FAQs

The Board of Governors (BOG) provides strategic oversight and general charge of the affairs and activities of the Bar. The Board is composed of the following members:

• President
• President-Elect
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Treasurer-Elect
• Immediate Past President
• Fourteen (14) Lawyer Members
• Three (3) Non-Lawyer Members (non-voting)

All officers and voting members also serve as the Board of Directors (BOD) of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center and are elected by active Bar members. Non-lawyer members are recommended by the Nominations Committee and approved by the Board of Governors.

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, depending upon the committee.

The time commitment required for Officers is generally greater, as they typically sit on multiple committees and have additional responsibilities with regard to additional meetings, reviewing meeting materials, and coordinating with Bar staff.

No. The Bar welcomes all active members who are interested in serving the membership and the D.C. legal community and have a vision for the Bar’s future. Though prior leadership or relevant volunteer experience is highly desirable, past board experience is not required.

Yes! All active D.C. Bar members are eligible to serve, even if they do not reside or practice in the District. Members will be able to attend Board meetings in person (conditions permitting) or virtually.

Serving on the Board of Governors will position you among a select group of volunteer leaders whose expertise, diverse perspectives and spheres of influence help advance our position as the nation’s preeminent bar.

You will have the opportunity to 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.

Finance or similar experience might prove helpful but it is not a requirement. The D.C. Bar’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Finance Department provides ample support to the Treasurer in preparing reports on the operational status of the D.C. Bar and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center. The Treasurer delivers a report at BOG/BOD meetings on at least a quarterly basis, with substantive assistance from the CFO.

To be clear, the D.C. Bar employs the CFO and the Finance Department to oversee the maintenance of the books and records of the organization. This includes asset management, investments, internal controls related to receipts/disbursements of the organization, all government filings (as appropriate), as well as organizational budgeting, fiscal planning and enterprise risk management.