Diane Seltzer
D.C. Bar President
Diane Seltzer is principal at the Seltzer Law Firm, an employment law practice she launched in 1997.
Before becoming president, Seltzer served the Bar in various capacities, including as three-time chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee; member of the Strategic Planning, Budget, Communities, and Screening Committees; and CLE faculty. She also served as secretary to the D.C. Bar Board of Governors from 2020 to 2021 and has been a member of the board since then.
Outside of her practice and D.C. Bar roles, Seltzer has been deeply involved in legal education and professional development. She was an adjunct professor at American University Washington College of Law from 2003 to 2021, where she taught employment law and developed the Human Resources Compliance course for the school's Master of Legal Studies program.
A granddaughter of a firefighter, Seltzer also has volunteered as an EMT in the past.
Seltzer aims to focus her tenure as D.C. Bar president on protecting the rule of law, supporting early-career attorneys, and leveling the playing field in AI access for small- and solo-practice firms.
"I think that people saw my experience, my commitment, and my understanding of the Bar and felt that my leadership made sense, which isn't something I take for granted," Seltzer said to Washinton Lawyer. "Being elected Bar president — and really the election itself — was an unforgettable experience, and it has 100 percent changed me both professionally and personally. I want to show my gratitude for that by doing the best job I can do and not disappoint anybody."
In her remarks at the 2026 Celebration of Leadership, Seltzer noted her most important role: being a mom, particularly to her LGBTQ+ children.
Seltzer earned her law degree from American University Washington College of Law and has been a member of the Bar since 1992. In 2025 she was recognized by the Washingtonian as one of the top 15 Legal Powers in Washington. Seltzer can be reached at [email protected].
