April-May 2024: The Future Belongs to Those Who Prepare for It Today

Growing up, I was always fascinated with numbers. So much so that my math teacher in high school begged me to become a mathematician instead of a lawyer. Although I had a strong love and appreciation for numbers and math, like any other kid, when it came to age, I had things all confused. Of course, I had all the major age milestones planned out and, at the age of 7, I thought 34 was “old.” How wrong I was. I still remember every time I brought up an adult’s age my grandmother would say, “Just keep living.” When I would talk about my plans for all of my milestone ages, she would say, “If you start walking now, you just may make it when that time comes.” My response was always “OK” because neither of those statements made sense to me as a child. Especially not to a number-loving child who thought she had it all figured out.

As I got older, my grandmother’s statements resonated with me more and more. I began to realize that the future belongs to those who prepare for it today. As cliché as it sounds, the young lawyers today ARE the future of this profession. That’s a fact that we know. In knowing that, it’s imperative that we utilize this time in our careers to prepare ourselves for that future. That preparation includes perfecting our current skills, stepping outside of our comfort zone by learning new skills, and being of service to our community and profession. The activities and programs presented by the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Council this year have accomplished just that. Let’s take a look at how we have prepared for the future.

Level Up Learning

This amazing program is offered to young lawyers for free. Each session focuses on teaching young lawyers a practical skill, with an in-depth training presentation taught by some of our state’s most experienced attorneys. This year, the YLD CLE Committee hosted a session in partnership with the Louisiana State Bar Association’s (LSBA) Family Law Section titled “Uncontested Divorce Basics.” The committee has prepared a three-part series in partnership with the Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Inc. and the LSBA’s Civil Law and Litigation Section. Part one of this series involved “Taking and Defending Depositions.” These sessions have allowed young lawyers to enhance their skills and learn new ones while in a relaxed and intimate setting. It’s not every day you can sit in a smaller learning session with some of the state’s most experienced attorneys and pick their brain . . . for free!

Barristers for Boards

This program aims to help young lawyers stay involved in their local communities through placement on nonprofit boards and committees. The event begins with a one-hour CLE board training presented by the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits. After the CLE, attendees and nonprofit organizations have a meet-and-greet where the organizations share their missions, insights about their work and information about how young lawyers can be involved. The Barristers for Boards Committee hosted successful events in both New Orleans and Baton Rouge this year.

Professional Development Seminar

This innovative event offers a virtual half-day of learning and networking for young lawyers to invest in themselves to make positive, professional connections and help their businesses thrive. On Jan. 19, 2024, the CLE Committee held a successful event which consisted of two hours of professionalism credit, one hour of law practice management credit and one hour of ethics credit.

Mock Trial

On March 23, 2024, the 2024 Richard N. Ware IV State High School Mock Trial Competition was held at the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana, Courthouse in Baton Rouge. The Mock Trial Committee did an amazing job to ensure that the competition was a success. All of the mock trial teams did a great job. It truly is a rewarding experience to volunteer as a judge for this competition. If you weren’t able to volunteer this year, join us next year. Lastly, good luck to our winners as they represent us in the National High School Mock Trial Competition.

Young Lawyers Conference

On April 12, 2024, the YLD held its annual Louisiana Young Lawyers Conference at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District. This year’s theme was “Saved By The Bar.”

During the lunch hour, we had a keynote speaker followed by the presentation of several awards, including Outstanding Young Lawyer, Outstanding Local Affiliate, Program of the Year, the Hon. Michaelle Pitard Wynne Professionalism Award, the Pro Bono Award and the Top Attorneys. Congratulations to all of the winners and honorees. Our keynote speaker was Judge Dana M. Douglas with the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. She was phenomenal.

This innovative conference was a day of learning and networking where young lawyers could invest in themselves and renew their own excitement about the legal profession. If you missed this year’s conference, join us next year. It gets better every year!

Wills for Heroes

The Wills for Heroes program provides free legal services to first responders in the preparation of basic estate planning documents. Attorney volunteers draft basic wills, powers of attorney and health care directives for eligible first responders and their spouses across the state. The YLD hosted Louisiana’s first Wills for Heroes event in October 2008 for the Calcasieu Parish Fire Department in Lake Charles. Thanks to LSBA President and former YLD Chair Shayna L. Sonnier and LSBA Board of Governors member Adam P. Johnson, the YLD chairs were able to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of Wills for Heroes by having another event in Lake Charles. The attorneys prepared 56 wills and other estate-planning documents. This was an amazing way to celebrate the 15-year anniversary. To date, the YLD and attorney volunteers have prepared more than 200 wills this year.

If you missed out on any of these events, don’t worry. We have a few more events before the Bar year concludes. Stay tuned for more information!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
—Margaret Mead

All of these programs would not be possible if it wasn’t for the hard work of the LSBA YLD Council. I have had the honor and privilege to work with these amazing young lawyers over this Bar year. Their dedication and commitment to serving the community and serving the Bar are unmatched. They take time from their jobs and their families, and even spend their birthdays and anniversaries in planning meetings, to make sure these events are a success. Join me in thanking each of them for making this a great year for the YLD.
• Jennifer G. Lampton, District 1 representative and YLD Conference chair.
• Margaret L. Manning, District 1 representative and High School Mock Trial co-chair.
• Rory V. Bellina, District 2 representative and CLE co-chair.
• Rachal Cox Cassagne, District 2 representative and Awards chair.
• Jared E. Nelson, District 3 representative and CLE co-chair.
• Brooke A. Roach, District 4 representative and Barristers for Boards co-chair.
• Brad W. Cranmer, District 5 representative and High School Mock Trial chair.
• Quinn K. Brown, District 5 representative and Wills for Heroes chair.
• Ashley U. Johnson, District 6 representative and YLD Conference co-chair.
• Jasmyne A. McConnell, District 7 representative and CLE co-chair.
• Audrius M. Reed, District 8 representative and Wills for Heroes co-chair.
• Jasmine C. Cooper, At-Large representative and Affiliates and ABA co-chair.
• Megan S. Peterson, YLD representative to the ABA House of Delegates and CLE chair.
• Josef P. Ventulan, ABA YLD representative and Barristers for Boards chair.

I have to give a special shout out to the Executive Committee. These young lawyers are amazing beyond words! I couldn’t have done it without them. Be on the lookout for all the great things they have coming. Thank you!
• Chair-Elect Kristen D. Amond.
• Secretary Collin R. Melancon.
• Immediate Past Chair Danielle L. (Dani) Borel.

If you ask any member on the Council, they will tell you that the backbone to our Council is Kelly W. Ponder, LSBA director of communications and the YLD staff liaison. I like to call her our “Superwoman” because she is just that. I don’t know how she gets it done but she does every time. She is literally my YLD lifeline. Sometimes she is a mom, sometimes she is a sister, sometimes she is a friend and sometimes she is all of them at once. No matter what “hat” she wears, she always has the YLD’s best interest in mind. Thank you, Kelly, for answering every call, text, facetime or email, no matter how busy you were. We truly appreciate you!

Lastly, I want to thank YOU for embarking on this journey with me. It has been a pleasure and honor to serve as your YLD chair. The YLD is forever committed to the advancement of young lawyers in our state. We thank everyone who continues to support us as we try to make a difference through our service to the Bar and our service to the community. Continue to join us because it will only get better!

“Whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived.”
—Ruth Bader Ginsburg