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    Bar Leader March-April 2013

    Vol. 37 No. 4  

    New Attorneys

    Changing times, changing leadership academies: Bars focus on connection, community, careers

    by Robert J. Derocher

    Bar association leadership academies are usually thought of as a great way to encourage members—often relatively new lawyers who are selected with an eye toward diversity—to take on leadership roles in the bar. That’s still true, but the economy and other factors are prompting many bars to sharpen their focus on helping participants be leaders within their law firms and their communities as well.

    Featured Articles

    Leadership Development

    Beyond diversity: The bar leader’s role in fostering inclusion

    by Marilyn Cavicchia

    “Diversity is being invited to the party, but inclusion is being asked to dance.” That’s according to Vernā Myers, an author and expert on diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Myers advised attendees at this year’s BLI on how to overcome the biases that each of us has in order to make sure the bar association is as welcoming and inclusive as it can and should be. Do you know what your own biases are, and how to avoid the “fish in water” problem?

    Professional Development

    NABE members, bar leaders offer an inside look at leadership academies

    by Marilyn Cavicchia

    At the Midyear Meeting of the National Association of Bar Executives in Dallas this past February, bar staff members and leaders—including recent and not-so-recent leadership academy graduates—shared their experiences in establishing and building successful academies. One tip: To ensure maximum benefit for both the bar and the participants, think of the leadership academy as a significant long-term investment, not a quick hit.

    Professional Development

    No staff? Small staff? Presidents share how they accomplished big things for the bar

    by Marilyn Cavicchia

    Just because a bar association has a small staff—or no staff at all—doesn’t mean it can’t make big plans. But the question is, who will do the work? At BLI this past March, a panel of past presidents of unstaffed or minimally staffed bar associations shared how they collaborated with other bars, kept their volunteers on task, and otherwise made smart use of their time and other resources. Elizabeth M. Derrico, associate director of the ABA Division for Bar Services, highlighted some ways the division can help.