For the second year in a row, the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of the State Bar of Michigan has been recognized with five national awards of achievement from the American Bar Association (ABA). The awards were presented in Honolulu at the Annual Meeting of the ABA's Young Lawyers Division August 3-6, 2006.

The YLS won first place nationally for the comprehensiveness of its programs over the past year. The group also received first place honors in the Service to the Bar category for its "Practice Management Telephone Seminar Series" organized by then YLS chairperson Jeff Kirkey.

Recognition was also received in the Minority Service category for “Women in Practice: Problems and Solutions” organized by YLS council member Veronica McNally. In the Service to the Public category, the YLS received recognition for “S.K.I.P. to Make a Difference I & II” organized by council members Brandy Robinson, Solon Phillips, and past chairperson Angelique Strong Marks. In the Newsletter category, Inter Alia was recognized. The newsletters were edited by YLS vice-chairperson Bob Fergan during the 2005-06 Bar year and by J.J. Conway during 2004-05.

"These have been two terrific years for the Young Lawyers Section. The YLS Council is dedicated and hardworking and the ABA awards are national recognition for its efforts," said immediate past chair Jeff Kirkey.