The ABA’s newly nominated officers and members of the Board of Governors will begin their terms in office after the association’s annual conference in August. In the months before the meeting, we asked these nominees the same four questions:
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
What would you like to accomplish during your term?
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
Here are their responses, which have been edited for length and clarity.
Aurora Austriaco
Chair-Elect of the House of Delegates
Shareholder, Valentine, Austriaco & Bueschel
Chicago
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
From my young lawyer days to the present, the ABA has been an integral part of my professional and personal development. The ABA has been a staple “go to” bar association for CLEs, professional growth, information on what other lawyers are doing to address certain issues, national trends in law practice management and networking with other young lawyers. Over the years of involvement, I developed lifelong friendships with amazing lawyers who I know I would never meet if not for the ABA. I developed a great network of business referrals for my clients in jurisdictions where I don’t practice, even in the most remote areas. I continue to have the opportunity to do public service, write articles, speak at CLEs, mentor and make a difference with young lawyers and women lawyers locally and throughout the country. The ABA has helped me with my legal career, and I will always be a proud card-carrying member.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
I am privileged to serve on the Board of Governors, which is the governing body of the association. As a Board member, I hope to add my voice to the discussions on issues that come before the Board as it relates to the governance, financial stability and direction of the association. As a Board member, I intend to contribute my services wherever they are needed and support ABA leadership on decisions that benefit the association. And as incoming chair of the House of Delegates, I hope to inform the Board on resolutions and trends that are facing or will face the practice of law and affect the legal profession locally and nationally.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
I don’t cook, but I host great dinner parties, and I love hosting parties. I am a competitive tennis player, and I do not show mercy on tennis courts. I love to travel with my family and will go to Italy or London even for just an extended weekend. I love collecting foreign currencies in denominations of 2s or 20s or 2000s. I collect artwork. I love shopping with my girls all the time.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
The ABA is the voice of the legal profession. It is the largest voluntary organization of lawyers, with over 200,000 members across the U.S. and internationally. At a time when the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary are being attacked and lawyers are being intimidated, there is no better time to join the association. As lawyers, we are pillars of the communities we live in, and we made an oath to uphold ethical standards, serve our clients faithfully, and support and protect the Constitution. The ABA is the organization to join as we navigate these difficult times.
Elizabeth Kelly Meyers
Secretary-Elect
Managing Attorney, The Law Office of Glenn K. Gilsleider (Progressive House Counsel)
Concord, California
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
I have had a number of positive experiences with the ABA. Specifically, the ABA provided me opportunities for leadership that I did not think I would be able to experience until much later in my career. The ABA provided me an opportunity to have a seat at the table when I was early in my career and the continued opportunity to continue growing in my leadership and contributions to my legal profession. I am honored to continue that leadership in one of the highest positions as ABA secretary.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
As an officer of the ABA, I hope to be a part of assisting the ABA to grow and thrive as an organization. I hope to pass programs and policies that increase membership, show the value of being part of the ABA and build upon the legal community.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
Many people do not know that the law was actually never my intended career path until after I graduated college. I am a scientist by nature, earning my biochemistry degree from Duquesne University. I had always intended on going to medical school and becoming a pediatric oncologist. However, after speaking with some patent attorneys, I decided to take the LSAT. I am so grateful for that slight intervention, as the law is truly my calling. As a side note, my entire life, my mom always told me that I would make a better lawyer than a doctor because I wouldn’t have a “good bedside manner” and she thought I was an argumentative child. But I like to think I was more inquisitive instead of argumentative, as I always needed to know the “why” of what she was asking me to do.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
The ABA is unique in providing value to attorneys in ways they may not find in other associations. In addition to the top-tier programing from our sections, divisions, forums and commissions and vast CLE library, the ABA provides opportunities to expand global reach to promote justice, economic opportunity, and human dignity via ROLI; author books and articles; lobby members of Congress during ABA Day on the Hill; expand philanthropic opportunities; mentor young lawyers; develop leadership skills; and build a nationwide legal network. The ABA is guided by its four goals: serve our members; improve our profession; eliminate bias and enhance diversity; and advance the rule of law. The above are just a few examples of how the ABA fulfills its goals for the service of the legal community and where lawyers can contribute. The ABA is unique in providing opportunities to satisfy the diverse interests of the legal community.
Peter Bennett
District 1
President & Treasurer, The Bennett Law Firm
Portland, Maine
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
The ABA has given me extraordinary opportunities to serve the legal profession beyond my practice. Chairing the then-36,000-member Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, chairing the Standing Committee on Judicial Independence, chairing the board of trustees of the National Judicial College, vetting judicial nominees from the Obama administration forward as a member of the Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary and serving as Maine's state delegate to the House of Delegates have each deepened my commitment to the rule of law. Through the ABA, I've collaborated with remarkable lawyers across the country on issues that truly matter—from judicial education to civil justice reform. These experiences have made me a better lawyer and a more engaged citizen of the profession.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
I hope to bring to the Board the perspective of a practitioner from a smaller state who faces a different set of challenges than do lawyers from the proverbial big cities. I want to ensure that lawyers outside major metropolitan centers have a meaningful voice in the association's direction. I want to be part of the solution for how the ABA succeeds in challenging times. I also hope to advance the ABA's work supporting judicial independence—a cause I believe is more urgent today than at any point in my career—and to strengthen connections between the ABA and state and local bar associations.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the ABA?
The ABA is the only organization that connects you to the full breadth of the American legal profession—across practice areas, geography and experience levels. For me, it has been the single greatest source of professional development, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to serve something larger than any individual case or client. While there is an amazing amount of value in the substantive benefits of ABA membership, the intangibles, such as the friends I have made and the places I have been, have enhanced my life far beyond what I expected. And I know that I am a better lawyer because of what I have learned just by being in the moment of participating in the association’s work. The investment of time and dues pays dividends that are simply impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Sarah E. A. Sousa
District 2
Partner, Arrowood
Boston
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
One of my most positive experiences with the ABA has been participating in the House of Delegates. It has been both inspiring and energizing to observe skilled, thoughtful and spirited debates on resolutions that shape ABA policy. Seeing complex issues discussed with such depth and professionalism reinforces the importance of the organization’s role in the legal community. Through the House of Delegates, I’ve also had the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with colleagues from across the country, including within the Labor and Employment Section. Those connections have been deeply rewarding and have enriched my professional life.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
During my term on the Board of Governors, I hope to support the organization’s vital role in promoting and safeguarding the rule of law. At a time when public trust in institutions is under strain, the ABA is uniquely positioned to serve as a steady, principled voice—advocating for judicial independence, defending the integrity of legal processes, and reinforcing respect for constitutional norms.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
The first time I went to the Supreme Court, I was 7 years old—Justice Sandra Day O’Connor spoke to my Brownie Girl Scout Troop about the importance of civic engagement!
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
The ABA offers a unique professional community where members can engage with colleagues across the country, contribute to important policy discussions and stay connected to developments shaping the legal profession. Every time I participate in an ABA event, I leave energized and excited about the future of the profession. That sense of renewed purpose and connection is something I believe every lawyer can benefit from.
Lucy L. Thomson
District 4
Founding Principal, Livingston
Washington, D.C.
