As the D.C. Bar continues to prioritize member engagement, we are now offering greater access to our leaders’ work with audio recordings from our Board of Governors meetings.
Our Leadership
Board of Governors
The D.C. Bar is governed by a Board of Governors composed of 20 lawyers selected by the active membership and three members of the public appointed by the Board itself as nonvoting members.
Standing Committees
Much of the work of the D.C. Bar is done by standing committees. Appointments to these committees as well as designation of chairs are made by the Bar president with the confirmation of the Board of Governors.
FAQS About D.C. Bar Board of Governors Service
What is the D.C. Bar Board of Governors?
The Board of Governors has general charge of the affairs and activities of the Bar. The Board is composed of the following members:
- President
- President-Elect
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Immediate Past President – ex officio member
- Fifteen (15) Lawyer Members
- Three (3) Non-Lawyer Members
All officers and voting members also serve as the Board of Directors of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. All are elected by active Bar members. Non-lawyer members are appointed by the President, subject to Board of Governors approval.
What will be expected of me as an elected member of the Board of Governors?
The President-Elect serves for 3 years (as President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past President); the Secretary and Treasurer serve for 1 year. Members serve a three-year term (up to two consecutive terms).
All Members are expected to attend all D.C. Bar Board of Governors and D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center Board of Directors meetings [up to eight (8) regular meetings/year] and serve on one (1) or more Board committees.
In addition to the duties above, the Secretary is tasked with drafting meeting minutes, and securing approvals thereof at the next scheduled meeting. The Treasurer presents regular financial reports at all meetings.
I have a lot of work/personal commitments – what is the estimated time commitment for Board service?
While there is no fixed (or minimum) number of hours required for Board service, the monthly time commitment for a Member could range from 5-15 hours depending on the number of meetings, preparation time and necessary follow up. Regular Board meetings last approximately 2-3 hours each. Board committee meetings are held 2-6 times per year.
The time commitment required for Officers is generally greater, as they typically sit on multiple committees and/or have additional responsibilities with regard to meeting minutes and reports.
I’ve never served on a Board. Will this preclude me from running or being elected for Board service?
No. The Bar welcomes all active members who are interested in the Bar’s future. Though prior leadership or relevant volunteer experience is highly desirable, past board experience is not required.
I don’t live or practice in the District of Columbia. Can I still serve on the Board?
Yes! All active D.C. Bar members are eligible to serve, even if they do not reside or practice in D.C.
Will I be expected to travel for Board service?
In general, Board members are not expected to travel, with the exception of local events when circumstances allow.
Why volunteer for a Board position?
Join a select group of volunteer leaders whose expertise, diverse perspectives and spheres of influence help advance our position as the nation’s preeminent bar.
Lend your talent and voice to help the Bar:
- Maintain the highest ethical standards, absolute integrity, and an unwavering commitment to service;
- Pursue organizational excellence with fervor, driving continuous improvement, and set the highest standards of conduct in the legal system – in our backyard and around the world;
- Drive systemic change in the legal system and increasing access to justice;
- Empower lawyers to achieve individual excellence; and
- Foster collegiality among the brightest and most capable lawyers on the planet.
Service is at the heart of everything we do.
We serve our members so they, in turn, can serve the community.
Help us continue to deliver on this commitment.
FAQS About ABA House of Delegates Service
What is the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates?
The control and administration of the ABA is vested in the House of Delegates, the policy-making body of the association. It is made up of almost 600 members, two-thirds of whom represent state, local and special-focus bars. The House meets twice each year, at ABA Annual and Midyear Meetings. The D.C. Bar’s delegates are elected by its members to serve as liaisons between the Bar and the ABA.
How many ABA House of Delegates positions are open for nomination?
For the FY22-22 nominations slate, there are a total of three (3) ABA House of Delegate positions open for nomination.
What are the prerequisites for ABA House of Delegates Service?
- Delegates must be active members of the D.C. Bar and a member of the ABA.
- One (1) delegate must be either: under the age of 36 at the beginning of his or her term or have been admitted to practice in his or her first bar within the past 5 years (elected every other year).
What are ABA Delegates’ roles and responsibilities?
Delegates to the ABA House of Delegates are responsible for:
- Attending each meeting of the House, participating fully in its proceedings, and discharging the responsibilities of the House as described in Chapter 2, Powers and Functions, of the New Delegate Handbook;
- Reviewing the New Delegate Handbook on the House of Delegates webpage on the ABA’s website;
- Reviewing all of the House of Delegates meeting materials, including resolutions, before the meetings;
- Participating in a House Caucus or serve on a House Committee, if desired; and
- Drafting, debating and voting on resolutions. (NOTE: Any member, affiliated bar association or ABA entity can bring a resolution. Action taken by the House of Delegates on specific issues becomes official ABA policy.)
How long is the ABA House of Delegates term?
Delegates serve two-year appointments, with no stated limit on the number of terms served. New delegates’ terms begin at the conclusion of the annual meeting. (NOTE: Under-36 delegates must be under the age of 36 at the conclusion of the annual meeting.)
Are Delegates required to attend meetings? If so, are they reimbursed for travel-related expenses?
ABA delegates are expected to attend two (2) meetings/year: the ABA Annual Meeting (usually held in August), and the ABA Midyear Meeting (usually held in February/March.)
Reimbursement for travel-related expenses varies, depending on the meeting:
- Midyear Meetings: Roundtrip air/ground transportation is reimbursable, provided the delegate is present at the end of the meeting.
- Annual Meetings: Travel reimbursement is not available.
- House Committee Meetings (held during Midyear and Annual Meetings): Per diem reimbursement only.
Where can I find more information about the ABA House of Delegates?
For more information, please click here.
