Home ->Seminars, books & products->Seminars ->View calendar

Young Lawyers Division Bylaws

Article I
Name and Purpose

1.1 Name of Division: This division shall be known as the Young Lawyers Division.

1.2 Purpose: The purpose of the division shall be to stimulate the interest of the young lawyers in the objectives and programs of the State Bar of Wisconsin as set forth in the Rules thereof, to carry on activities which will be of assistance to young lawyers in the practice of law, to involve young lawyers in educating the public in various aspects of the law, and to make reports and recommendations to the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

Article II
Membership

2.1 Eligibility: The following members of the State Bar of Wisconsin shall be eligible for membership in the Division:

(a) All persons under the age of 36 years.

(b) All persons, irrespective of age, during the first five years following admission to the State Bar of Wisconsin.

2.2 Initiation of Membership:

All persons eligible under section 2.1 of these bylaws shall be accorded automatic membership in the Division, commencing upon admission to the State Bar of Wisconsin. Membership accorded under this subsection may be refused or resigned in accordance with section 2.5(b) of these bylaws. Membership shall continue until terminated in accordance with these bylaws.

2.3 Membership Dues:

(a) Subject to subsection 2.3(b) of these bylaws, the Board of Directors is empowered to establish membership dues by resolution, with the approval of the Board of Governors.

(b) No membership dues shall be assessed to members during the first year following the member's admission to the State Bar of Wisconsin.

2.4 Membership Rolls: Voting and privileges of the floor at any meeting of the Division shall be limited to members in good standing as determined by the most recent membership list certified to the Division Secretary by the State Bar of Wisconsin.

2.5 Termination of Membership:

(a) Membership in the division shall terminate automatically when a member's eligibility in accordance with section 2.1 expires, except that officers and directors shall continue as members until their terms of office expire.

(b) Membership in the Division shall terminate voluntarily upon the Secretary's receipt of a member's written resignation of membership. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, provide for termination of membership for nonpayment of either State Bar or Division dues.

2.6 Reinstatement: Any person eligible under section 2.1 of these bylaws, whose membership has lapsed or has been terminated, may be reinstated to membership by submission to the Secretary of a written request for membership, together with any unpaid dues accrued prior to termination of membership.

Article III
Nominating Committee

3.1 Composition and Purpose: A committee of five (5) members to nominate candidates for board directors and officers to be voted on at the next annual election shall be appointed by the President of the Division, with the approval of the Board of Directors, on or before the last day of August of each year. The President shall designate one member of the committee as chairperson. Said nominating committee shall be composed as follows:

(1) At least one person who has previously been president of the division.

(2) At least one person who is a member of the board of directors.

(3) At least two persons who do not reside or have principal offices in the counties of Dane, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Rock, Walworth, Washington or Waukesha.

Article IV
Board of Directors

4.1 Composition: The Board of Directors shall be composed of ten members of the Division to be elected by the Division membership; the officers of the Division shall automatically be members of the Board during their terms as officers.

4.2 Duties: The Board of Directors shall have general supervision and control of the affairs of the Division.

4.3 Election and Terms of Directors: Five members shall be elected for two-year terms by the membership of the Division at the annual meeting of the Division in odd numbered years. Five Board members shall be elected for two-year terms by the membership of the Division at the annual meeting of the Division in even numbered years. The two-year terms shall commence July 1 following their election.

4.4 Meetings: Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President and shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of any five members of the Board. The Board, at any duly held meeting, may itself schedule future meetings. At least two weeks notice of meetings shall be given all members of the Board. The presence of any five members of the Board at any duly called meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Emergency meetings may be called by the President or shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request of any five members of the Board so long as at least forty-eight (48) hours notice is given to all members of the Board.

4.5 Failure to Attend: If any member of the Board of Directors shall fail to attend three meetings of the Board in any consecutive 12-month period, the office held by such member shall be vacated at the next Board meeting following the third absence, unless a majority of the Board members present and voting at said meeting shall vote otherwise.

4.6 Vacancies: Any vacancies on the Board of Directors may be filled by interim appointment by the President. This appointment shall be effective until the next annual meeting at which time this position shall be filled by election. In the event the President does not make such appointment, the vacancy may be filled by interim appointment by majority vote of Board members present and voting.

Article V
Officers

5.1 Eligibility and Composition: The officers of the Division shall be chosen from the general Division membership. The officers of the Division shall be: President, President-Elect, Board of Governors Representative, Secretary and Treasurer.

5.2 Duties of Officers:

(a) President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership of the Division and shall prepare a report of the activities of the Division for the past year for presentation at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors and for submission to the Board of Governors. The President shall certify vouchers for payment and shall perform such other duties and acts usually pertaining to this office.

(b) President-Elect: The President-elect shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and give notice thereof, shall succeed the President upon expiration of the President's term of office by lapse of time or otherwise, and shall perform such other duties as the President or Board of Directors may from time to time direct.

(c) Board of Governors Representative: The immediate past President shall serve as the Division's voting representative on the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Wisconsin. In the event the Past President is unable to fulfill this duty for any single meeting the President may, in his or her discretion, designate a voting representative for that meeting.

(d) Secretary: The Secretary shall keep a true record of the proceedings of all meetings, shall be the custodian of all books, papers, documents and other property of the Division and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.

(e) Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be responsible for preparation of an annual budget, shall keep a true record of all receipts and disbursements of the Division and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.

