The Legislative Liaison Subcommittee continues its high level of activity in service to DRI and its members. Chair Paul A. Wilhelm of Dykema in Detroit leads this Subcommittee, along with Vice-Chairs Joseph W. Ballard of Lewis, King in Knoxville, and Marie A. Trimble of Gordon & Rees in San Francisco. The Legislative Liaison Subcommittee includes 78 active DRI Young Lawyers, plus occasional other contributors, who monitor legislation of interest to the Defense Bar and our clients. DRI relies weekly on this Subcommittee's legislative tracking, and reports the summaries in The Voice -- the e-publication of DRI. Young Lawyers who draft these reports are given credit by name (and firm name) in The Voice for each contribution. A team of 68 appointed Young Lawyer liaisons monitors all 50 states (with some sharing duties). These state liaisons draft bi-weekly reports for the duration of their state's legislative session, and monitor any special sessions.
In addition, a brand new federal team of eight Young Lawyers from across the country, led by team captain Michele Hale DeShazo of Kuchler Polk in New Orleans, monitors Congress and reports on federal legislation. These federal liaisons draft reports that DRI also publishes weekly in The Voice, with credit given to the contributors.
The Legislative Liaison Subcommittee also provides monthly articles for The Whisper on the most relevant legislative initiatives across the land, with articles drafted by our own Young Lawyers. This outlet allows Young Lawyers to test their publication skills before other Young Lawyers with an article of very reasonable length. If you have a proposal for an article to go out in the coming months, please contact Vice Chair Joseph Ballard at jballard@lewisking.com. Having not only achieved full, 50-state coverage but also having established a reliable, inaugural federal team, the Legislative Liaison Subcommittee is firing on all cylinders. This Subcommittee remains a great resource to DRI and a tremendous point of entry for Young Lawyers seeking to serve the professional community while gaining recognition and leadership opportunities.
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