On June 18, the Massachusetts Bar Association's Young Lawyer
Division hosted an American Bar Association New England Regional
Summit at the Marriot Courtyard, Back Bay. The event was attended
by leaders from the MBA's YLD, as well as leaders from the New
Hampshire, Maine, Hampden County and Vermont bar associations'
young lawyer divisions, and representatives from the ABA's Law
Student Division.
The regional leadership summit was organized by Samuel Segal,
the MBA YLD treasurer and upcoming chair-elect; Courtney Shea, the
ABA YLD district representative for Massachusetts and New
Hampshire; and Tara Rich, the ABA YLD district representative for
Vermont and Maine.
The ABA YLD is comprised of affiliate members from various state
and local bar associations, such as the MBA. The Regional Summit
provided MBA YLD members with an opportunity to learn from other
young lawyers in New England about issues they face as young
leaders. There was also an exchange of ideas on programming,
mentoring, leadership training and networking. The summit also
allowed the different associations to foster a cooperative spirit
and work on the collaboration of information and programming among
the various young lawyer groups.
In addition to Segal and Shea, the MBA was represented at the
summit by Victoria Santoro, Michael Maloney, Meghan Thrash and
Elizabeth Dillon.
The program included presentations from each group on their past
year's education, community service and social/networking
programming. There was a presentation by MBA President Robert W.
Harnais, who provided insight on what it means to be leader and how
to still be a professional in an industry that has transformed into
a business. The attendees also broke up into small groups to
brainstorm new outreach and effective programming ideas. After the
summit concluded, the attendees continued networking that evening
at the Red Sox game against the Seattle Mariners.
The leadership summit was a tremendous success. Connections were
made between regional young lawyers' organizations where none had
previously existed. All parties are also excited for the third
annual leadership conference next year to be hosted by the Vermont
Bar Association Young Lawyers Section.
Courtney Shea and Samuel Segal are members of the
MBA's Young Lawyers Division