About LAKC-YLS
LAKC-YLS prides itself on its commitment to its members and the community. This commitment is crystallized in the four cornerstones of the young lawyers section:
Service of the Public Interest -- by facilitating the administration of justice, promoting reform in the law, fostering respect for the law and advancing the role of the legal profession in serving the public;
Service of Young Lawyers -- by sponsoring and promoting activities which will be of assistance to their practice of law, undertaking projects and programs which will be of benefit to young lawyers, stimulating the interest of young lawyers in the Young Lawyers Section and establishing a close relationship among young lawyers;
Education of the Public -- with respect to legal matters, the legal profession and legal services; and
Cooperation -- with The Missouri Bar, American Bar Association and other legal and civic organizations in furtherance of the aforementioned purposes.
Practical application of these ideals results in several social events for area lawyers each year as well as numerous ongoing and one-time public service projects.
2008-09YLS Board of Directors
Mara Cohara, President
Erin Schilling, President-Elect
S. Jane Bruer, Secretary
Robert A. Hammeke, Treasurer
Lara Owens, Public Service Chair
Directors
Carlton Callenbach
Jennie Carter
Matthew L. Dameron
Justin M. Dean
Jane A. Dickinson Kress
R. Cameron Garrison
Matthew W. Geary
Elizabeth (Liz) E. Orr
Lara M. Owens
Anne Linton Pond
Katie Zogleman
Events
Annual Luncheon:
Designed to introduce summer associates to LAKC-YLS, and to provide current members with the opportunity to visit with new members.
Court Crawl:
Provides a behind-the scenes tour of the US District Court for the Western District of Missouri, the Missouri Court of Appeals and the Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Missouri. The tour concludes with a Judicial Reception, providing an opportunity for the attendees to get to know each other and discuss what they learned during the Court Crawl.
Happy Hours:
LAKC-YLS hosts a variety of happy hours to encourage networking and welcome new attorneys to the practice of law.
Public Service
Mock Trial:
The Missouri State High School Mock Trial Competition is designed to educate high school students about the legal system, justice and democracy. Teams are given a mock problem in late fall and compete by conducting a mock trial at local and regional levels in January and February, with the top teams advancing to the State competition in March. Students from a diverse group of Kansas City area high schools participate in the local and regional rounds sponsored by LAKC-YLS.
Service Projects:
Each spring and fall, the LAKC-YLS sponsors a different service project designed to benefit and give back to the community.
Scholarship:
The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial assistance to an outstanding graduating high school senior who has demonstrated a sincere desire to pursue a law-related career. Questions regarding the scholarship should be directed to the LAKC-YLS Scholarship Committee.
Skippy & Skivvies Drive:
Each year, the LAKC-YLS coordinates the Skippy & Skivvies Drive among the metro's law firms and courts. Peanut butter and children's undergarments are the focus of the collection and proceeds benefit Operation Breakthrough, a child care center for low-income families.
Youth Empowerment Summit (YES):
The YES program is a unique program that brings students together from different backgrounds, and encourages them to interact and work together. The program goes beyond just talking about the issues and gives students actual experiences to help drive the points home. This approach results in students who have a better understanding of the issues and more skill in addressing the issues with a greater understanding of others who may be different from them.