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
Joining the ABA after serving two terms on the D.C. Bar Board of Governors, I found seemingly endless leadership opportunities to help strengthen the ABA and give back to the community, collaborate with state and local bars and organizations with shared goals, all the while making lifelong friends with lawyers and judges in every practice setting. Working with 550 bar leaders for 20 years as a member of the House of Delegates has been a highlight, particularly contributing as a co-author of numerous technology-related resolutions. As chair of the Science & Technology Law Section, I was inspired by working with experts who focus on legal issues arising from complex emerging technology; publishing bestselling books on AI, Internet of Things and data breaches; and hosting ABA National Institutes. The AI Task Force provided a unique opportunity to put the ABA in the forefront in addressing the transformational AI challenges facing the legal profession.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
Since its founding nearly 150 years ago, the ABA has been a thoughtful national voice for the legal profession and a strong advocate for the rule of law. I will help the ABA continue to bring to life its important strategic goals, particularly to enhance its critical role in speaking out about the importance of protecting our justice system and the independence of judges, improving access to justice, providing civic education and addressing the impact of technology on the legal profession. I will draw on my experience as a SciTech section and AI Task Force chair and D.C. Bar leader to help the ABA navigate these challenging times and devise strategies to empower lawyers and enhance their careers and well-being.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
Active in the community, I have served for 25 years in a voter protection program in Virginia to help ensure free and fair elections. Working to broaden legal opportunities and mentor younger lawyers, as D.C. Women’s Bar Association president, I co-authored Family and Medical Leave and Alternative Work Schedules, a road map to achieve work-life balance. To bring these policies into reality, I worked part-time for 10 years at the Justice Department while raising two daughters and teamed up with prominent D.C. lawyer-fathers to advocate for their adoption in law firms and government. After a fascinating DOJ career, I earned a master's degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an engineering university, providing a launching pad for my continuing focus on challenges at the intersection of law and technology. I grew up on Cape Cod, where I worked my way through law school teaching sailing and was a national women’s Inter-Collegiate Sailing champion.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
The ABA is an organization where lawyers and judges can expand their horizons. It complements their memberships in state and voluntary bars by providing continuous opportunities to meet colleagues from around the world, learn critical implications of legal and policy developments from a global perspective, and enhance their professional expertise and career development by publishing books and articles and speaking on ABA programs with a broad reach. As the national voice for the legal profession, the ABA serves the public interest by articulating high ethical standards for lawyers. By adopting model rules and publishing ethical opinions and guidance—largely adopted in substance by state bars—it serves as the foundation for keeping law practice a self-governing profession. All lawyers have a special interest in supporting the ABA’s critical work in protecting the public and the integrity of the profession.
Hon. Sidney A. Butcher
District 6
Judge, Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County, State of Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
The people! The members of the ABA and ABA staff are truly fantastic; it is the most valuable resource the ABA has. The relationships that I have developed over my time with the ABA have been instrumental in my career as a lawyer.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
Obviously, there's much going on with the ABA and many factors outside of the ABA that have impacted our success. I hope that we can gain stability; increase our membership significantly; and have the voice of the ABA amplify more with the legal community, nonlawyers and the media.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
I enjoying being an assistant soccer coach for my 9-year old's soccer team.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
The network and relationships that a lawyer or judge can benefit from. The access to information and relationships that can make you a better advocate or judge within your community. The issues that are discussed can make you more self-aware, which is never a bad thing. Membership has its privileges!
Anthony M. Ciolli
District 8
Special Assistant to the Chief Justice, Virgin Islands Supreme Court
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
Relatively early in my career, the ABA provided me with a national platform to connect with lawyers across jurisdictions. This was especially valuable to me as a lawyer from the U.S. Virgin Islands. The ABA allowed me to help shape policy by drafting and presenting resolutions in the ABA House of Delegates. This not only allowed my bar association and fellow territorial bars to gain much-needed attention on issues of concern to our jurisdictions but also helped change the law nationally. Some of my proudest accomplishments include drafting and moving the resolution urging Congress to adopt the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act, as well as the resolution calling for state and territorial courts of last resort to develop alternatives to the in-person bar exam during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
The ABA is at a crossroads, facing one of the most difficult times in its nearly 150-year existence. That difficulty arises not from failure, but from success. For decades, the ABA carefully balanced its dual mission as both a neutral regulator and a professional association advocating for lawyers and judges. Today, past success in each role presents a great challenge to continued success in the other. The ABA's advocacy causes many to question its neutrality as a regulator; simultaneously, others wonder whether the ABA's regulatory functions impede its ability to take strong positions on contested policy issues. I hope that the Board will continue to give this issue the seriousness it deserves and consider all options available to arrive at a meaningful solution before the ABA celebrates its sesquicentennial in 2028.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
I met my wife at the ABA Midyear Meeting in 2014. My wife is very active in the ABA but holds leadership positions in entities different from mine, and she represents a different jurisdiction than me in the House of Delegates. Although we both attend the ABA Annual and Midyear Meetings, we do not spend much time together because we attend different events. In every meeting, we encounter at least one person who has worked with each of us separately and is surprised when they learn for the first time that we are married.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
The ABA provides you with the opportunity to make a difference. Whether you want to develop policy, broaden your network or improve your professional skills, the ABA provides a meaningful opportunity to do it.
