LSBA Home
LSBA Menu

Young Lawyers Division

The purpose of the Young Lawyers Division is to foster discussions and interchange of ideas relative to the duties, responsibilities and problems of the younger members of the legal profession in the State of Louisiana; to aid in their advancement; to encourage their interest and participation in the activities of the Louisiana State Bar Association, and, in general, to further the purposes and objectives of the LSBA. This site is a public service of the LSBA-YLD Council, providing YLD information to the public, communicating with YLD members.

LATEST NEWS AND DEVELOPMENTS
YLD CLE Opportunity
LSBA Young Lawyers Division Award Nominations NOW OPEN!
The LSBA Young Lawyers Division Award Nominations are now OPEN! Each year, the LSBA Young Lawyers Division solicits nominations for young lawyers and local affiliates (such as a local bar association's young lawyer section) for the awards listed below.

To be eligible for consideration, individual nominees must be current members of the YLD (attorneys who have not yet reached the age of 40 or who have been admitted to the practice of law for fewer than five years on July 1) who are in good standing. Prior winners of an individual award (Top Young Lawyers, Outstanding Young Lawyer, Pro Bono, Professionalism) are not eligible to be considered for that award again. Prior finalists of individual awards are eligible to be nominated again. 
After the nomination deadline, the Awards Committee, comprised of YLD attorneys from every LSBA District, and the YLD Council select award winners who will be announced and recognized at the LSBA Young Lawyers Conference in Spring 2025.
Please submit your nomination by completing the following form. The deadline for award nominations is November 1, 2024.
2024 Barristers for Boards
Registration open for Barristers for Boards
On Wednesday, October 9th, the LSBA Young Lawyers Division will host a Barristers for Boards Virtual CLE from 12 to 1 p.m. via Zoom, featuring board training by the Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits and insights into young lawyers serving on nonprofit boards. Following the CLE, meet-and-greet events will take place from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in Alexandria, Lake Charles, and Shreveport, where attendees can connect with local nonprofits. Nonprofit details will be available on the LSBA YLD and Louisiana Alliance for Nonprofits websites. Registration closes on Tuesday, October 1st. Find more information and register here.
2024 YLD Level Up Learning Depositions Part 2
Register Today for Part Three of the Level Up Learning Series on
Taking and Defending Depositions: Corporate Depositions
The LSBA YLD, in partnership with Greater New Orleans Louis A. Martinet Legal Society, Inc. (“Martinet Society") and LSBA Civil Law and Litigation Section, will host part three of the "Level Up Learning" series, “Taking and Defending Depositions: The Corporate Deposition” on Tuesday, October 22, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Louisiana Bar Center, 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, or via Zoom access. This seminar will be presented by Megan Peterson of Simon Peragine Smith and Redfearn and Ebony Morris of Foley & Mansfield. The free CLE seminar is open to young lawyers only and in-person attendance is limited. Pre-registration is required. This program has been approved for 1 hour of CLE credit. Register Today!
YLD CLE Opportunity
LSBA Young Lawyers Division to Present Virtual Professional Development Seminar
The Young Lawyers Division will present the virtual Professional Development CLE seminar on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, from 8 a.m. to noon.  The seminar is open to young lawyers only, for a cost of $45. The program will apply for 4 hours of CLE.
2024 Richard N. Ware, IV State High School Mock Trial Competition - Saturday, March 23, 2024

Caddo Magnet High School Wins 2024 State High School Mock Trial Competition
Congratulations to Caddo Magnet High School, winners of the 2024 Judge Richard N. Ware, IV Memorial High School Mock Trial Competition! The competition was held Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the United States District Court Middle District of Louisiana Courthouse in Baton Rouge, LA. Team members include Anika Alla, Arjun Desai, Ndeye Gueye, Hailey Huguet, Ben Menard, Krysten Thompson and Kennedy Varner. This team will go on to represent Louisiana at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in May.

The Richard N. Ware, IV 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 2024 competition materials, visit the links below:
• 2024 High School Mock Trial Handbook
• 2024 High School Mock Trial Problem
• 2024 High School Mock Trial Rules of Evidence
• 2024 High School Mock Trial Problem - Revisions

Frequently Asked Questions about the High School Mock Trial Competition.

The 2024 Judge Richard N. Ware, IV Memorial High School Mock Trial Competition is funded through a Louisiana Bar Foundation IOLTA grant.
Save the Date! 2025 State High School Mock Trial Competition - March 29, 2025
The 2025 Richard N. Ware, IV State High School Mock Trial Competition will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the US Western District of Louisiana Courthouse in Lafayette, LA (800 Lafayette Street, Lafayette). 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. Check back for more information.
2024 Louisiana Young Lawyers Conference was a success
2024 Louisiana Young Lawyers Conference - Held April 12, 2024The LSBA Young Lawyers Division held its annual Louisiana Young Lawyers Conference in New Orleans on April 12, 2024 at the New Orleans Marriott Warehouse Arts District. This successful conference was a day of inspired learning and networking for participants and several worthy young lawyers were recognized for their many contributions to the legal profession during the awards luncheon held in conjunction with the Conference. The second year of Top 40 Young Lawyers were recognized along with the recipients of the yearly YLD awards.  

Review this year's honorees here or find out more about past award recipients on the new YLD Award Recipients page.  
Louisiana Young Lawyers Division
2024/2025 Young Lawyers Division Council Members 
Click here to meet the 2024/2025 Young Lawyers Divsion Council Members. 
2024/2025 Young Lawyers Division Committees and Projects
Click here to learn more about the Young Lawyers Division Committees and Projects for 2024/2025.
Wills for Heroes Program Offers Legal Help and “Peace of Mind” to First Responders
Read more about the program in the October/November 2019 Louisiana Bar Journal. Click here to access the article. 
Young Lawyers Division Award Recipients
YLD Award Recipients
The Louisiana State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division celebrates the achievements of the various award recipients and is proud to be able to recognize Louisiana's top young lawyers who have made exceptional contributions to the legal profession. Explore the prestigious legacy of the Young Lawyers Division awards and discover the lists of various Louisiana Young Lawyers who embody the highest standards of legal excellence and dedication to the legal profession.  Review the lists of previous award recipients here. 
Louisiana State Bar Association
601 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70130
 (800) 421-LSBA(5722) / (504) 566-1600