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CBA YOUNG
LAWYERS SECTION
Chair
Kathryn Carso Liss
The Law Offices of Jean Conde PC
First Vice-Chair
Jonathan B. Amarilio
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Second Vice-Chair
Brandon E. Peck
Peck Ritchey LLC
Member Service Manager
Shawna S. Boothe McCann
Schiff Hardin LLP
Public Service Manager
Alexander M. Memmen
The Memmen Law Firm, LLC
Project Officer
Octavio Duran
Hart & David, LLP
Project Officer
Paraisia Winston Gray
Secretary/Treasurer
Carl M. Newman
City of Chicago
Department of Law
YLS Journal
Co-Editors in Chief
Oliver A. Khan
American Association of
Insurance Services
Nicholas D. Standiford
Schain, Banks, Kenny &
Schwartz, Ltd.
Assistant Editor
Elizabeth Babbitt
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
YLS Director
Jennifer Byrne
Dear YLS: Thank You
By Kathryn Carso Liss
YLS Chair
I
t is with both joy and sadness that I write
my final column in the
CBA Record.
Joy as you have shown me just how
wonderful a group we are. You are filled
with committed and caring lawyers and
leaders in the Chicago community. So far
this bar year, you raised awareness about
the issues of child abuse, trafficking, and
educational equality, helped children in
local schools, worked with women and
children in domestic violence shelters,
served as mentors to high school students,
and raised funds for multiple Chicago
organizations, including, but not limited
to, the Chicago Bar Foundation, Chicago
Children’s Advocacy Center, and Anne’s
House. Your 28 committees held regular
meetings, events, and more than 25 semi-
nars in all areas of law thus far.
Sadness as this entry marks the final
months in my role as your Chair and as
a young attorney. You introduced me to
numerous friends and colleagues along
my journey, some of whom I imagine will
remain in my life forever. Also, you helped
create several unforgettable memories. For
that, I am deeply thankful. I will continue to
cherish my friendships and memories made
along the way during my tenure as Chair.
I would like to take this opportunity
to recognize some of your fellow leaders
this bar year. The following YLS Officers
did an exceptional job ensuring that
the YLS remains active and important
by making vital decisions on program-
ming and committees: Jonathan Ama-
rillio (First Vice-Chair), Brandon Peck
(Second Vice-Chair), Shawna Boothe
McCann (Member Service Manager),
Alex Memmen (Public Service Manager),
Octavio Duran and ParaisiaWinston Gray
(Project Officers), Carl Newman (Sec-
retary/Treasurer), and Oliver Khan and
Nick Standiford (Co-Editors). The YLS’
Directors, Special Project Coordinators,
and Committee Chairs have all helped
make the YLS one of the best and relevant
young lawyers sections in any bar associa-
tion. Additionally, the voice and partici-
pation of the YLS’ 9,000+ members have
increased the CBA’s strong, connected
presence within the legal community and
beyond.
You implemented a number of prior
year projects, including, but not limited to,
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, End Distracted
Driving, Dear Santa Letters, Lawyers in the
Classroom, and Law Student Speed Inter-
viewing.
You also created several new projects
such as Human Trafficking Awareness
Week, Miami Nights, Paths to Teaching
Law, Pie Competition, Planning Your
Financial Future, Preparing for the Bar
Exam, and Legal Workshops with Legal
Prep Charter School.
You helped raise more than $2,000
for Anne’s House to help young women
survivors of human trafficking and more
than $500 for Chicago Children’s Advo-
cacy Center to help abused children.
You also helped Santa (get and) deliver
500 presents to Chicago Public School
students via Direct Effect Charities.
Recently, you also raised over $10,000 for
the Chicago Bar Foundation through our
Miami Nights event.
You worked with other organizations
such as Center for Disability and Elder Law
(Serving Our Seniors), Exelon (Wills for
continued on page 49
Y O U N G L A W Y E R S J O U R N A L
38
APRIL/MAY 2017