Show Up, Learn More, Serve Better: Three LSBA YLD Events That Strengthen Our Profession
One of the best things about practicing law in Louisiana is that our profession is still, at its core, a community. We inherit knowledge from mentors who trained us, we rely on colleagues who challenge us and we serve clients who trust us in difficult moments. The Louisiana State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division exists to support that community, particularly at the point in our careers when we are building habits, sharpening skills and figuring out what kind of lawyers we want to be.
In the Spring of 2026, the YLD is hosting three opportunities that reflect what we value: civic education, practical training and connection across the state. These events are not just calendar items. They are an invitation to participate in the life of the profession, to contribute in ways that matter and to develop skills that carry directly into your daily practice. The Louisiana State Mock Trial Competition, our Level Up Learning CLE series, and the 2026 Louisiana Young Lawyers Conference each serve a different purpose, but they share the same goal: strengthening young lawyers and strengthening Louisiana.
The Richard N. Ware IV State High School Mock Trial Competition
On Saturday, March 21, 2026, the 2026 Richard N. Ware IV State High School Mock Trial Competition will be held at the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana in Shreveport. Coordinated annually by the LSBA Young Lawyers Division, the state competition represents the culmination of four regional championships that the YLD coordinates each year.
Mock trial is often a student’s first close look at our justice system. It teaches more than courtroom procedure. Students learn to organize facts into a coherent story, to apply law to evidence, to think on their feet and to argue with both confidence and restraint. They also learn, sometimes for the first time, that the legal system is not an abstraction. It is people. It is preparation. It is professionalism. It is the steady work of listening and persuading. When lawyers volunteer for mock trial, students see the profession at its best.
The state 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. Honoring Judge Ware’s legacy means more than remembering his years of service. It means carrying forward the spirit of encouragement he brought to young advocates, treating their effort with respect and showing them that the law can be demanding without being discouraging.
For young lawyers, volunteering at mock trial is also a meaningful form of skill development. Watching students deliver openings, conduct examinations and respond under pressure can sharpen your own instincts about clarity, structure and persuasion. Many volunteers leave the courthouse with a renewed appreciation for fundamentals that we sometimes rush past when our own deadlines pile up.
Getting involved does not require months of preparation. The most immediate need is for volunteers to serve as scoring attorneys and presiding judges for competition rounds. There are also opportunities to help with day-of logistics and support roles that keep the competition running smoothly. No matter the role, your time makes a difference, and even a single round can be the moment a student decides they belong in a courtroom.
Level Up Learning: Practical CLE for Young Lawyers
Alongside civic education, the YLD is committed to practical training that meets young lawyers where we actually practice. That is the purpose of our Level Up Learning series, a skills-based set of CLE programs designed to deliver tools you can use immediately. Our CLE Committee has been hosting sessions on various topics, with a recent series focused on litigating a trial. That series is closing soon with a CLE on openings and closings.
Openings and closings can feel intimidating early in practice because they require something more than knowledge of law and procedure. They require judgment. They ask us to build a theme that fits the evidence, to communicate with confidence without overpromising and to argue for an outcome that feels grounded in the record and fair to the factfinder. Those are skills that improve through repetition and feedback, which is exactly what this series is designed to provide.
If you are a young lawyer who has not had many opportunities to see openings and closings up close, the Level Up Learning format is one of the most efficient ways to bridge that gap. It offers the chance to learn from experienced advocates, to ask the questions you might not feel comfortable asking in a high-stakes setting and to walk away with structure and language that can strengthen your next hearing, bench trial or jury trial.
The 2026 Louisiana Young Lawyers Conference
The third major event on the calendar is one we look forward to every year because it captures the full breadth of what the YLD can be: education, connection and celebration of service.
The LSBA Young Lawyers Division will host the 2026 Louisiana Young Lawyers Conference on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the New Orleans Marriott, Warehouse Arts District. The program will be a day filled with CLE from various speakers with topics that speak directly to young lawyers. The seminar also offers the opportunity to network with young lawyers from across Louisiana and enjoy lunch and the YLD Awards Ceremony.
For many lawyers, the early years of practice can feel isolating. Conferences like this one are a reminder that you are part of something larger. The relationships formed at the Young Lawyers Conference often turn into mentorship, referral networks, friendships and professional support that lasts well beyond the event itself. The CLE content matters, but so does the room. There is real value in spending a day among peers who understand the demands of the profession at this stage and who are building their careers alongside you.
The Awards Ceremony is also an important part of the day. It highlights service and leadership, not as abstract virtues, but as concrete contributions made by lawyers and our local bar affiliates. Recognition matters because it signals what we value. When we celebrate professionalism, public service and engagement, we build a culture that keeps those priorities visible.
A Simple Invitation
Young lawyers often ask what they can do that will make the biggest difference, both for their careers and for the community. The answer is not complicated. Participate consistently. Choose an event, commit to showing up and allow the experience to build over time.
Mock trials let you invest directly in civic education and the next generation of advocates. Level Up Learning helps you develop the practical skills that make you more effective for your clients and more confident in court. The Young Lawyers Conference connects you to peers across the state and reinforces that you do not have to practice in isolation.
The YLD will continue to provide opportunities that are meaningful and manageable, even with full dockets and demanding schedules. If you have been waiting for the right moment to get involved, this is it.