I want to take this opportunity to emphasize that the value of the ABA is not just in what it offers, but in what members bring to it. The ABA is at its strongest when it reflects the full diversity of the profession; and I do not just mean background or practice area, but also ideology. The ABA is designed as a federalist organization, but the benefits of federalism collapse when lawyers who hold certain political views or hail from particular regions choose not to participate. The ABA offers an unparalleled opportunity for lawyers to contribute to something larger than themselves, but that opportunity becomes less meaningful without the contributions of our entire community and a robust exchange of ideas.
John R. Tarpley
District 12
Shareholder, Lewis Thomason
Nashville, Tennessee
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
The mountain of great friends I have made over the last 40 years in the ABA is incredible. Each has impacted my life in countless ways. In addition, the professional network is second to none.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
I like numbers and have been involved financially in organizations throughout my time as a lawyer. I want there to be more transparency about our financial affairs, and I want the ABA to be on better financial footing.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
I grew up on a farm in Middle Tennessee, was an active 4-H kid, and have a degree in agriculture from the University of Tennessee. Go Vols!
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
The ABA is the place to be if you want to experience professional and personal growth. No one can be successful without both personal and professional growth, and the ABA has countless opportunities for you. There are unlimited opportunities to learn about legal issues and to grow individually.
Hon. Henry Hamilton III
District 19
Federal Administrative Law Judge, Social Security Administration
West Des Moines, Iowa
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
Through my involvement with the ABA, I’ve enjoyed amazing opportunities to improve my skills, share advice and advance the administration of justice. I’ve presented on CLEs, served in divisions, and collaborated on task forces alongside some of the most talented and thoughtful professionals in the field. The ABA’s diverse offerings to engage with colleagues across the country (and internationally) and share perspectives are unmatched. These experiences have been professionally rewarding and personally meaningful at each stage of my career and helped me grow as an attorney and as a judge.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
I hope to contribute towards strengthening the association’s financial stability for the long term. The work we do is far too important to be put at risk by financial uncertainty. We all share a responsibility to ensure the ABA remains strong, relevant and responsive to the evolving needs of both lawyers and the public.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
I was among a group of judges invited by the Venezuela government to observe its 2006 presidential election.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
No organization has more resources dedicated to ensuring the efficiency, success and profitability of the nation’s lawyers. Whatever you need to grow into the kind of lawyer you wish to become, the ABA has it. At the same time, you become part of a collective voice dedicated to preserving democracy, strengthening the administration of justice, and shaping a stronger and more impactful future for the legal profession.
Matthew Fisher
Section Member-at-Large (Health Law)
Partner, Hancock, Daniel & Johnson
Westborough, Massachusetts
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
The friendships that I have created through Health Law Section events and leadership are some of my most rewarding ABA experiences. The community within the Health Law Section goes well beyond just professional connections. Many of the folks are true friends, and we spend more time chatting about our lives and families than professional matters.
I can’t ignore the professional benefits, though. I chose to focus my career on an area of the law—health care—that my first firm did not have an established practice group in. Once I decided health law would be my focus, the connections I developed within the ABA Health Law Section were fundamental in me being able to succeed on my chosen path. I could and can call anyone I’ve met at any time for support.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
While on the Board of Governors, I hope to help drive change for the association. The association has faced a lot of headwinds in recent years for a variety of factors. Those forces are creating an inflection point for the association that must be seized for the future health of the association. I want to help create stronger alignment between the association and the sections, divisions and forums to set a stronger foundation—not just for weathering these tough times but for thriving in the future.
To help accomplish that goal, I hope to help the Board focus on tough decisions that will drive resets where appropriate. The association cannot bear to keep operating as it always has in the past, because the ground has shifted around it. Acknowledging those circumstances is the start of the process, which will then need commitment to riding out the tough times.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
I enjoy coaching both of my kids in sports. Without having played basketball for too long growing up, I have become the head coach for both of my kids (currently 13 and 9) over the past couple of years. I have learned a number of good lessons from other parents in my town but also take full advantage of the wealth of information and videos available on YouTube. It is a lot of fun watching the kids develop year over year. As I told my older kids at the end of the season, seeing them have fun on the court and get excited is one of the best possible experiences.
Those who know me in the Health Law Section also know that I want to visit a craft beer brewery in every state. Association and section events are very helpful. I’m currently over halfway there, which includes D.C.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
The association, in particular the Health Law Section, has enabled me to become the lawyer that I am today. Without the friendships and community that I found in the Health Law Section, it would have been hard to dive into a highly regulated and complex industry without the constant fear of not doing right by my clients. With all of the benefits that I have derived from the association, I want to ensure that others can receive those same benefits. The association may seem like a monolithic organization, but it is all about the people. Those connections are why I constantly encourage everyone I talk to to join and get involved.
Heidi Barcus
Section Member-at-Large (Law Practice)
Shareholder, Lewis Thomason
Knoxville, Tennessee
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
I joined the ABA early in my career as a young lawyer. At the time, I was working at a firm where attorneys were not expected—or encouraged—to build their own book of business. I understood early on that long-term stability and professional independence required learning how to become a rainmaker. The ABA provided exactly what I needed. Through the Law Practice Division, and the Women Rainmakers Committee, I found a community of lawyers who were generous with their time, candid about their experiences and committed to helping others succeed. One of the most consistently valuable aspects of my membership has been attending ABA Techshow. Techshow offers practical, immediately applicable insights that improve my day-to-day practice while keeping me at the forefront of how technology can enhance the delivery of legal services. Joining the ABA has been one of the most rewarding decisions of my professional life.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
My primary goal as a governor is to help communicate the value of association membership to lawyers at every stage of their careers. It is no secret that participation in organized bar associations has declined over time. Whether that shift is attributable to the lasting effects of COVID, the rise of a more digitally oriented generation of lawyers or broader changes in how professionals form community, the reasons are likely complex and multifaceted.
What I know with certainty is this: I would not have the practice, the professional confidence or the network of colleagues I enjoy today without the ABA. The ABA provided education, mentorship, leadership opportunities and a sense of belonging that shaped my career in meaningful and lasting ways. I believe that together we can more effectively and clearly tell the story of our organization to ensure that lawyers understand just how transformative engagement with the ABA can be.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
What most people do not know about me is that I once played flag football on the field at Neyland Stadium, home of the University of Tennessee Volunteers. As a law student at the University of Tennessee College of Law, I was as a linebacker for our intramural team and had the unforgettable experience of taking the field for the final round of competition. Neyland Stadium is often, though competitively so, the largest football stadium in the nation, with that distinction trading hands as seats are added around the country. Regardless of the numbers, there is nothing quite like standing on that field. We did not win the game, but we held our own—and perhaps most importantly, we all went on to pass the bar.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
There is simply no other professional organization that offers the same opportunity to learn, grow and connect with lawyers from across the country and at every stage of a legal career. The ABA provides an unparalleled forum where lawyers can improve their practices by learning from one another and engaging in meaningful dialogue about the profession. What makes the association powerful is the diversity of perspectives it brings together. It creates space for lawyers who might never otherwise cross paths to collaborate, mentor one another and build relationships that extend well beyond any single committee or meeting. Those relationships translate into better lawyering, stronger leadership and a deeper understanding of our shared professional responsibilities. In a time when many lawyers practice in increasingly isolated settings, the association provides a vital sense of professional belonging. It reminds us that while our practices may differ, we are united by common values.
Eileen M. Letts
Section Member-at-Large (Litigation)
Partner, Zuber Lawler
Chicago
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
I have made numerous lifelong friends in the ABA. I have been involved since my young lawyer days, and many of those same young lawyers have gone on to become presidents of the association. I have served on a number of committees where I have learned a lot. It is sometimes like seeing the sausage made and how we work together as lawyers with different life experiences, but we all want what is best for the profession, and that has been very gratifying.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
I would like to see the association grow its membership, and I would like to be involved in whatever those efforts are.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
That I have three members of my family who are lawyers.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
The ABA is a place where discussions and decisions are made about the profession. We have representatives from all areas of the profession, and there is a place at the table for everyone. The debates about issues are exciting, and that doesn’t happen in every organization.
Cali Franks-Field
Young Lawyer Member-at-Large
Attorney, Lawline
Dallas
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
Some of my closest friendships were forged through the Young Lawyers Division—connections with attorneys from across the country united by a shared commitment to elevating our profession and ourselves. One experience that stands out: being featured in TYL for "Mandatory but Fun: A Program Attorney," where I shared my story as a nontraditional lawyer. That piece was a reminder that there is no single "right" way to practice law or use a legal education, and that our profession is richer for it.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
I want to clearly and compellingly articulate the value of ABA membership, especially to young lawyers who may not yet see themselves reflected in it. Membership benefits are only as powerful as our ability to communicate them. My goal is to sharpen that message, grow our membership base and ensure the next generation of attorneys understands that the ABA is where they belong and where they can lead.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
I teach indoor cycling at my local CycleBar studio, and I just wrapped my rookie season as a professional cheerleader for a Dallas indoor soccer team. Law is my career, but movement, performance, and community are equally central to who I am. I've learned that the discipline, presence and connection those roles require make me a better attorney and a better leader.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
Because the law is bigger than any one of us. The ABA and bar service broadly is where many young lawyers earn their first real leadership opportunities: chairing a committee, leading a section, and building coalitions across the profession. Those experiences shape the partners, judges, and community leaders of tomorrow. The ABA doesn't just connect you to the profession; it gives you the tools and the platform to help define it.
Michelle Browning Coughlin
Goal III Member-at-Large
Law professor and director of the Lunsford Academy for Law, Business + Tech at Northern Kentucky University's Salmon P. Chase College of Law
Louisville, Kentucky
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
The most meaningful part of my experience in the ABA is the professional connections and dear friendships I have had the opportunity to build through the work. Serving on the Commission on Women in the Profession, and particularly co-chairing the Parents and Child Caregivers study, was the realization of a professional dream of mine. Working on the CWP, with the Center for Human Rights, Section of Intellectual Property Law and National Conference of Bar Presidents has meant working with some of the most thoughtful, brilliant, passionate people you could ever wish to know. Knowing the work the ABA and its members do to advocate for the profession, civics education, access to justice and human rights in the United States and abroad allows us all to connect to the deeper meaning and purpose that is at the core of what lawyers, and our profession, are meant to do.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
During my term, I would like to focus on continuing to strengthen connections between the ABA and law students and young lawyers, ensuring that membership feels valuable and accessible to them early in their careers. I believe the ABA gives law students and young lawyers an excellent pathway to understand the depth and breadth of law practice; tap into fulfilling pro bono opportunities; and begin building a robust, national network while still in law school—and all of these things will help to launch them into meaningful careers in our profession. Simultaneously, I see every day in my work the innovation, care and passion these law students bring with them, and I cannot wait to see the ways in which they shape and grow the ABA and our profession in the years to come.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
After college, I originally planned to become a doctor, but after completing the first semester of medical school, I decided to pursue a different path. I enrolled in a master's of social work program and began working as a social worker on a special police team responding to domestic violence 911 calls. I later worked as a school counselor and a community program manager before applying to law school and becoming a new mom. With a 9-month-old at home, I set out for law school, and right away I knew that I had found my path. After having my second daughter during law school, I became very passionate about issues of motherhood and gender equity, prompting me to create the now-national online group called MothersEsquire, co-chair the Parents and Caregivers study, write and speak on motherhood and caregiving issues, and even write a children’s book called My Mom, the Lawyer.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
I would encourage lawyers to join the ABA because whether you are a new lawyer, mid-career or moving into senior lawyer status, there are so many opportunities to connect with like-minded, focused professionals and contribute to meaningful work that shapes the profession. The ABA offers a platform to join your voice with that of the larger profession speaking as a whole to defend the critical role of lawyers in our society and protect vital systems of democracy and the rule of law. The cost of membership is immediately returned in terms of the numerous membership services, CLE programs and resources, but more than the services you receive as a member, I would—and do—encourage lawyers to join for the role you get to play in strengthening our profession and contributing to liberty and justice for all.
Brandon Lee Wolff
Goal III Member-at-Large
Solo practitioner and mediator
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
What positive experiences have you had with the ABA?
As a Young Lawyers Division district representative, I worked on expanding the definition of a young lawyer from the first five years of practice to the first 10 years. The YLD chair at the time wrote that I "made history and left a legacy.”
I was then elected as YLD treasurer and later as one of the YLD’s delegates to the House of Delegates. I worked on three resolutions which the House adopted to become ABA policy. I drafted the resolutions which the YLD Assembly adopted and then gathered support from different entities before the resolutions were adopted by the House. Specifically, I was the movant for a resolution focused on attorney wellness, which was the only resolution that had debate at that meeting before it was adopted. I also drafted a resolution focused on flexible work arrangements. Finally, I was the movant for a resolution focused on billable hour credit for bar service.
What would you like to accomplish during your term with the Board of Governors?
I served as the first chair of the Accessibility Subcommittee of the ABA House of Delegates’ Technology Committee. In this role, I was focused on making improvements to the accessibility of House meetings (in terms of physical accessibility to the stage/podium as well as the accessibility of the materials that are disseminated in advance of the meeting). I would like to build upon this effort by working to ensure that all ABA meetings and ABA publications are accessible.
As the YLD Treasurer, I implemented improvements such as giving members the option to receive publications digitally to save money on printing and postage. I would like to build on this effort by finding other ways the ABA can save money while also fulfilling the needs of our members.
Finally, I would like to work on efforts to recruit and retain members.
What is something not a lot of other ABA members know about you?
In high school, I started an anti-violence organization which focused on anti-bullying initiatives. I also hosted a show on my high school’s television station. In 2003, Erika Harold was Miss America, and her platform for the year was to address bullying. I learned that Erika was going to be speaking at a university near my school and arranged to interview her. Twenty-two years later, we were both lawyers and were able to reunite at the annual meeting in Toronto. Erika helped lead a study on bullying in the legal profession, which formed the basis of an ABA resolution. I was the movant for the resolution, which urged legal workplaces to establish policies, trainings and initiatives to promote equity and to prevent and reduce bullying in the legal profession.
I was also in a movie called Frozen Assets.
Why would you encourage other lawyers to join the association?
The ABA can provide you with many opportunities not only within the ABA but also outside of the ABA. For example, as a commissioner of the ABA Commission on Disability Rights, I have been able to participate on the Collaborative Bar Leadership Academy Steering Committee. I helped plan a session at the CBLA titled “Forging a Path to Bar Leadership: Disabled Lawyers Share Their Experiences.” My involvement with the commission also provided me with opportunities to serve as a panelist for a lunch-and-learn series for a regional law firm and also be a panelist for a law school diversity week program titled “Diversity and the Legal Profession: Amplifying Lawyers with Disabilities.”
In addition, as an ABA member, you will have colleagues and friends across the country. I have connected many attorneys as a result of my ABA connections and have had cases referred to me as well.
