Abstract
We study representations of the general and the special linear groups over a non-archimedean local field that admit a non-zero invariant linear form with respect to the symplectic group (henceforth distinguished representations). For the class of ladder representations that are distinguished we show that applying the highest derivative operation twice results in a distinguished (ladder) representation. Furthermore, we characterize the unique distinguished component of the associated
L
-packet of representations of the special linear group in terms of the associated maximal unipotent orbit. We also obtain a sufficient condition for distinction of standard modules.