Attorney/Client Arbitration Board
The Attorney/Client Arbitration Board (ACAB) oversees a Fee Arbitration Service which includes a Voluntary Mediation Program. The Fee Arbitration Service has jurisdiction over disputes about fees paid, charged or claimed for legal services between attorneys and their clients. It includes a mandatory program for attorneys when named as respondents, and for clients when named as respondents where the parties entered into a pre–dispute agreement to arbitrate fee disputes if the agreement complies with Legal Ethics Opinion 376. It also includes a voluntary program when clients are named as respondents in the absence of a pre–dispute agreement between the parties addressing how fee disputes will be handled. The ACAB consists of 11 members—seven active members of the Bar and four nonlawyers. The ACAB holds approximately five to six committee meetings, one arbitrator training session, and one arbitrator and mediator appreciation reception per year. The Committee normally meets from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of every other month, except in August. ACAB members are also encouraged to apply for selection as an arbitrator for the ACAB, when such vacancies occur.
President-Elect (1 seat open)
Alexander L. Reid
Baker & Hostetler LLP
Shaun M. Snyder
National Association of State Treasurers
Agenda
- March 14, 2023
- December 13, 2022
- November 8, 2022
- September 13, 2022
- July 12, 2022
- June 14, 2022
- April 12, 2022
- March 8, 2022
- January 25, 2022
- December 14, 2021
- November 9, 2021
- September 24, 2021
- July 13, 2021
- June 8, 2021
- May 11, 2021
- April 13, 2021
- March 9, 2021
- February 9, 2021
- January 12, 2021
- December 8, 2020
- November 10, 2020
- October 13, 2020
- September 15, 2020
- July 14, 2020
- June 9, 2020
- May 12, 2020
- April 14, 2020
- March 10, 2020
- February 10, 2020
- January 14, 2020
- December 10, 2019
- October 15, 2019
- September 27, 2019
- July 16, 2019
- May 14, 2019
- April 9, 2019
- March 12, 2019
- February 12, 2019
- January 15, 2019
Minutes
- November 8, 2022
- September 13, 2022
- July 12, 2022
- June 14, 2022
- April 12, 2022
- March 8, 2022
- January 25, 2022
- December 14, 2021
- November 9, 2021
- September 24, 2021
- July 13, 2021
- June 8, 2021
- May 11, 2021
- April 13, 2021
- March 9, 2021
- February 9, 2021
- January 12, 2021
- December 8, 2020
- November 10, 2020
- October 13, 2020
- September 15, 2020
- July 14, 2020
- June 9, 2020
- May 12, 2020
- April 14, 2020
- March 10, 2020
- February 10, 2020
- January 14, 2020
- December 10, 2019
- November 12, 2019
- October 15, 2019
- September 17, 2019
- July 16, 2019
- June 4, 2019
- May 14, 2019
- April 9, 2019
- March 12, 2019
- February 12, 2019
- January 15, 2019
Treasurer (1 seat open)
Alicia M. Long
U.S. Department of Justice
Nicholas W. Woodfield
The Employment Law Group
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee provides independent oversight of the Bar’s financial reporting, internal controls, and audit functions. The committee selects the Bar’s audit firm and receives and acts on the annual report of the firm. The committee also provides a forum for receiving and investigating complaints and charges related to accounting, legal matters, or retaliatory acts. Positions: 3 members of the Board of Governors, the majority of whom have completed at least one year of service on the Board. 2 additional committee members Please note: Neither the Immediate-Past President nor the Treasurer may serve on this Committee. Appointed or Elected: Appointed in July by the President with the approval of the Board Term: Three years, staggered (no more than two consecutive terms)
Budget
Treasurer-Elect (1 seat open)
Kevin Minsky
DocuSign, Inc.
Mark A. Salzberg
Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
BOG Audio Recordings
Board of Governors (5 seats open)
Lukman S. Azeez
Wiley Rein LLP
Shayan Davoudi
HIAS
Patrick C. English
Latham & Watkins LLP
Wendy P. Fischman
Potomac Law Group, PLLC
Jason M. Gerson
Wells Fargo
Hardeep S. Grover
CapEx Legal
Brooke T. Iley
Blank Rome LLP
Natalie M. Koss
Potomac Legal Group PLLC
Lloyd Liu
Bennett LoCicero & Liu LLP
Ramya Ravindran
Bredhoff & Kaiser PLLC
Courtney L. Weiner
Law Office of Courtney Weiner PLLC
Communities Committee
The Communities Committee (Committee) will oversee the operation of the D.C. Bar Communities Program by facilitating Communities-wide programming and content, volunteer opportunities, and member engagement initiatives. The committee shall consist of not more than 11 persons, appointed by the President, with the approval of the Board for staggered two–year terms, with no person to serve more than three consecutive terms. For more information about serving on the committee, email [email protected].
Communities are committed to promoting diversity within its leadership in order to recognize and reflect the numerous demographics they serve. To review the Communities Statement on Diversity and Inclusion, click here.
Continuing Legal Education
The Continuing Legal Education Committee oversees the District of Columbia Bar CLE Program and the education component of the Mandatory Course on the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct and District of Columbia Practice. The committee evaluates course proposals and generates course ideas. Committee members recommend course chairs and faculty members. The committee also evaluates and approves requests from D.C. Bar Communitys to cosponsor programs for continuing legal education (CLE) credit with outside CLE sponsors. The committee consists of 15 active members and normally meets from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month except August. Appointments are made in the fall.
ABA Delegates (2 seats open)
Kerry K. Neal
U.S. Department of State
Karen M. Roos
HireRoos
D. Jean Veta
Covington & Burling LLP
ABA Delegate – Under 36 (1 seat open)
Josephine M. Bahn
Cozen O'Connor
Travis S. Nembhard
Department of For-Hire Vehicles