When lawyers gather, it’s usually in a courtroom, a conference room, or over a particularly well-crafted LinkedIn post. But every so often, the American Bar Association knows how to shake things up—and this spring, the ABA YLS Spring Conference brought legal minds together in a city that knows a thing or two about rhythm, revelry, and resilience: New Orleans.

From the moment attendees stepped off the plane and into the thick Louisiana air, it was clear this conference wouldn’t be just another CLE grind. The event was hosted at the historic Astor Crowne Plaza in the French Quarter, where grand windows framed Bourbon Street’s never-ending buzz. Inside, however, the tone shifted from festive to focused, as panels dove into cutting-edge topics including Electronic Discovery and Digital Evidence, Asserting Executive Presence, The Science of Juries, AI in M&A Transactions, and a hands-on Cross-Examination Workshop that had trial lawyers sharpening their skills like pros at Café du Monde with a café au lait.

But it wasn’t all legal briefs and PowerPoints.

Outside the hotel, ABA members literally hit the ground running—some at the crack of dawn for the 6:30 AM Beignet Run, proving that even attorneys can be both early birds and sweet-tooths. The city’s infectious energy swept up attendees with its live street music, spontaneous dancing, and yes, the occasional brass band trailing through the Quarter.

Evenings were filled with receptions in garden courtyards and dinners laced with Creole gumbo and oysters Rockefeller. Some lawyers found themselves in spirited debates over whether consumption of Hurricanes or Hand Grenades (the infamous Bourbon Street cocktails) constitutes an assumption of risk. Meanwhile, for the music lovers, the timing was impeccable—Jazz Fest was in full swing, and Lil’ Wayne headlined Saturday night. No citations needed: it was legendary.

While there were plenty of professional moments learning, networking, and mentoring—the real takeaway was community. This year’s Spring Conference reminded us all that while the law can be a heavy thing, the community that supports it doesn’t have to be.

New Orleans delivered on all fronts—culture, cuisine, connection, and CLE credits. Whether you came for the panels or stayed for the po’boys, the 2025 ABA Spring Conference will be remembered as the place where the law met lagniappe—a little something extra.

Like what you read? Want to know more about YLS in the community? Subscribe below!

Elizabeth Erickson is a Senior Associate specializing in trademarks, copyrights, licensing, business law, and litigation at Oath Law in Southfield, MI.