Bar Leader
What do you need to know? From governance and finance to noteworthy events and programs you can replicate, Bar Leader, a bimonthly publication from the ABA Division for Bar Services and ABA Standing Committee on Bar Activities and Services, is required reading for staff and elected leaders of state, local, and special-focus bar associations and foundations.
Current Issue
Past Issues
- Volume 34, Issue 1: September-October 2009
Bar associations' role in promoting pro bono
- Volume 33, Issue 6: July-August 2009
The economy's effect on bar foundations
- Volume 33, Issue 5: May-June 2009
Partnerships with special-focus bar associations
- Volume 33, Issue 4: March - April 2009
The impact of generational differences on bar operations and marketing
- Volume 33, Issue 3: January - February 2009
The fight to preserve the separation of powers
Important Issues Facing the Bar Association Community
- IRS Form 990: There's no need to sweat over the new IRS Form 990! The 990 resource page provides sample policies from bar associations, professional advice, and links to useful governance materials.
- Leading During Difficult Times: Resources on the Economy for Bar Associations: The economic downturn has had a profound effect on the legal profession. This economic resource page shows how the bar association community is reacting to these challenges to better serve their members and the greater community.
- Leadership Resources: Presidents, officers, board members and staff all have an important role in leading the association. The following leadership resources will help bar leaders to explore and refine their leadership styles, and learn from the best practices and experiences of others in both the nonprofit and for profit sectors.
- Governance Guide: Effective leadership thrives when good governance practices are in place. This governance guide serves as a quick guide for bar leaders who are looking for statistical data, financial questions, and many other governance hurdles.
- Membership Resources: Looking for ways to boost or better manage your bar association's membership? This membership guide helps bar association leaders quickly learn about the latest in membership trends, technology, and how to target specific lawyer populations.
- Disaster Planning & Recovery Guide: Disaster planning is a constant concern to bar association staff and members. The disaster planning and recovery guide contains disaster response plans, tips on data backup, and much more advice on how to best prepare your organization.
- Diversity Materials for Bar Leaders: Useful statistics, past Bar Leader articles, bar association awards, research studies by the ABA and state, local, and specialty bar associations, and more are found in this guide to diversity resources.
- Writing Effective President Pages: Crafting an effective president page is one of the most trying tasks of a bar president's year. This president page guide provides examples of past president pages along with some useful writing tips.
- The Future of the Legal Profession: This collection of articles, studies, and other materials on the legal profession attempts to organize what major legal publications, organizations, and bloggers predict about the future of the legal profession.
Subscription Information
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Contact Us
Bar Leader welcomes your comments, letters, and article ideas. You can reach us at:
Bar Leader
c/o Marilyn Cavicchia, editor
American Bar Association
321 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60654-7598
(312) 988-6071
fax: (312) 988-6081
cavicchm@staff.abanet.org

