President’s Message
Dear HCBA YLD members, HCBA members and members of the general public:
Thank you for visiting the YLD (Young Lawyers Division) section of the Hillsborough County Bar Association website. We are proud to have one of the largest and strongest young lawyers divisions in the state. Our success is rooted in our membership and the support each of our dedicated young lawyers provide in all facets of the HCBA YLD. The mission of the HCBA YLD is to provide guidance and support to new lawyers, advocate professional and ethical conduct within the membership, and endorse community involvement. Through the hard work and dedication of the over 1,000 lawyers under the age of 36, or with less than five years of experience who comprise our constituency, we sponsor a multitude of service projects, a sampling of which includes:
1. “Holiday’s in January” - an event whereby Bay area foster children are provided a day of fun and holiday presents at a local children’s activity center.
2. Partnership with Big Brothers/Big Sisters – through our partnership with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Rampello Downtown School, we provide mentors to at-risk children and otherwise support various activities beneficial to BB/BS.
3. “Law Week” – an annual, week-long event that provides tours of the courthouse, mock trials and school house speaking engagements for the children of Hillsborough county.
4. Hon. Robert J. Simms Hillsborough County High School Mock Trial Competition – an annual event run by young lawyers and presided over by volunteer members of the local judiciary.
5. “Steak and Sports Day” – a day of grilling and outdoor fun with local at-need children.
6. Various pro bono services, including Guardian and Attorney Ad Litem programs to ensure people without a legal voice are provided one.
To provide guidance and support to new lawyers, as well as, advocate professional and ethical conduct within the membership, we conduct the following events:
1. “Coffee at the Courthouse” – an annual event that allows young lawyers an opportunity to interact and be mentored by the Judges of the 13th Judicial Circuit.
2. YLD Quarterly Luncheons – including the annual Judicial Appreciation Luncheon that allows young lawyers to again have close interaction with the local judiciary.
3. Various other social and marketing events that provide young lawyers the experience and resources they need to develop into future community leaders.
If you are a member of the Hillsborough County Bar Association, or simply thinking about membership, please consider joining the YLD team. I look forward to seeing you at YLD events!
Sincerely,
Jaime R. Girgenti, Esq.