The Oklahoma Bar Journal January 2023

Y oung L awyers D ivision

A More Involved YLD Lays the Path for a Stronger Legal Community By Caroline M. Shaffer Siex

A NEW YEAR OFFERS THE opportunity to conquer new and old challenges, and I am elated that I am stepping into the New Year as YLD chair. Over the years of serving on the YLD Board of Directors, I have been rewarded with opportunities to help our community. The board has given me amazing experiences. From planning and organizing hospital ity suites to assembling bar exam survival kits, my opportunities have

footsteps. As the late David Bowie once said, “I don’t know where I’m going from here, but I promise I won’t bore you.” THERE WILL BE A FOCUS FOR THE YLD TO HOST IN-PERSON EVENTS I am following my friend and longtime community service advo cate, Dylan Erwin, in this leadership role. Dylan brought so much energy into the YLD to rally around com munity service. I will be looking to him as immediate past chair to collaborate on community service ideas and steal some wisdom. One of my goals as chair is to ensure we have a Wills for Heroes event in 2023. As the daughter of a combat veteran, this project is dear to my heart, and it’s an amazing opportu nity for the YLD to serve those who served our country. Another goal is to have YLD events that involve members of the whole OBA coming together. The YLD has revived the new lawyer swearing-in happy hour. It would be great to involve more non-YLD members who can also welcome our new bar members. Joining the bar is an exciting time for these new lawyers; I hope we start coming together to truly celebrate in unison.

been plentiful. Now, I can lead and guide other YLD board members to help serve our bar and community. The great journey of life can be unpredictable, and we have cer tainly felt some unpredictability together. In recent years, the pan demic certainly proved a barrier to in-person events. I have followed several YLD leaders who handled some of the hardest times to be in charge of a board. I am incred ibly grateful to follow in their

OBA YLD members assemble bar exam survival kits.

68 | JANUARY 2023

THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL