Board members were invited to wear festive attire for the December 2025 meeting.

Feb. 18, 2026 – Volunteering can be one of the most direct ways to sharpen the skills that make you a better lawyer – and one of the highest-impact options is serving on the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors. The State Bar is seeking candidates for the 2026-27 term, with petitions due March 2, 2026.

This Volunteer Role Pays Off in Your Practice

If you are looking for a leadership opportunity that strengthens your day-to-day lawyering, Board of Governors service is built for that. As State Bar of Wisconsin President-elect Stephen Sawyer put it, leadership in the State Bar helps develop “your reputation in the profession” along with skills like critical thinking, communication, working together to create consensus, and overcoming adversity.”

Those are not abstract benefits. They map closely to the “transferable skills” that volunteer experiences are known to build – and that employers, clients, and colleagues notice.

Here is what attorneys often gain, and how it shows up at work:

• Time management: Volunteer projects can be time-sensitive and deadline-driven, pushing you to prioritize and shift efficiently. On the Board, that translates to preparing for meetings, reviewing materials, and balancing leadership responsibilities with a full caseload.

• Teamwork and consensus-building: Volunteering requires collaboration; Board service requires collaborating across practice areas, regions, and viewpoints to move decisions forward.

• Leadership: Volunteering can put you in roles where you motivate others, delegate, and keep a mission front and center. Board work gives real governance experience that strengthens leadership confidence – and credibility.

• Communication: Volunteer roles often demand clear instructions, coordination, and relationship-building. Board service develops practical communication skills for explaining priorities, listening well, and working toward shared outcomes.

• Problem-solving: Volunteer work can involve solving unfamiliar problems with limited resources. Serving in a policymaking body gives you repeated practice at spotting issues, comparing options, and selecting workable solutions.

• Interpersonal skills and professional network: Volunteering helps you meet new people and practice relationship-building with diverse groups. Board service expands your statewide connections – which can lead to mentorship, referrals, and perspectives you cannot get inside your own office.

What the Board Does, and Why It Matters

The Board of Governors is the State Bar’s policymaking body, and governors serve two-year terms. That means you are not just “helping out” – you are gaining hands-on experience with how the profession sets priorities and addresses challenges.

And that experience tends to compound: the more you participate, the more you build the muscles that show up in client service, courtroom presence, negotiations, and leadership at your firm or organization.

The Bottom Line for Busy Lawyers

A strong justification for volunteering is the opportunity to build the same capabilities that drive career momentum: leadership, judgment, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving.