WASHINGTON, D.C., April 30, 2012 — Client representation, attorney-client privilege, insurance law and diversity in the legal profession are among hot topics during the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s 2012 YLD Conference. The conference will be held May 3 – 5 at the Hilton Nashville Downtown in Nashville, Tenn.

Program highlights include:

“Plenary & Town Hall Meeting on Gender Equality” American Bar Association President-Elect Laurel Bellows and YLD Chair Michael Bergmann will host an interactive discussion, raising important questions regarding gender equality in the practice of law.
May 4, 7:45 – 8:45 a.m.

“Building Your Financial House: Strategies to Reduce Debt AND Save Money” Panelists will offer strategies young lawyers can use to reduce their debt and solidify their financial plan.
May 4, 9 – 10 a.m.

“Bridging the Gap Between Junior and Senior Associates” Panelists will help young lawyers focus their first years practicing law on the areas that are most critical to their long-term development and success.
May 4, 9 – 10 a.m.

“What Every Young Lawyer Needs to Know About Avoiding Lawyer Discipline” Due to today’s challenging legal services marketplace, more young lawyers find themselves working at small firms or starting one of their own, which carries the risk of being pinned with a disciplinary complaint. Panelists will explain simple steps young lawyers can take to reduce the risk of receiving a disciplinary complaint, and what to do if they happen to get one.
May 4, 8 – 9 a.m.

“Beyond Diversity: The Impact of Stereotype Threat and Implicit Bias on Diverse Law Students, Lawyers and Defendants” The panel will provide an overview of how stereotype threat and implicit bias contribute to the status gap between whites and students of color in admissions to law schools, the low number of practitioners of color in law firms and corporate counsel offices, and the disproportionate numbers of persons of color as defendants in the justice system.
May 4, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

“Lunch with a President, a Citizen and a Bar Leader: Diverse Reflections on Developments in the Legal Profession” Former White House counsel Harriet Miers, former U.S. presidential cabinet member Hazel O’Leary, and civil rights pioneer and Tennessee lawyer George “Citizen” Barrett will hold an interactive discussion regarding the changes in diversity and inclusion in the legal profession over the past few decades.
May 4, 12:45 – 2 p.m.; Ticket Price: $10 (Media covering the event can attend for free.)

Special volunteer event:

“ABA YLD Project Salute: Young Lawyers Serving Veterans Clinic” Young lawyers from Nashville and around the country will volunteer to help veterans and their families understand available federal benefits and complete the required forms during this Veterans Legal Assistance event. The Young Lawyers Division adopted Project Salute as its 2011-12 national public service project. More information about this event can be found here.
May 4, 2 – 4:30 p.m.

Additional conference information as well as a link to the full agenda can be found online.

For media credentialing, please contact Phil Stamper at phillip.stamper@americanbar.org. There is no charge for media to attend this event.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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