Message From The Chair
I am so honored and thrilled to be Chair of the New Lawyers
Division of AAJ. Since I was a little girl, I have wanted to
be a lawyer like my father. My father took me to my first ATLA
(now AAJ) convention when I was six. Over the years, I looked
forward to the day that I would be a member of this organization.
Shortly after joining AAJ, I learned of the New Lawyers section
and became involved with these amazing people, who, throughout
the years, have helped me so much, both professionally and personally.
I found myself envying the leadership and wanting to be one
of them. Finally that day came!
I am profoundly honored to serve as your new Chair and the
first Chairwoman from Mississippi. I cannot explain what it
means to me to be the leader of such an important and distinguished
organization. My commitment to AAJ and the NLD is to continue
to build on the success that has been obtained by those before
me and to continue their efforts to recruit new members. I want
every member of the NLD to be excited about this great organization
and the resources it provides in our pursuit to protect the
rights of the people.
If you are interested in becoming more involved with the NLD,
we have numerous and rewarding programs. I want to encourage
each of you to become involved in the NLD. The options for involvement
are numerous and the work is rewarding.
Join AAJ PAC and attend a NLD PAC phonathon. AAJ PAC is the
nonpartisan political action committee of AAJ. AAJ PAC is dedicated
to preserving the right to a jury trial in civil litigation
by financially supporting the campaigns of friends of the civil
justice system who are running for office in the United States
Senate and the United States House of Representatives. The NLD
holds two phonathons a year to raise money for AAJ PAC. The
first NLD PAC phonathon will be held in October of this year
at AAJ headquarters in Washington, DC. The second will take
place in March, also at AAJ headquarters in Washington, DC.
When you participate in a NLD PAC phonathon your airfare and
hotel is reimbursed by AAJ. AAJ also provides continental breakfast
and lunch on Thursday and Friday, and reimburses you for your
other meals up to $750 per day. Participating in a NLD PAC phonathon
is arguably the best way to work to protect your clients’
rights to civil justice while meeting and networking with other
new lawyers. If you are interested in attending a NLD phonathon
or want to learn more, please contact Susan Hutchinson by phone
at 800-424-2725 ext. 670 or by email at susan.hutchinson@justice.org
or Corban Gunn, Chair of the NLD PAC Fundraising committee,
by phone at 228/432-7826 or by email at corban@cgvclaw.com.
Participate in a NLD sponsored public service project. The
NLD organizes numerous civic-oriented public services projects
throughout the year. Habitat for Humanity is an independent,
charitable housing program dedicated to the elimination of poverty
housing by building homes in partnership with families in need.
The Habitat projects are always a lot of fun, and you will
get to work side-by-side with your fellow NLD members. Most
importantly, if you volunteer, you will be helping families
to rebuild their lives. If you are interested in volunteering
for any of the public service projects or have any questions,
please contact Gina R. Spear at 800-424-2725, ext. 341 or email
her at gina.spear@justice.org.
Attend a NLD membership drive. There are two NLD membership
drives this year. Both coincide with AAJ Board of Governors
meetings, the first in the Fall and the second in the Spring.
The NLD membership drives are a great way to meet new people,
have fun, and increase the AAJ network. AAJ will reimburse your
expenses for one night of a hotel stay, travel and related expenses
(collectively up to $750.00).
The Fall NLD membership drive will be on November 1, 2007 at
AAJ headquarters in Washington, DC. The Spring NLD membership
drive will take place on May 15, 2007, in Minneapolis, MN. If
you are interested in participating in either membership drive,
or have any questions, please contact Gina R. Spear at 800-424-2725,
ext. 341 or email her at gina.spear@justice.org
or Chris Glover at chris@hoganandglover.com
and Jeff Gibson at jgibson@cohenandmalad.com,
Co-Chairs of the Membership Committee.
Contribute documents to the NLD Document Library. The Document
Library is one of the greatest assets the NLD offers New Lawyers.
Administered by the AAJ Exchange, it is full of pleadings, discovery
requests, briefs, motions, deposition outlines, etc. –
and it’s FREE OF CHARGE!! These documents are available
online and can be accessed through the AAJ NLD home page or
the AAJ Exchange. Over the past few years, we have obtained
over 500 documents from almost every state. All it takes is
a moment to e-mail documents that you think might be helpful
to other New Lawyers. If you are interested in contributing,
please e-mail your submissions to the Co-Chairs of the Document
Library Committee, Micha Star Liberty at liberty@libertylaw.com
and Emily Hawk Raley at hawk@alabamatortlaw.com.
Join and be active in the NLD Board of Governors. The NLD Board
of Governors is the lifeblood of the NLD. The Board of Governors
works with the NLD Executive Committee to organize and carry
out the numerous NLD activities throughout the year that make
AAJ stronger and protect the civil justice system. NLD Governors
participate in quarterly conference calls to learn various activities
and mobilize to action. In addition to helping with the activities
discussed in detail above, NLD Governors often write Sidebar
newsletter articles, write website content, fundraise for pro-civil
justice candidates, sponsor winter and annual NLD convention
parties, and strengthen the NLD in other similar ways. If you
are interested in applying for the NLD Board of Governors, please
contact the Co-Chairs of the Board of Governors Committee, Tad
Thomas at 502/736-8100 or email him at tad@tadthomas.com
and Orla Brady at 212/687-8181 or email her at obrady@kreindler.com.
Each of the activities above are great ways to get involved
and each is extremely rewarding. We all have demands put on
us that limit our ability to make commitments. However, sometimes
the benefits outweigh the sacrifice. Your involvement in the
NLD will be such a case. I encourage you to become involved
in the NLD and reap the many benefits that follow.
Rebecca McRae Langston, Chair
|
