YLD Council of Affiliates charts ambitious agenda with new partners, events, and outreach
'The friendships, the mentorships, and the energy that come out in this Zoom room really do transition into real life'
Arti Hirani
The Young Lawyers Division’s Council of Affiliates is living up to its reputation for energy and outreach, announcing new partnerships, expanding its statewide network, and launching initiatives during its September 26 meeting.
The YLD Council of Affiliates confirmed the claim, “the YLD is everywhere” is not just hype.
Opening the meeting, YLD President Arti Hirani highlighted the section’s partnership with the Bar’s Board of Governors for the upcoming Open for Opportunity Job and Resource Fair to connect law students and young lawyers with employers ready to hire.
Later in the meeting, event committee co-chair and YLD 15th Circuit board member Freddie Menard reported that the fair is set for March 6, 2026, at the Broward Convention Center with lodging at the Omni Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale. A welcome reception for attendees, employers, resource providers, and special guests is planned for March 5, 2026. Sponsorship opportunities will be announced in the next few weeks.
Taking a moment to address the Council of Affiliates before hitting the road for the Florida International University Collage of Law swearing-in ceremony, Hirani thanked the affiliates for their involvement to develop “better, healthier, more meaningful practice lives that are even more lucrative or more service oriented,” adding, “the friendships, the mentorships, and the energy that come out in this Zoom room really do transition into real life.”
Other highlights included:
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Mike Kranz
Growing Affiliates — Meeting moderator and 15th Circuit board member Michael Kranz announced the number of affiliates has grown from 67 to 75 in the past year. Five affiliates joined in September alone, including the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter National Bar Association, Black Women Lawyers Association of Central Florida, Treasure Coast Bar Association, Nicaraguan American Lawyers Association, and Third Judicial Circuit Bar Association. The Council of Affiliates, formed in 2021, helps to nurture greater collaboration between the YLD and all of Florida’s voluntary bar associations by expanding the reach of their combined community service.
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Alexis Deveaux
Pro Bono Guidebook, Popup — Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair Alexis Deveaux of the 13th Circuit reminded attendees that October is National Pro Bono Month, emphasizing that pro bono service offers young attorneys valuable opportunities to build experience. She shared that the committee is actively working to update the Pro Bono Guidebook, which will now include:
- Results from a recent survey of public interest organizations, broken down by circuit
- Practical event ideas that can be replicated across circuits
- A comprehensive list of pro bono contacts throughout Florida
She said the updated guidebook aims to support grant planning and strengthen pro bono engagement statewide. Deveaux invites affiliates to reach out to her ([email protected]) and Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair Valeen Hyde ([email protected]) to share ideas for the guidebook. She also noted that the committee is seeking assistance with sharing the guidebook when it is released.
The YLD Board of Governors’ November meeting in Orlando will feature the first-ever “Pro Bono Popup” CLE event. In developing the pop-up, the committee collaborated with experts and judicial advisors to produce guidelines based on Florida Bar rules to allow government attorneys to engage in pro bono service.
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Tiffany Pereira Russell
Affiliate Outreach Conference (AOC) — Event Co-Chair Tiffany Pereira Russell announced the Lawyers in Paradise-themed conference is scheduled for February 5 at Margaritaville in Orlando and will feature opportunities to take professional headshots and review resumes in addition to sessions on career changes, legal etiquette, and personal branding. Russell recommends that AOC grant applicants get their requests to the committee chairs in advance.
- YLD Winter Awards — Nominations open October 20 and close November 21 for the YLD Winter Awards. Visit https://flayld.org/awards/ for more information or contact YLD Awards Co-Chairs Jessica Kramer ([email protected]) or Reggie Pen ([email protected]) or YLD Program Administrator Tom Miller ([email protected]) for questions regarding nominations.
- Virtual Law School Symposium October 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Law School Affiliates Committee Co-Chair Tiffany-Ashley Disney said the upcoming event will emphasize career readiness. The symposium is in response to feedback from law students requesting more opportunities to engage with attorneys. Also of note, moderator Kranz shared that 82.8% of accredited Florida law schools’ first-time test takers passed the bar exam in the recently released July 2025 bar exam results.
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Veronique Malebranche
Zoom CLE opportunities — Transition to Practice Committee Co-Chair Veronique Malebranche shared that the committee has monthly Zoom webinars to help new lawyers transition to practicing professionals more smoothly.
- Labor and Employment Zoom CLE webinar — November 4 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. was announced by Malebranche.
- Tips and Tricks for Growing your Organization Zoom webinar — November 5 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. was announced by Sponsorship Committee Co-Chair Beau Blumberg.
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Selina Patel
Practicing with Professionalism Virtual Training –– PWP Committee Co-Chair Selina Patel announced the next live, virtual training is scheduled for December 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The interactive training will feature sessions on professionalism, ethics, practicing in a virtual world, tools for lawyering, communicating with clients, lawyer wellness, and unconscious bias, as well as a Q&A with Florida Supreme Court justices and virtual networking with YLD members. Kranz urges affiliate leaders to remind first-year lawyers that this is a required course and failure to complete it risks suspension of their Bar license. The PWP virtual training is currently scheduled for May 26, 2026.
“The YLD is everywhere,” Kranz said.
