One of the things that became clear during the CBA ReThink exercise is that if the association wants to remain relevant it must be more responsive to the needs of members. And if it wants to grow and thrive it must make a strategic effort to recruit and engage young lawyers and law students.
That’s the impetus behind CBA Connect, a key part of the young lawyers engagement strategy which was announced in August at the CBA Legal Conference in Ottawa.
CBA Connect is a program aimed at making the CBA more accessible to law students and those who have just left law school.
The three facets of the program are:
- Connexions – New young members (less than five years since call) will be matched with existing young lawyers who won’t be mentors so much as tour guides – to show them around the CBA and identify ways for them to become involved and make the most of their membership. A pilot program is launching today (Sept. 15) in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and P.E.I.
- Connect-Net – Essentially, everything the CBA.org has to offer online specifically to young lawyers and law students will be found in one place on the website. Phase 1 of the website population process should already be running, with more to be added soon.
- Connect-U – CBA will be boosting both its virtual and its physical presence on campus at orientation and at other times during the year in an effort to establish a sustained relationship with students.
The CBA is committed to making itself responsive and relevant to members at all stages of their career, starting with those at the very beginning. Stay tuned to CBA.org for updates and details of what we can offer.
CBA Connect