Young Lawyers Division, 1021 UTBJ, Vol. 34, No. 5. 67
| Author | by Grant Miller |
| Position | Vol. 34 5 Pg. 67 |
September, 2021
President's Message: Hindsight is 2020
by Grant Miller
Last year presented extraordinary circumstances for everyone. In many ways, we are still reeling from the impacts of the pandemic. While navigating the waters of 2020 was a special kind of difficult, I could not be any prouder of Utah's young lawyers. Despite an environment that prohibited the efforts of just about anyone to accomplish anything, the leadership and resolve of our young lawyers allowed for YLD's signature programs not only to endure, but to evolve to meet modern technological demands.
I wish I could outline all the accomplishments we made last year, but I am hoping a highlight reel will suffice. For example, our High School Debate Committee sponsored a completely virtual debate tournament, which was judged by volunteer young lawyers. The tournament included numerous high schools from across the Wasatch Front. The High School Debate Committee showed enduring support for these students by awarding thirteen scholarships for summer debate camp.
The young lawyers in the public service arm of YLD found innovative ways to help the community in areas where it mattered most. The Wills For Heroes Committee adapted to the difficult environment by teaming up with Utah's law schools to provide estate plans for first responders in a virtual setting. On September 8th, during the windstorm, Wills For Heroes and the J. Reuben Clark Law School hosted a statewide event with eighty volunteer attorneys who served 111 first responders and their spouses. In early spring of this year, Wills For Heroes and the Pro Bono Initiative at the S.J. Quinney College of Law provided estate plans to first responders in Cache County and rural areas across northern Utah. The team hosted two virtual events, which were staffed by a combined total of fifteen volunteers who served approximately eighty first responders and their spouses. These extraordinary partnerships allowed Wills For Heroes to break the geographic tether to physical locations and expand our reach.
The other branches of YLD still thrived despite 2020's tribulations. Social distancing...
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