How to Get Involved in the YLD

Who Are Young Lawyers?

Membership in the Young Lawyers Division is automatic for Georgia attorneys who are under the age of 36 or who have been admitted to their first bar less than five years. There are almost 10,000 “young lawyers” statewide.

How Can You Get Involved?

Join a Committee

The YLD is comprised of 30 committees—one for every interest! Sign up for committee membership by logging in to your member portal and choosing ‘Join a YLD Committee’ under the Membership tab.

Attend a Meeting

The YLD has four general membership meetings each Bar year. It’s wonderful way to get to know your fellow YLD members. If you would like to receive notice of YLD meetings and events, log in to your member portal and choose ‘Personal Preferences Page’ under the Profile Management tab. Scroll to the bottom to access the Young Lawyers Division Preferences and check the box to be added to the email distribution list.

What Can the YLD Do For You?

Opportunities for Service

With a mission of service, the YLD offers many avenues for young lawyers to give back to their communities and to the profession. Members of YLD committees often participate in service projects. Additionally, the YLD conducts a service project at each of its general membership meetings.

Great Networking Opportunities

The activities and projects of the YLD put you in touch with lawyers in your practice area, others with similar interests and Georgia’s legislative and judicial leaders from every corner of the state.

Leadership Opportunities

There are many opportunities within the YLD to develop and grow leadership skills and abilities. These include chairing a committee, serving on the YLD Executive Committee or Representative Council, and applying to the Leadership Academy.

Committee Chairs

The success of YLD committees depends heavily on the initiative, leadership and foresight of its members. If you have vision and leadership potential, we invite you to request appointment by the president as a chair or co-chair of a committee.

YLD Executive Committee

For those with long-range leadership goals, you may wish to seek office in the YLD. There are five elected officer positions: president, president-elect, treasurer, secretary and immediate past president. Further, the president appoints the newsletter editors and a board of directors.

YLD Representative Council

The governing body of the YLD includes the Executive Committee and the Representative Council, which is comprised of elected representatives from each of the three federal judicial districts, as well as at-large and out-of-state representatives. The council helps direct and implement the various programs of the YLD.

YLD Leadership Academy

The YLD Leadership Academy is a program for young lawyers who are interested in developing their leadership skills as well as learning more about their profession, their communities and their state. The academy meets once a month for six months beginning in January. Participants are selected through an application process that begins in October.

Get to Know the YLD Officers

The Young Lawyers Division is led by five elected officers (president, president-elect, treasurer, secretary and immediate past president) and two officers (newsletter editors) appointed by the president.