July 29, 2019

Young Lawyers Conference Wins Prestigious National Award for the Second Year in a Row

The Virginia State Bar Young Lawyers Conference (YLC) has won the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s prestigious 2019 Award of Achievement for the best comprehensive programs. This is the second, consecutive year the YLC received this honor, competing against the young lawyer groups of large state bars like Texas, Florida, California, and New York. The comprehensive award honors the collective impact of programs sponsored by the VSB Young Lawyers Conference.

Additionally, the YLC won the 2019 Award of Achievement for its online newsletter, Docket Call, and the 2019 Award of Achievement for diversity for the Oliver Hill/Samuel Tucker Pre-Law Institute, a joint initiative with the Virginia State Bar's Diversity Conference and funded with the generous help of the Virginia Law Foundation.

“Winning three of six possible ABA Awards of Achievement, including the Comprehensive Award, is a tremendous honor,” said YLC President Farnaz Thompson. “These awards are a result of the hard work and commitment of our volunteers, program chairs, district representatives, and the YLC Board. The award for diversity is a result of the strong partnership between the YLC and the Diversity Conference.This year we will continue our award-winning programs and focus on strengthening bench-bar relations, instilling respect for the rule of law among aspiring attorneys, improving access to legal services, and providing mentorship opportunities."

Diversity Conference Chair Chidi James notes that “the Virginia State Bar Diversity Conference is extremely proud of our partnership with the Young Lawyers Conference. Our partnership with the YLC for the Oliver Hill/Samuel Tucker Pre-Law Institute has a greater impact on Virginia’s legal community and the future of the legal community than any other VSB program. We are changing lives, broadening horizons, and making our profession more accessible to the communities we serve.”

The Young Lawyers Conference's 10,000+ members include all Virginia attorneys who are under 36 years of age or who have been admitted as active, practicing members of their first bar for fewer than three years.

The awards come on the heels of a 2019 Embracing Diversity Challenge award for the Hill/Tucker Institute.