Washington Lawyer - July 2017 - 49

What motivated you to take on the role of CEO of the D.C. Bar?
I know the Bar well from having served as president for the 2008-2009
term, from having worked with the Board of Governors, and from having
sat on Bar committees. The Bar has always been extremely well managed
and has an excellent staff. I'm coming in knowing that I will not have
to rebuild an organization or reorganize a dysfunctional operation. I'm
inheriting a smooth-running professional association with a tremendous
amount of talent that will provide an opportunity to build upon the work
of those who have preceded me.
At present, the Bar has a lot of exciting new initiatives underway. We have
a brand-new building under construction that will provide us with a permanent headquarters that is being built to our specifications. In addition,
we are putting a new leadership team in place, including new chief judges
at the D.C. Court of Appeals and D.C. Superior Court, and a new disciplinary
counsel. It's an exciting time. I made the decision to come to the Bar
because it brings me back to what I love most, which is public service.
How do you envision the primary mission of the Bar?
We have a statutory mission that is amplified by the bylaws that inform
what we need to do regarding the administration of justice and the maintenance of the lawyer discipline system. Secondly, we have a strategic plan
that speaks to what the members want and expect from us. One thing
members want is more engagement, not just to network with each other,
but to provide thought leadership in a rapidly changing professional environment. We have an incredible membership base here. Our members
range from U.S. Supreme Court justices to law clerks and law students, from
partners at prestigious international law firms to solo practitioners, from

federal and local government employees to public interest lawyers. When
it comes to thought leadership, we have incredible resources that we can
leverage, and I intend to be reaching out to the membership and soliciting
their talents, their views, their wisdom.
In your new role, what are some of your priorities?
Change can be unnerving, and, as I mentioned, the Bar is going through a
period of tremendous change. Priority number one is to keep the core functions of the Bar working smoothly, whether that's providing legal services to the
community, fulfilling our role in the administration of justice, or providing
services to the membership. Second, we need to fill some high-level vacancies
so that we have our full leadership team in place. Third, we are installing a new
association management system that will be critically important to our communication to the membership and to members' ability to communicate with each
other. Fourth, we need to ensure that the construction of the new headquarters
building stays on time and on budget, and then relocate to our new headquarters. Fifth, we want to implement our vision and programs while maintaining
increased transparency, responsiveness, and inclusion.
Right now, there is a lot happening - and it's all good. At the end of the day,
I want our members to feel that they are obtaining value from their association
with the D.C. Bar and the dues they pay. I want them to feel that they are supported and that they are welcome to become involved and engaged. I want
the D.C. Bar to be regarded as a positive force for good within the profession
and within the community.

Tim Wells is managing editor of Washington Lawyer.

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