Rebuilding Our Community: A Fresh Focus for the Young Lawyers Division 2022-23 Bar Year

Lisa Williford is a white woman with straight, dark-brown hair, blue eyes and and golden highlights. She is wearing a white blouse with a black jacket and a silver necklace with a circle pendant, and she is pictured smiling.By Lisa M. Williford

Welcome to the NCBA YLD 2022-23 bar year!

As I noted in my speech during the NCBA Annual Meeting, our focus this year is on “Rebuilding Our Community.” Let me share with you how we plan to achieve that goal: Foundation. Strategy. Engagement.

Great communities are built on strong foundations, and our incredible leadership team provides a strong support for ours.

  • Jonathan Bogues, Chair-elect;
  • Collins Saint, Secretary;
  • Sheila Spence, Administrative Division Director;
  • Will Quick, Immediate Past Chair;
  • Kayla Britt, ABA Delegate;
  • Taylor Newberry, District 9 Representative
  • Kayla Britt, Law Student Division Director;
  • Samantha Gordon, Civic Engagement and Pro Bono Division Director;
  • Michele Livingstone, Community Outreach Division Director; and
  • Denaa Griffin, Bar Outreach Division Director.

We will also have a number of committee chairs, who are listed in this chart.

YLD members Michele Livingstone, Lisa Williford, Jonathan Bogues, Will Quick, Kristen Kirby, Sarah Saint stand together with a wall behind them. They are smiling.

Michele Livingstone, Lisa Williford, Jonathan Bogues, Will Quick, Kristen Kirby, and Collins Saint.

After you build your foundation, then you need a strategy to engage people to join and serve in the community. Our team came together during our April 2022 quarterly meeting to brainstorm strategies that will help young lawyers join and serve in our community during the next bar year. Our ideas can be summarized in three pillars: (1) mentorship, (2) career development, and (3) wellness, and we hope to focus our events this year on these goals.

The last and most important piece to rebuilding our community is you, our Young Lawyers. This is your opportunity to help us rebuild something great by getting involved in one of our many committees. Please visit this link to find the spot your skills are needed and complete the committee sign up form.

13 YLD members stand outside of a concrete building following a YLD gathering. They are smiling. Will Quick stands in the center with a white sign that reads “NCBA YLD.”

YLD members gather together.

We would also love to see you all at an event soon, either in person or virtually. If you are new and want someone to help introduce you to the YLD or you would like more information about our group, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly at [email protected].

I’m truly grateful to be leading this organization this year. Here’s to more community and togetherness!

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