Post Authored by Ann Glynn, Director of Public Affairs for the Chicago Bar Association
The Young Lawyers Section (“YLS”) of the Chicago Bar Association was recently honored at the American Bar Association’s Annual Meeting on August 3 with numerous Awards of Achievement and Overall Awards. The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) presents these annual Awards of Achievement to recognize local, state, and national YLD affiliates across the country. Specifically, the awards honor projects and programs that contribute significantly to the public and the betterment of the legal profession.
The YLS earned 2021 ABA “Awards of Achievement” in the following areas:
- Service to the Public: Racial Justice Coalition (“RJC”) – Honored as a best-in-class public service project, the RJC was formed in order to collaborate with leading forces in the Chicagoland legal community and to take action against racial injustice through service, community engagement and education.
- Diversity: Prosecutorial Ethics Seminar – This panel discussion, which explored the prosecutor’s ethical responsibilities under Rule 3.8 and the prosecutor’s role in advancing racial justice in the community, was honored for assisting diverse lawyers in career development.
- Newsletter: @theBar Blog – Recognized for promoting the goals and objectives of the YLS, the CBA’s @theBar Blog promotes the YLS’ dedication to professional development, ethical practice, service to the profession, and members’ well-being.
“Despite the miles of physical distance separating YLS members this year, countless came together to face significant social challenges by forming the Racial Justice Coalition, reminding attorneys to aspire to always act ethically by hosting the Prosecutorial Ethics Seminar, and using the @theBar Blog to inform the public of important updates and to shine a spotlight on practitioners in all settings,” said YLS Member Service Manager Kenneth Matuszewski of Goldberg Segalla, LLP.
The YLS also earned the following 2021 ABA Overall Awards, including:
- Outstanding Affiliate Award – This award honors the YLS’ broad range of programming in the 2020 – 2021 bar year, after a comprehensive evaluation of all Affiliates’ programs.
- American Bar Endowment Outstanding Public Service Project Award –The YLS was honored with this prestigious award for the ever-critical, exceptional, and exemplary work in public service through the Racial Justice Coalition.
“As attorneys, we have the opportunity to drive change in our communities in many ways. We are incredibly honored and humbled to be recognized by the ABA for the important work we’ve done for our members and the community this year,” said Immediate Past YLS Chair Jeffrey Moskowitz of Momentum Funding, LLC.
The YLS has earned numerous accolades from the ABA YLD in years past for programs including the Law Student Mentoring Program, the CBA Law & Debate Club, the Working Women’s Legal Summit, the Lawyers Lend A Hand to Youth program, the CBA @theBar Podcast and the Law Committee’s Times Up on Workplace Harassment program.
The YLS provides great opportunities for professional growth, community service, and networking to its approximately 7,000 members, which include attorneys in their first 10 years of practice and law students. The YLS offers approximately 28 substantive committees, implements over 50 member and public service projects, and hosts numerous seminars and networking events.
For further information, contact the Young Lawyers Section at 312‐554‐2070 or yls@chicagobar.org.