Every year the ISBA Young Lawyers Division sponsors the Lincoln Award Legal Writing Contest, which is open to all YLD members and awards $3,500 in prize money for the best article on “useful, practical…topics important to practicing lawyers,” to quote the rules. The first-place winner appears in the February Illinois Bar Journal, but many of the nonwinning articles also appear in the IBJ. It’s always a competitive field, and winning is a big deal in which the authors can take great pride. So congrats to these distinguished lawyers: first place, David C. Holland and Gilbert C. Lenz, Chicago, who wrote "Immigration Bias and Jury Selection in Illinois"; second place, Matthew S. Dionne, Mt. Vernon, who wrote "After Union Planters:  Its Implications and Avoiding Malpractice"; and third place, Sarah A. Smith, Chicago, for "Is There Anonymous Online Speech in Illinois?  Rule 224 versus the First Amendment." The first place winners will each receive a check for $1,000 (splitting the $2,000 prize), second place $1,000, and the third place $500. We want to thank our distinguished contest judges as well: Justice Susan F. Hutchinson of Woodstock and the second appellate district; Retired Judge Stephen E. Walter, Grayslake; Karen A. Enright, Chicago, an ISBA Board of Governors member; Paul A. Meints, Bloomington, a longtime and active ISBA volunteer; and frequent IBJ contributor Beth C. Boggs of St. Louis.

The Illinois State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division will be co-hosting an All Bar Social with the Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers Section on Wednesday, Nov. 10, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Rumba, 351 W. Hubbard. There will be music, complimentary salsa lessons, hors d'oeuvres and networking with Chicago's legal professionals. Co-sponsors includes Advocates Society, Association of Polish-American Attorneys, Appellate Lawyers Association, Asian American Bar Association, DuPage Association of Women Lawyers, Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter, Hellenic Bar Association, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, Illinois Judges Association, Puerto Rican Bar Association. RSVP to yls@chicagobar.org

Just the Beginning Foundation is dedicated to developing and nurturing interest in the law among young persons from various ethnic backgrounds underrepresented in the legal profession and supporting their continued advancement. Just the Beginning Foundation's long-term goal is to increase racial diversity in the legal profession. Just The Beginning Foundation is seeking volunteers for the upcoming Summer Legal Institute, Advanced Summer Legal Institute, and Middle School Law camp, hosted by the DePaul College of Law in Chicago. 2010 is the fourth year for the Summer Legal Institute programming, and it is through the participation of volunteers like you that we continue the connection with hundreds of diverse students each year. The following volunteer opportunities are available and in most need of assistance: Summer Legal Institute:

• Friday, August 6th: 9-11 a.m. (small-group Oral Argument preparation)
• Friday, August 13th: 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (act as judges for Oral Argument presentations)

Volunteers are also encouraged to join us for a celebration lunch on Friday, August 13th from noon-1:30 p.m. at Edwardo's Pizza (521 S Dearborn). Middle School Law Camp:

• Monday, August 23rd: 12:00-1:45 p.m. (Lunch Roundtable: Intro To The Legal Profession)
• Wednesday, August 25: 8:30-9:30 a.m. (Breakfast Panelist: What's it like to be a lawyer?)
• Wednesday, August 25th: noon-1:30 p.m. (Lunch Panel: "What Can You Do With a Law Degree?")
• Thursday, August 26: 12:00-1:00 p.m.

The IBF/YLD Children's Assistance Fund appoved a grant of $5,500 to sponsor an ISBA/YLD Summer Intern at Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) for the summer. YLD Chair Kelley Gandurski is pictured presenting the check to PILI Director of Programs Michael Bergmann. This grant will provide for intern Susanna Bucaro, a law student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, to work at the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation this summer.