Welcome to the TBA Young Lawyers Division Online Page. Our goal is to keep you up to date on YLD activities and provide useful information and links to help you in your practice and your life. Click here to make this page your browser home page

Diversity Plan released
The YLD Diversity Committee recently completed work on the division’s first-ever Diversity Plan. The plan, which will be put to the division membership for approval at the YLD annual meeting June 19 in Memphis, is designed to increase racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, geographic and practice area diversity within the leadership and membership of the YLD. Additional goals include promoting diversity in the profession as a whole, strengthening relationships with minority bars in the state, encouraging diversity at Tennessee’s law schools and assessing the prevalence of bias in the profession. Comments on the plan may be submitted to committee chair Effie Bean at effie.beancozart@butlersnow.comDownload the plan

Law Day winners named
The YLD announced the winners of the 2009 Tennessee Law Day Art and Essay Competitions on May 3. The theme of this year’s contest was "A Legacy of Liberty: Celebrating Lincoln’s Bicentennial," which was chosen to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln and spur debate on whether the goals of the Gettysburg Address and the Declaration of Independence have been met. The YLD thanks Knoxville lawyer Kelli Guinn for serving as this year’s competition chair. View the winning entries

YLD mentoring program
New to the practice in Tennessee? Trying to choose an area of concentration? Just need some career advice? Then this program is for you. Whether you are a law student, in your first few months of practice or reevaluating your career after several years, we can help you make the most of your professional life. The YLD now offers a mentoring program that can be designed to meet your individual needs. Take the first step: Download an application and waiver form

Want to serve as a mentor?
If you would be willing to mentor a younger colleague, please complete this application and waiver form

YLD releases disaster legal services manual
This new publication provides resources for volunteer attorneys providing legal assistance to victims of disasters.
Download the manual

YLD helps teens make wise life choices
The TBA Young Lawyers Division in conjunction with the TBA Family Law Section is looking for volunteers to present a new life skills program in high schools across the state. This new program, called "Building Healthy Relationships," teaches young people how to make wise life choices about finances, marriage and divorce. If you would like to get involved in this program, contact Children's Issues Committee Chair Wes Bryant at wbryant@hardinandparkes.com