By Katerina Kalabokis
Attorney Katerina Kalabokis, NHBA Delegate to the ABA’s Young Lawyers Division
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
~The Lorax
If you’re a member of the bar, under the age of 35, or within your first 10 years of practice and looking to become part of a community of young attorneys from all around the country, you should consider joining the ABA’s Young Lawyer’s Division.
The Young Lawyer’s Division (YLD) is comprised of young attorneys representing 33 districts from all around the country who come together to discuss the legal community both on a small scale in their districts, and on a larger scale of the nation as a whole.
At the moment, the nature of the legal field is such that most change is led by and influenced by attorneys who are well seasoned and well connected. More than anything else, this is because that demographic of attorneys tend to have a larger platform to voice their opinions and more resources to influence change.
This is where the YLD can step in and help empower young lawyers by giving them the platforms and the resources necessary to implement change. How many times have you come across a problem either within your firm or within the courts, and when voicing alternate options, you’re met with a shrug and, “that’s just how it’s done.”? Or, how many times have you watched the news and wished that you could do something to help but didn’t know where to start? Well, as a member of the YLD, you’ll be given a platform to be able to voice and implement your ideas.
New Hampshire is represented in the third district alongside Massachusetts and offers a myriad of opportunities for leadership and community involvement. Some opportunities are regular social events, publishing opportunities in the quarterly ‘TYL’ magazine, and opportunities to form committees to draft resolutions relating to initiatives for change among others.
For the next two years, I have had the privilege of being your ABA YLD, District 3 Representative. If you’d like to get involved, or would simply like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Katerina Kalabokis is a solo practitioner practicing in both MA and NH. She started Kalabokis Law, PLLC in January of 2019 and is located in Chelmsford MA. Attorney Kalabokis can be reached via telephone at (603) 965-2599 and via email at KKalabokis@KalabokisLaw.com.
For information about the NHBA’s New Lawyers Committee please contact Co-Chairs Katherine Hedges at KHedges@hagehodes or Stephanie Tymula at Stephanie@ltc-matters.org. Staff liason Lisa Boisvert can be reached at lboisvert@nhbar.org