The Oklahoma Bar Journal August 2022

Y oung L awyers D ivision

Service to the Community is True Professionalism By April Moaning

I T SEEMS LIKE JUST A FEW weeks ago we welcomed a new slate of young lawyers to the legal profession. The most important lesson I have learned as a young lawyer is that with great power comes great responsibility. In our profession, that responsibil ity includes service to those who are marginalized, underrepre sented or have just fallen on hard times. As stated by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “If you want to be a true professional, you will do something outside yourself. Something to repair tears in your community. Something to make life a little better for people less fortunate than you.” Service to the community is the overarching goal of the Oklahoma Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. We lead with a servant’s heart. This includes advocating for a wide array of individuals in our community and developing ways to expand access to the justice system. We have participated in community service events all throughout the state of Oklahoma, but I am sure there are counties and communities we have yet to serve. The best way to reach the masses is to ensure we have diverse representation on the YLD Board of Directors. Thus, we need YOU to join our team and share your insight about the needs of your community.

petition must be signed by at least 10 members of the OBA YLD and must be submitted by Friday, Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. A separate peti tion must be filed for each opening, except a petition for a directorship shall be valid for one-year and two year terms and at-large positions. A person must be eligible for division membership for the entire term for which elected. All OBA members in good standing who were admitted to the practice of law 10 years ago or less are members of the OBA YLD. Membership is automatic – if you were first admitted to the practice of law in 2012 or later, you are a member of the OBA YLD!! ELECTION PROCEDURE Article 5 of the division bylaws governs the election procedure. In September, a list of all eligible candidates will be published in the Oklahoma Bar Journal . Ballots will be emailed Oct. 3 to all YLD members at the email address in the official OBA roster. All mem bers of the division may vote for officers and at-large directorships. Only those members with OBA roster addresses within a subject judicial district may vote for that district’s director. The members of the Nominating Committee ELIGIBILITY

Every lawyer who was first admitted to the practice of law in any jurisdiction within the past 10 years is automatically a member of the YLD. This means you have an open invitation to each and every YLD meeting, community service project and social event. Should you desire to serve as a representative for your district and lead by example, I encourage you to apply for the YLD Board of Directors. NOMINATING PROCEDURE Article 5 of the division bylaws requires that any eligible member wishing to run for office must submit a nominating petition to the Nominating Committee. The Election results will be announced at the Young Lawyers Division November meeting to be held in conjunction with the OBA Annual Meeting in Oklahoma City Nov. 2 - 4, 2022.

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THE OKLAHOMA BAR JOURNAL