Happy New Year from YLL Edmonton! As we step into a new year, we’re excited to continue creating spaces for youth to learn about law, engage with current issues, and explore meaningful opportunities. Thank you for being part of our community. We can’t wait to grow and learn together in the year ahead.
Announcements
Here is what you may have missed from the past month at YLL Edmonton!
This month, YLL Edmonton has opened applications for new executive positions. We are recruiting one Marketing Executive and launching a new IT Department. Marketing will lead branding and promotion, while IT will support YLL’s digital operations, including website development. If you’re interested, check the Opportunities section below. Applications close January 16.
YLL will also be hosting an event very soon! We’re preparing an engaging legal experience for students. Follow us on our socials so you can be the first to know what we’re planning. (HINT: Courtroom!)
Ambassador Program: YLL is accepting applications for our Ambassador program on a rolling basis. From schools across Edmonton, we choose one representative to share YLL’s updates and promote our cause. Note that if you are enrolled in Grade 9, we will also be considering your application. If you would like to represent YOUR school, learn more below.
Access to Justice Competition: There is only over a month left till submissions for the ATJ competition close! Each year, a prompt related to a current, prominent sociopolitical event is released, and participants have the opportunity to submit an interpretive entry (eg, poem, essay, art piece, research article, video, etc.) of the prompt in any form of expression that they wish. Remember, only the first 40 submissions will be accepted!
Blog 3: Trump Kindaps The Venezuelen President
What happened?
On January 3rd, 2026, the U.S. kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores, his wife, in a military operation in Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. They were transported to the U.S. and appeared in court in New York City on January 5th.
How was Maduro kidnapped?
This was all the result of an operation planned in secret for months, named ‘Absolute Resolve’. Trump had ordered spies in the Venezuelan government to follow Maduro around for months before the kidnapping even happened.
Venezuela’s air defences were cut off, and it was bombed multiple times before U.S. helicopters touched down and took the two into custody. The Cuban government reports that 32 of its military and police officers working in Venezuela at the time died due to the attack.
What’s next?
Trump has announced that the U.S. would ‘run’ Venezuela until a new leader was chosen. Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered Vice President Delcy Rodriguez to serve as acting president. She is the first woman to perform presidential duties in Venezuela.
What are Trump’s motives?
The Trump administration claims that this invasion was because of the corrupt government and Maduro’s crimes against humanity, focusing on the drug-trafficking scheme that transported thousands of tonnes of cocaine to the U.S.
Trump has also acknowledged that a key goal in invading Venezuela was to profit off their rich oil reserves, justifying the action by saying that ‘Venezuela stole U.S. oil in the past’, a statement which lacks context and clarity.
However, some suspect that the real reason is even darker, with Trump wanting to seize power in Venezuela as the first step of a broader project for geographical and political domination of the world. He has dropped many hints of wanting to control Venezuela entirely and only declaring that the Rodrigeuz could remain in power as long as she remained on his terms.
How legal is this?
Experts say that the US's intervention in Venezuela has completely violated international law. Despite Trump’s portrayal of Maduro’s capture as ‘law enforcement’, the reality is that it was a military attack.
States must respect each other’s political independence and sovereignty. Force is only justified as an act of self-defense, as Article 51 of the UN Charter reads. However, Venezuela has not launched any armed attacks against the U.S., causing the situation to be fraught with legal complications.
Lawyer Advice: ““In your opinion, what are the best and worst parts of becoming a lawyer?”
Best: Making a positive impact in people's lives. When you win a sponsorship appeal for example or getting your client the custody they were seeking for their children, these small moments keep you motivated and wanting to continue to practice law.
Worst: Finding a work life balance. Often you want to spend hours in the office so you can be successful in the next case for your client, but that can also take time away from your family. Having the correct support staff and having strong organizational skills can help a lawyer during these challenging times.
Sponsorship Package:
Empower the next generation of young leaders—partner with YLL and make an impact today! 🌟 Your support helps amplify student voices, create opportunities, and shape the leaders of tomorrow. Become a sponsor now!
Sponshorship Package: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oDFuUAf_C7CltJALPWaqUG9LQunXOFeL/view?usp=sharing
Opportunities:
YLL AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
Youth Leaders in Law is an organization based in Edmonton that strives to make the legal field more accessible to young people through increasing accessibility and diversity in the law.
Apply to be part of our Ambassador Program to help spread its messages within your local school community. There is no deadline for applications; instead, they will be evaluated on a rolling basis. This means that early applicants are more likely to secure an Ambassador position with YLL Edmonton. Apply now!
Application Package: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yhPu-bwe0QaHrRkCSnK4GU99eDlJFx_Uvsbjb2fanf8/edit?tab=t.0
Application Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdocmc9axxO0znw5YE_5fO-iOXRzogoo02deM0ieoXz9CoG1Q/viewform
ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMPETITION:
Sponsors: Click the links below to check out our sponsors! Through their support, we can host events, create educational resources, and provide meaningful opportunities for students to engage with law, advocacy, and leadership. We are grateful to our sponsors for investing in youth voices and helping us expand our impact in the community.
