Dec. 1, 2021 – It’s all about having that seat at the table, says Jennifer L. Johnson.

Johnson represents District 2 (Milwaukee) on the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors. She was elected as a governor in 2019.

“I wanted to become more involved with the State Bar, and I believed a great way to be involved would be to join the body that governs our community of lawyers,” said Johnson, Director of Diversity and Inclusion with Legal Action of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.

There is another benefit: “It is also a great opportunity to network with lawyers I wouldn’t otherwise meet in my daily practice,” she said.

But most importantly, “I wanted to have a seat at the table that was historically reserved for white males,” she said. “I’m a Black woman, and my background and experiences offer a diverse perspective to the board.”

“We hear a lot about diversity, equity and inclusion these days. Diversity comes in many forms and diversity of thought is especially important when it comes to governance,” Johnson said.

“Lawyers from communities that were once excluded from the legal field would have a profound impact on the State Bar in general and the board, specifically, because they can likely offer valuable input.”

Leaders of all experience levels and backgrounds are welcome and needed on the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors – and when you get involved, you help shape the future of your State Bar and your profession.

Petitions Accepted Before March 1

The Board of Governors is the State Bar's policymaking body, and governors serve two-year terms.

Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 will elect governors in 2022. District 2 (Milwaukee) will elect five; District 6 (Waukesha) will elect two; District 9 (Dane) will elect four; and all other districts will elect one.

To ensure you receive your State Bar election ballot, add noreply@directvote.net as an approved sender in your inbox sometime before April 1. This prevents the ballot from being identified as spam.

To be considered for a seat on the Board of Governors, members must submit a petition, signed by 10 active members in their district, to the State Bar by March 1, 2022.

To receive a petition or for more information, visit the Board of Governors’ page on WisBar.org, or contact Jan Marks via email or call her at (608) 250-6106 or (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106.

Persons elected will take office July 1, 2022.

Find out about other State Bar leadership opportunities through divisions, sections, and committees.

Vote in April: Look for Your Email Ballot

All State Bar elections (including for State Bar divisions and sections) will be held via an electronic ballot in 2022. Ballots are emailed by the second week in April, and the election closes at noon Central time on April 22, 2022.

To ensure you receive your State Bar election ballot, add noreply@directvote.net as an approved sender in your inbox sometime before April 1. This prevents the ballot from being identified as spam.

Please note: If you have placed any holds on emails from the State Bar, you may not receive an electronic ballot. Contact Customer Service at (800) 444-9404 to verify that your account is set up to receive your email ballot.

State Bar members with no email address on file will receive paper ballots. Paper ballots will be mailed on April 6, 2022.