At the AYLA board retreat in early August, AYLA President Emily Morris expressed that one of her goals this year is inclusion and prioritizing CLEs for AYLA members. With that end goal in mind, AYLA is intentionally recruiting young lawyers interested in speaking on their area of expertise on our panels and as CLE presenters.
Including young lawyers in presentations and panels will encourage them to become part of the local bar and make them feel more welcome as members. This could lead to a more active membership and spark potential interest in participating in other events as they are introduced to more members and the variety of events that AYLA and the Austin Bar offer.
Creating a broader repertoire of speakers who are available and willing to speak will also help take the pressure away from having to go to the same presenters who are asked to speak frequently. AYLA’s hope is that by creating the space and setting the stage for our brilliant and hardworking young attorneys, more doors will open for additional speaking engagements and new opportunities for these youthful aspiring practitioners who are interested in speaking early in their career.
Not only do the speakers get the opportunity to practice and improve their public speaking skills, but they also dedicate time to coming up with a topic that meets CLE criteria, prepare the script and/or PowerPoint, and present to a room full of fellow attorneys, judges, and leaders. Taking opportunities to speak in these forums can boost a young lawyer’s confidence in their skills and abilities.
AYLA also offers a diverse array of speaking opportunities that are not just for CLEs. In years past, AYLA has planned and participated in the Trial Institute, conferences, and, this year, the Texas Bar Foundation Video Project “Voir Dire for Pro Se Litigants,” which will be premiering soon. There are so many opportunities to include young lawyers as speakers, and AYLA hopes to give aspiring speakers the boost needed to get their name out there and to be considered for other speaking opportunities.
Giving young lawyers opportunities to speak at AYLA events creates a chance for them to demonstrate their skills to current or potential mentors who can help them learn best practices and grow with each opportunity that arises. It is also a chance for career advancement signifying that they are ready to take on more significant responsibilities in educating others in their area of expertise.
One of the best things about AYLA is that members do not have to be young. “Young” could also mean that you went to law school in a later chapter in life and decided to pursue the path of justice and advocacy. To be a member of Austin Young Lawyers, you must in your first five years of practice or under the age of 40.
AYLA would love for you to attend one of our upcoming CLEs and to show support for AYLA speakers and presenters. To see AYLA’s upcoming CLE events, you can go to the AYLA calendar at www.ayla.org.
A few of the CLEs with young lawyers that we have planned this year include:
• Practicing in Federal Court: Insights from Former Clerks. A panel discussion with Madison George Dornak, associate attorney with Michael Best & Friedrich, Ruben Cardenas, associate attorney with Ellis and Hodge, and Nicole J. Thacker, associate attorney with Germer, Beaman & Brown.
• Appellate Basics CLE presented by Samantha McCoy, associate attorney at Lucosky Brookman.
• Introduction to Trusts and Estates CLE presented by a panel including young lawyers Eric Nelson, attorney at Graves, Dougherty, Hearon, & Moody, and Melissa Pina, Trusts and Estates Officer with Cadence Bank.
Are you a young lawyer ready to take the next step in being involved with the Austin Young Lawyers and speak on your area of practice, but haven’t had the opportunity because you are new? We would love to consider you as a speak er for one of our CLEs. Please email Debbie Kelly at debbie@austinbar.org if you are interested in speaking.