Young Lawyers Section

About Our Section

The Young Lawyers Section (YLS) has as its primary goals the promotion of justice, the encouragement of public service, and the promotion of diversity and education of young lawyers and newly admitted practitioners. These goals are achieved through the educational, public service, and community programs produced by the section’s twenty-plus statewide committees and the nine regional young lawyer organizations in the state. The section also serves a valuable social and networking role in introducing young lawyers to each other and assisting them in their transition into the Connecticut legal practice. The section includes all members of the CBA who are 37 years old or younger or who have been admitted to the Bar for less than six full bar years.

View a complete list of past YLS Chairs

Section Executive Committee

Chair

Paige M. Vaillancourt
Rescia Vaillancourt PC
5104 A Bigelow Commons
Enfield, CT 06082
(860) 452-0052
paige@ctmalaw.com

Chair-elect

Sara Bonaiuto
Shipman & Goodwin LLP
265 Church St, Ste 1207
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 836-2803
sbonaiuto@goodwin.com

Secretary

Olivia Benson
Saxe Doernberger & Vita PC
35 Nutmeg Drive, Ste 140
Trumbull, CT 06611
(475)302-5743
obenson@sdvlaw.com

Treasurer

Jermaine A. Brookshire Jr.
Herrick Feinstein LLP
2 Park Ave
New York, NY 10016
(212 ) 592-1597
jbrookshirejr@herrick.com

Already a Member of the Section?

If you are already a member of the section you must log in to access the section documents.

CBA Presidential Fellows Program

The CBA wishes to further encourage and increase the active involvement of young lawyers, lawyers who no longer qualify for membership in the Young Lawyers Section, and diverse lawyers in the leadership and activities of CBA sections. The goal of the CBA Presidential Fellows Program is to provide such lawyers with an opportunity to become more involved in the substantive work of CBA sections, further develop their leadership abilities, and promote the section to other members of the YLS and the bar.

Learn More

Upcoming Events

EC Calendar

Mar 11

Unlocking Elite Legal Internships & Landing Your Dream Job: Tips for Law Students & Young Lawyers
Webinar
4:00 PM to 5:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Ready to trade your case brief for a job offer? This program is your essential field guide to mastering the high-stakes world of legal hiring. We'll demystify the interview process, from the initial screener to the final offer, equipping you with the strategies, insights, and confidence needed to impress partners and legal recruiters alike.

Register
Mar 12

1031 Exchanges – Ethical Considerations (EDU260312)
Webinar- CLE Pass Eligible
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Attendee will learn best practices and ethical considerations involving 1031 Exchanges.

Register
Mar 16

YLS EC Meeting (SYL260316)
Saxe Doernberger & Vita P.C.
35 Nutmeg Drive, Suite 140
Trumbull, Connecticut
United States
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Register
Mar 18

YLS - Quinnipiac Panel (SYL260318)
Quinnipiac University School of Law
370 Bassett Road
North Haven, Connecticut
United States
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Register
Mar 19

Skillful Recovery: How Lawyers Can Reset After Periods of Intense Workload (EDU260319)
Webinar- CLE Pass Eligible
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
Lawyers routinely push through high-demand periods — trials, deadlines, year-end pressures, and the cumulative load of constant availability. This 1-hour program offers practical, science-backed strategies for “skillful recovery”: how to reset after intense workload, rebuild cognitive capacity, and re-enter work with clarity and control. Drawing from research on attention, stress physiology, and healthy boundaries, participants will learn realistic tools they can apply immediately to sustain performance and wellbeing.

Register

View All Events

Latest Related News

Nancy Kennedy Receives 2026 Ladder Award
Tuesday, March 10, 2026

The CBA Women in the Law Section and the CBA Young Lawyers Section (YLS) Women in the Law Committee presented the 2026 Ladder Award to Attorney Nancy Kennedy at this year’s Pathways to Leadership for Women Lawyers event on March 5 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.
CBA Young Lawyers Section Hosts 2026 Diversity Dinner
Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Over 150 attendees gathered at the Pond House Café in West Hartford on February 10 for the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) Young Lawyers Section’s (YLS) 2026 Diversity Dinner. The event’s primary presentations included a keynote address from Representative Matt Ritter, who currently serves as the speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives and a discussion with a four-person panel.
CBA Young Lawyers Section and CTCPAs Host Holiday Season Day of Giving
Monday, December 22, 2025

On December 2, The Connecticut Bar Association’s (CBA) Young Lawyers Section (YLS) joined together with the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants (CTCPA) to host a new collaborative Day of Giving benefiting Connecticut Foodshare and the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center.

View All Related News

Section Annual Reports

Annual Report