About SAYLA

The San Antonio Young Lawyers Association (SAYLA) was formed in 1948 as a subgroup or committee of the San Antonio Bar Association (SABA).  Originally called the Junior Bar Association, the association provided important avenues for newly licensed attorneys to get together with other attorneys fresh from law school.  In 1950, the Junior Bar committee revised its structure, adopted bylaws and a constitution and officially became the Junior Bar Association, but was still a subsidiary of SABA.  In 1974, the Junior Bar Association went out on its own and formed what is now the San Antonio Young Lawyers Association, a separate non-profit organization registered in the State of Texas and with the Internal Revenue Service.

In 2010, in celebration of the Junior Bar/SA Young Lawyers Association's 60th anniversary, we were fortunate to receive a grant from the Texas Young Lawyers Association to produce a video of our history.  We contacted and talked with many Past Presidents and board members and produced a video of their stories.

For more on the early history of the Junior Bar and SAYLA, click here.  Due to the great archival work of the San Antonio Bar Association, copies of most of the early Subpoenas exist and are able to give us some insight into the "early days."

Signature Events

Each year SAYLA develops and puts on many great events, however, we are most known for the Courthouse Tour and Judicial Reception (CTJR) and the SAYLA Scramble Golf Tournament and Spa Day.  In past years, we organized a more formal event called Counselors & Cocktails.  However, as our membership demographics change, we have changed our events to meet the growing needs of our extended membership--the spouses and children of our members.  In 2011, at the urging of Ty Sheehan (then Secretary, 2012-2013 President), SAYLA put on the very successful Family Fun Day and Chili Cook Off.  Due to its great success in its inaugural year, SAYLA has adopted Family Fun Day as one of its Signature Events.