YLS Racial Justice Commission’s public pre sentation “Preparing for Protest.” The YLS, founded in 1971, was cre ated to encourage young lawyers to work together on projects for their commu nity and for their profession. It provides excellent opportunities for professional growth, community service, and net working to its approximately 7,000 mem bers, who include attorneys in their first 10 years of practice and law students. The YLS offers 30 committees, including sub stantive practice areas and public service offerings, implements member and public service projects, and hosts numerous sem inars and networking events. For further information, contact the Young Lawyers Section at 312‐554‐2070 or yls@chicagobar.org.

YLS First Vice Chair Aleksandra Petrovic, Damisch & Damisch Ltd., and YLS Immediate Past Chair Kenneth Matuszewski, Rozier Hardt McDonough, accepted the Young Lawyers Section’s Award of Achievement at the 2025 ABA Annual Conference in Toronto, Ontario.

T he CBA’s Young Lawyers Section recently received not just one, but two awards from the American Bar Association at their Annual Meet ing in Toronto. The ABA’s Young Law yers Division presents annual Awards of Achievement to recognize local, state, and national YLD affiliates across the country for their contributions to the public and the betterment of the legal profession. The YLS earned 2025 ABA Awards of Achievement in categories for Service to the Public and Diversity. In the Service to the Public category, the YLS was recognized for its Lawyers in the Classroom Volunteering program, which took place during Law Week and the YLS Fundraiser. The program, sponsored by

the YLS, allowed YLS members to serve as one-time volunteer teaching attorneys for the Edward J. Lewis II Lawyers in the Classroom Program. The program brings attorney volunteers into 2nd through 10th grade classrooms to help students better understand the U.S. Constitution, the legal system, and the legal profession. To learn more about Lawyers in the Class room and how to volunteer, contact Man aging Director, Tiffani Watson, M.Ed., at twatson@chicagobar.org. The YLS was also recognized In the Diversity category for a CLE program entitled “DOGE & What it Means for DEI Hiring in Government.” This semi nar was held in collaboration with YLS Diversity Week in April, which was

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