The Bench & Bar magazine is published to provide members of the KBA with information that will increase their knowledge of the law, improve the practice of law, and assist in improving the quality of legal services for the citizenry.
Issue link: https://kentuckybenchandbar.epubxp.com/i/245872
YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION U@18 Program Aims to Educate Young Kentuckians Concerning the Rights and Responsibilities of Adulthood Do you remember your 18th birthday? tant life skills in Kentucky's newest adults. Turning 18 is an exhilarating, frenetic, and somewhat daunting time in the life of a young adult. Most 18-year-olds are graduating from high school and experiencing newfound freedom. This time also corresponds with the acquisition of new rights and the imposition of additional responsibilities. Adults have privileges and obligations as citizens, consumers, spouses, employees, voters, property owners, and contracting parties. If you are aware of a high school classroom that could benefit from the U@18 program, or if you wish to volunteer to make a presentation, please contact U@18 Chair Eric Weihe at Eric.Weihe@SKOfirm.com or (502) 568-5704. By assisting with the U@18 program, you can help the Young Lawyers Division in its quest to better equip a gen- Statistics from countless metrics tell the tale: we do not do enough to teach youngsters about the legal ramifications of adulthood.1 In a recent study, less than half of high school graduates reported that their high school did a good to excellent job of teaching them basic life skills.2 As leaders in the law and community, lawyers are uniquely equipped to help teach young adults about the legal ramifications of turning 18. 34 Enter U@18. U@18 is a public service project of the Kentucky Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. The project pairs lawyers with classrooms of high school seniors across the state. The lawyer makes a onehour presentation that focuses on acquainting young adults with their legal rights and obligations. Thanks to the generosity of the Kentucky Bar Foundation, the U@18 program utilizes a professionally designed and produced video. The video contains a series of vignettes, each depicting a young adult encountering an everyday problem that implicates the law. After each vignette, the attorney-presenter leads the students in a discussion of the issues presented. Through the U@18 program, the Young Lawyers Division hopes to help engage Kentucky's adults in a thoughtful dialogue concerning law and society. The program provides positive interaction between the public and attorneys, thereby helping to improve public perception of our profession. Most importantly, U@18 instills imporB&B; • 1.14 By: Carl N. Frazier, YLD Chair eration of Kentuckians with crucial life skills. 1 2 Jump$tart Coalition, Making the Case for Financial Literacy 2012, available at http://www.econ.org/aboutus/Making_the_Case_ 2012.pdf. The College Board, One Year Out: Findings from a National Survey Among Members of the High School Graduating Class of 2010. YOUNG LAWYERS DIVISION SEEKS NOMINEES FOR ANNUAL AWARDS The Young Lawyers Division seeks nominees for four awards given annually for exceptional contributions to the legal profession and the public. Nominations are due Friday, April 4, 2014. For more information on submitting a nomination, please visit www.kbayld.org/home or contact Young Lawyers Division Vice Chair Tanner Watkins at Tanner.Watkins@dinsmore.com. The Outstanding Young Lawyer Award honors a Kentucky attorney who has excelled in the practice of law, civic engagement/bar service, and community service. Any Kentucky young lawyer is eligible for nomination. "Young lawyer" is defined as one who, as of July 1, 2013, has been engaged in the practice of law for 10 or fewer years or who is 40 years old or younger. The Nathaniel R. Harper Award honors a person or organization that has demonstrated a commitment to changing the face of the Bar by encouraging the inclusion of women, minorities, persons with disabilities, LGBT individuals, as well as promoting full and equal participation in the legal profession by all unrepresented or underrepresented groups. The Young Lawyer Service to Community Award honors a member of the Young Lawyers Division for exemplary service to his or her community through volunteerism, service to non-profit organizations, and/or pro bono legal representation. The Service to Young Lawyers Award honors a lawyer, non-lawyer, or organization for exceptional contributions to the professional and personal advancement and mentorship of young lawyers.