Young Lawyers Section 
  YLS Home
  From the Chair
  Upcoming Events
  Section Council
  Join YLS
This is just a spacer
  Section Info
  By-Laws
  What We Do
  Who We Are
  Council Procedures
  Subcommittee Roster
  Contact Us
  Resources
  The Advocate
  Emergency
  Disaster Plan
This is just a spacer
  Members Only
  Minutes of Meetings
  Section Council
  Administration
 Home : Who we are

Who we are

The Maryland State Bar Association Young Lawyers Section (YLS) is the largest "Section" of the MSBA. The MSBA is organized in sections, to promote the interests of particular segments of the Association. Most of the sections are substantive, for example, the tax section, the business law section and so forth. You can learn more about the MSBA here. Our current membership exceeds 5,000 and accounts for approximately 1/3 of the members of the Association.

To be a member in the YLS, you must: (i) be a member of the MSBA; (ii) be a lawyer; (iii) be either under the age of 38 or be a member of the Bar for less than 5 years; and (iv) except for the first year that you are eligible, pay dues of $10 per year.

There are many benefits to joining and becoming active in the Section.

  1. First, your membership in the Section introduces you to the other Young Lawyers in the State, who share similar issues in the practice of law. This ranges from other young lawyers that are in private practice, or who practice with the government, to young lawyers that practice in house. This is an opportunity to network and expand your friendships, meet people who practice in different areas, and learn how other Young Lawyers work.

  2. Second, by becoming a member and paying your dues, you assist the Section in financing its activities, many of which involve significant matters of public service and education, both for the public in general, and for lawyers.

  3. Third, you can become active in the Section, perhaps working for one of our committees. This gives you the chance to something more than just practice or work, and give a little back. Several committees do very good public work, helping to hopefully maintain, perhaps even rebuild, some of the professionalism and respect for our profession.

  4. Fourth, you receive four times a year, the Advocate, which is the YLS award-winning Newsletter, bringing substantive, social and political news to you.

  5. Fifth, you are entitled to selected discounts on MICPEL materials. The YLS and MICPEL have a strong positive relationship, and we often able to obtain selected discounts on MICPEL programs or publications.

You may join the YLS by filling out this online application

Section Council is composed of the officers of the section and an at-large member, which make up the Executive Committee, three Board of Governors, representatives from each Circuit, and chairs of all the standing committees. The committee chairs are appointed annually by the Executive Committee and the circuit representatives are nominated by their local bar. The Officers are elected at the Annual meeting in June.

Each Circuit has representation on the Section Council. Circuit Representatives report on the young lawyer activities in their Circuit and notify the Section Council of issues of concern for young lawyers in those Circuits.

A brief site map is provided here: