Feb. 18, 2015 – Here is an opportunity for lawyers to represent Wisconsin and keep the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors informed of actions at the national level.
The State Bar seeks candidates for two delegate positions representing Wisconsin with the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates for two-year terms.
Petitions are due April 15. The delegates are elected during the board’s June meeting.
The board elects five delegates in total to the ABA, each serving two-year terms. Two representatives are elected in odd-numbered years, and three representatives are elected in even-numbered years.
Young Lawyer Sought
This year, one of the delegates elected for the new two-year term must be a young lawyer.
A young lawyer is defined by the ABA Constitution as a lawyer who was admitted to practice in his or her first bar within the past five years or who is less than 36 years old at the beginning of the term. Young lawyers do not need to be a member of the State Bar’s Young Lawyers Division to be an ABA delegate.
The delegates are needed to maintain the connection between the ABA House of Delegates and the board of the State Bar. Delegates are asked to be watchful of actions proposed by the ABA that will affect Wisconsin lawyers and to appraise the State Bar’s board of actions that it should act upon.
Delegate Responsibilities
Delegates’ responsibilities include:
Establishing association policy and defining ABA positions on professional and public issues
Electing ABA officers and the Board of Governors after receiving nominations from the ABA Nominating Committee
Amending the ABA bylaws and constitution (jointly with ABA Assembly of Members)
Creating or disbanding association committees and sections
Setting membership dues after conferring with the ABA Board of Governors
Terms begin after the ABA Annual meeting in August. During their two-year terms, delegates attend each House meeting, participate in its proceedings, and discharge the House’s responsibilities. Delegates also keep their constituencies apprised of House actions and, to the extent possible, of matters pending before the House. They also assist constituent entities in presenting issues of concern for debate and action by the House.
Members interested in representing the State Bar in this capacity should review the State Bar Bylaws, Article III, Section 13, for election qualifications and procedure.
How to Apply
For information on applying to be an ABA delegate:
Petitions must be filed with State Bar Executive Director George Brown by April 15.