The LSBA Young Lawyers Division invites young lawyers to apply for committee service in the upcoming year! Serving on a committee is a great way to get involved, build your network, and make a difference. Positions are limited, so don’t wait. Click here to apply today.

On Wednesday, October 29th, the Young Lawyers Division of the Louisiana State Bar Association will hold a Barristers for Boards Virtual CLE from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Barristers for Boards events begin with a one-hour CLE board training presented by the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits. Young lawyers will also hear about the challenges and opportunities unique to young lawyers serving on nonprofit boards. After the CLE, attendees and nonprofit organizations are invited to attend a “meet-and-greet,” where everyone can enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres while the organizations share their missions, insights about their work, and information about how young lawyers can get involved. This year there will be two locations for Meet & Greets: Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Click here for more information on registration. Space is limited!

Nominations are now open for the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Awards! These honors celebrate outstanding young attorneys who demonstrate excellence, leadership, professionalism, and service to the legal community.

Eligible nominees must be current members of the YLD, attorneys who are under 40 or have practiced for fewer than five years as of July 1, 2025 and must be in good standing. Please note that prior winners of individual awards are not eligible to receive the same award again, though past finalists may be nominated.

Award recipients are selected by the YLD Council based on recommendations from a statewide committee of young lawyers. Click here to find out more or submit a nomination today and help us recognize the next generation of legal leaders.

Congratulations to Caddo Parish Magnet High School of Shreveport, LA, winners of 2025 Richard N. Ware IV Memorial State High School Mock Trial Competition! The competition, held annually and coordinated by the LSBA’s Young Lawyers Division, took place on March 29 at the John M. Shaw United States Courthouse in Lafayette, LA. Thank you to our volunteers for making this invaluable learning experience possible for high school students interested in the legal profession!

Pictured are, from left, Best Attorney winners Bailey Burns (Episcopal School of Baton Rouge and Kennedy Varner (Caddo Magent High School); and far right is Best Witness Amara Nwabuze (Zachary High School). The State High School Mock Trial Competition is the culmination of four regional championships coordinated annually by the LSBA Young Lawyers Division. The competition is named in memory of the Honorable Richard N. Ware, IV, who enthusiastically volunteered for nearly a decade as the presiding judge of the final round of the Louisiana High School Mock Trial Competition.

For the 2025 competition materials, visit the links below:
• 2025 High School Mock Trial Handbook
• 2025 High School Mock Trial Problem
• 2025 High School Mock Trial Rules of Evidence

Frequently Asked Questions about the High School Mock Trial Competition.

The 2025 Judge Richard N. Ware, IV Memorial High School Mock Trial Competition is funded through a Louisiana Bar Foundation IOLTA grant.

Please enjoy this video about the 2024 Judge Richard N. Ware, IV Memorial High School Mock Trial Competition.