News Post

State Bar Young Lawyers’ Section Elects Officers And Executive Committee; Montgomery Lawyer Heads Group

Montgomery, Ala., September 4, 2013 – The Alabama State Bar Young Lawyers’ Section (YLS) elected new leadership for the 2013-14 year.

Montgomery lawyer W. Christopher (Chris) Waller, Jr. was installed as president. He is a partner with the firm of Ball Ball Matthews & Novak PA where his practice emphasizes defending claims of professional and medical negligence, pharmaceutical and device litigation, and complex product liability. He earned his degree from the Cumberland School of Law.

Other officers include:
Vice President – Brandon D. Hughey, Ambrecht Jackson LLP, Mobile;
Secretary – S. Hughston Nichols, Hare Wynn Newell & Newton LLP, Birmingham;
Treasurer – Charles E. (Chip) Tait, Vickers Riis Murray & Curran LLC, Mobile; and
Immediate Past President – Kitty Rogers Brown, White Arnold & Dowd PC, Birmingham

The section is governed by a 28-person executive committee. The newly-elected members are:
Evan G. Allen, Beasley Allen Crow Methvin Portis & Miles PC, Montgomery;
Jesse K. Anderson, Jackson Anderson & Patty PC, Montgomery;
Ashley W. Davis, LogiCore, Huntsville;
Lisha Li Graham, White Arnold & Dowd PC, Birmingham;
Alysia J. Harris, Lightfoot Franklin & White LLC, Birmingham;
Vanesa Hernandez, Maynard Cooper & Gale PC, Birmingham;
M. Lee Johnsey, Jr., Balch & Bingham LLP, Birmingham;
Neah L. Mitchell, Balch & Bingham LLP, Birmingham;
Dorothy (Dottie) Barker Perry, Burns Cunningham & Mackey PC, Mobile;
L. Robert Shreve, Luther Collier Hodges & Cash LLP, Mobile; and
Amy Hill Nation, Wilmer & Lee PA, Huntsville

The YLS is actively engaged in community service and outreach projects that give members the opportunity to render service. As an example, YLS members provide disaster relief assistance in concert with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

This requires the YLS to provide pro bono disaster related legal services to low-income victims of a federally-declared disaster when asked to do so by FEMA. One means of delivering legal services is through a disaster hotline, but the YLS also staffs clinics and disaster resource centers as well.

Section members also conduct an annual Minority Pre-Law Conference designed to introduce 11th- and 12th-grade students to the American civil and criminal justice system. The program provides students a unique opportunity to talk one-on-one with practicing minority lawyers. Teenagers from schools around central Alabama are invited to participate in a real case study, given actual fact scenarios and paticipate as jurors in a trial. The state bar YLS gained national recognition by winning an award for this project from the American Bar Association.

The 3,500-member YLS is composed of lawyers who are 36 years of age and under or who have been admitted to the bar for three years or less. The section conducts a continuing legal education seminar and sponsors service projects designed to aid the public in their understanding of the law and assist in solving legal problems. There are no dues since persons who are members of the Alabama State Bar and fulfill the age or admission requirements automatically are members.