5.3 Eligibility, Election and Terms of Office for Secretary and Treasurer: The Secretary and Treasurer of the Division shall be elected for one-year terms of office from a list of candidates proposed by the Nominating Committee or from the general membership, by the membership of the Division at the annual meeting.

5.4 Election of a President-Elect:

(a) Nominating Procedure: The President-elect shall be elected from a list of candidates nominated in the manner herein prescribed.

(1) The chairperson of the nominating committee shall cause a notice to be published in the December and January issues of a State Bar publication received by all State Bar and Division members informing the members of the Division that any person interested in holding the office of President-elect should indicate that interest to the nominating committee prior to February 1 of that year. The committee shall consider the applications of all persons expressing an interest, but may nominate any qualified Division members regardless of application.

(2) The nominating committee shall make reasonable efforts toselect a minimum of two (2) candidates and shall inform said candidates and secretary of the division of the names of said candidates on or before February 15 for communication to the Board of Directors.

(3) A nomination may be made by petition of not less than twenty-five (25) members who must file their petitions of support with the secretary of the division before March 1 in the year of the election.

(4) The names of all members nominated, who have filed a Declaration of Acceptance of Candidacy with the secretary of the division before March 1 in the year of the election shall be placed on the ballot.

(b) The Young Lawyers Division shall provide an opportunity, under rules established by the nominating committee, for all candidates for the office of president-elect, to communicate, at YLD expense, a written statement to the division members.

(c) Voting List. On the last Friday in the month preceding the election in each year, the voting list shall close for the election in that year. Every member of the division on that date shall be entitled to vote.

(d) Mailing of ballots. On or before the second Friday of April in each year the Secretary shall prepare and mail a ballot to each member of the Division entitled to vote at the annual election. Said ballots may be sent with the ballots mailed by the Secretary of the State Bar of Wisconsin for the general election of the State Bar. The ballot sent to persons entitled to vote shall contain the names of the nominees for the office of President-elect of the Division. If any person entitled to vote in such election fails to receive a ballot, or if it appears that any ballot has been lost or destroyed, a new ballot shall be furnished by the Secretary. The voting period shall end fourteen days after the ballots have been mailed. No ballots received after that date shall be counted.

(e) Voting of ballots. No ballot shall be counted unless returned to the office of the Secretary of the State Bar of Wisconsin on or before the last day for voting, in an envelope furnished by the Secretary marked "Ballot."

(f) Checking and custody of ballots. The Executive Director of the State Bar of Wisconsin shall receive and have custody of the ballots after they are voted until they are canvassed. The envelopes containing the ballots shall be retained until turned over to the certified public accountant for canvass.

(g) Canvass of ballots. The ballots shall be canvassed in the same manner as ballots cast for officers of the State Bar of Wisconsin. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. In case of a tie vote, the Board of Directors shall determine the successful candidate by lot drawn by the Board. The certified public accountant shall certify the results to the Executive Director, who shall forthwith notify the candidates and announce the results. Upon completion of the canvass, the certified public accountant shall retain the ballots subject to the further order of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

5.5 Term of Office for Officers: The officers of the Division shall serve as such for a period of one year, commencing July 1 following their election. After said one-year term, the President-elect shall serve a one-year term as President of the Division, and shall thereafter serve a one-year term as Board of Governors Representative. Accordingly, this individual serves a three-year term as an officer, unless he or she vacates the position.

5.6 Vacancies in office of Officers:

(a) President Elect: Any vacancy in this office shall be filled by interim appointment by the majority vote of the Board members present and voting, at any duly called meeting of the Board of Directors. The appointed officer shall serve for the unexpired term, and shall succeed to the offices of President and Board of Governors Representative.

(b) Board of Governors Representative, Secretary, Treasurer: Any vacancy in the office of Board of Governors Representative, Secretary or Treasurer shall be filled by interim appointment by the majority vote of the Board members, present and voting, at any duly called meeting of the Board of Directors. The appointed officer shall serve for the unexpired term.

Article VI
Meetings of Division

6.1 Annual Meeting: The annual meeting of the division shall be held at the annual meeting of the State Bar of Wisconsin. The time and place of the meeting shall be determined and be announced at least two weeks in advance. At the meeting, reports of officers and committees shall be delivered. The Secretary, Treasurer and directors of the Division shall be nominated and elected at the meeting.

6.2 Special Meetings: Special meetings may be called by the president or by a majority of the board and shall be called by the secretary on request of seven (7) members in writing. The time and place of special meetings shall be announced at least two weeks in advance.

6.3 Quorum: At all meetings the members of the division present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings.

Article VII
Committees

7.1 Committee Designation, Duties, and Membership: The President, with the approval of the Board, shall designate the committees, define their duties and shall appoint the committee chairperson and members.

Article VIII
Amendments

8.1 Amendment Process: These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the division by a two-thirds vote of the members of the division present and voting, provided that notice of the substance of the proposed amendments shall have been provided via U.S. mail, e-mail, or other means determined appropriate in the sole discretion of the Board of Directors to all members of the division at least two weeks before the meeting. Any change in these by-laws shall be effective upon approval by the Board of Governors of the State Bar, provided, however, that any changes in the numbers or duties of officers and directors prescribed herein shall take effect on the July 1 following such approval.

Amended - 12/04

Young Lawyers Division