Welcome to the ABA's Government and Public Sector Lawyers Division!

I am honored to serve as Chair of the Division and I look forward to continuing the Division's work of bringing practical, timely products and services to our members.

I am an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, in Little Rock. I joined the office in 1995 and have litigated both civil and criminal cases. My practice area is now primarily focused on Constitutional Law, bankruptcy, foreclosure, medical malpractice and Title VII. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney's office, I was in private practice with the Davidson law firm in Little Rock.

I became active with the Division as the ABA's Young Lawyers Division liaison in 1999. I was elected to Council in 2001 and elected an officer in 2006. I have found my involvement with the Division both enjoyable and worthwhile to my practice and hope you will find the same to be true for you. Please take a look at the list of the Division's major activities detailed below as well as the other pages on this website. You will see that there are many ways for members to become involved and I hope you will decide to do so.

Created to provide benefits and services for military lawyers, the Division's Military Lawyers Conference (MLC) continues to thrive. The MLC's newsletter, Reveille, contains case updates, military law news, resources on transitioning to civilian life, and information on professional development opportunities. Membership in the Military Lawyers Conference is free for Division members and I encourage all interested members to join.

All Division members receive the quarterly newsletter, Pass It On, which reports on Division activity and carries pieces on topics such as obtaining grants for public law offices, determining who is the government lawyer's client, and tips on litigation. The Division's magazine, The Public Lawyer, provides the latest information on complex issues such as government attorney-client privilege, the hiring of private outside counsel, politically motivated dismissals, and restrictions on pro bono work.

Ethical Considerations in Public Sector Law, the Division's hallmark CLE program, is presented across the nation to audiences hungry for programs that specifically address their concerns. The Division works in cooperation with state and local bar groups to reach out to public lawyers in all parts of the country. Ethical Considerations in Public Sector Law uses an entertaining, interactive format with short skits illustrating timely hypothetical scenarios.

Another Division program, Pathways to Success for Women and Minorities in the Public Sector features a panel of successful public sector women and minority lawyer-leaders who describe their current positions and discuss the obstacles, encouragement, and serendipitous events that helped them achieve success.

The Division's Public Lawyer Career Panel Program, designed to provide law students information about various public sector jobs, practical advice about securing positions and general job-hunting tips, has been a hit with law students across the country. Division members are encouraged to present the program in their community using an easy-to-use panel program kit.

Our Pro Bono Webpage features a step-by-step guide to creating a government office pro bono program; sample federal, state, and local government office policies; relevant articles; and other helpful links. The Division's members-only Public Law Office Management (PLOM) webpage offers resources on improving communication with clients, dealing with the media, obtaining grants for office programs, supervising employees, and mentoring programs. It also includes tips, quizzes, surveys and a way for members to send in their suggestions and tips.

The Hodson, Dorsey and Nelson awards are presented annually to an exceptional public law office and to outstanding public lawyers. These awards offer an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary achievements of public lawyers and to help the community at large gain a better understanding and appreciation of their important work.

If you are already a Division member and want to become more involved, please browse our webpage for information about serving on a committee, writing an article, or proposing a project. If you are not a Division member, I hope that you will join us. We warmly welcome your involvement in our dynamic group.

Should you have questions or comments please contact us at GPSLD@abanet.org. I welcome your suggestions.

Very truly yours,
Gwendolyn D. Hodge
Chair