Who Are We?

The Young Lawyers Division of The Washington Bar Association was established in 1997 as a division of the Washington Bar Association. WBA members qualify for YLD status if they are 36 years of age or younger, or have been licensed to practice for five years or less, regardless of age. This group of approximately 200 young attorneys practicing in the Washington metropolitan area provides networking and professional development opportunities for its members and encourages community awareness and a commitment to service and civil rights. Read more…

Our Leadership

Meet our honored leadership team here.

News

Click here to find out the latest from our division.

Events

Click here to see our upcoming events.

The Washington Bar Association, one of the first African American Bar associations in the country, was formed in 1925 by such legal luminaries as Charles Hamilton Houston, George E.C. Hayes, Ulysses Simpson Garnes, Isaiah Lisemby, Louis Rothchild Mehlinger, Charles E. Robinson, and J. Franklin Wilson. The WBA was created simultaneously with the National Bar Association and is an affiliate chapter of that organization. Like the NBA, the WBA is concerned with the advancement of jurisprudence, self benefit, group enhancement in a racially exclusive society and judicial system, and group protection.

The Young Lawyers Division was established in 1997 as a division of the Washington Bar Association.  WBA members qualify for YLD status if they are 36 years of age or younger, or have been licensed to practice for five years or less, regardless of age.  This group of approximately 200 young attorneys practicing in the Washington metropolitan area provides networking and professional development opportunities for its members and encourages community awareness and a commitment to service and civil rights.

YLD Traditions. In addition to its professional and community endeavors, YLD provides many opportunities to its members for developing a social network through hosting happy hours, retreats and professional events with law firms and other bar associations.  YLD is also committed to mentoring law students through our bar mentorship program for 3Ls and our annual career fair for law students.

Objective One

To improve, benefit and protect the well-being of the legal profession and its members

Objective Two

To enhance the professional skills of its members

Objective Three

To encourage professional and citizenship responsibilities among the Membership

Objective Four

To encourage spiritual and moral values

Objective Five

To advance the science of jurisprudence and the administration of justice

Objective Six

To improve the standards of legal education

Objective Seven

To encourage legal research and excellence consistent with the philosophy of Houstonian Jurisprudence