Épisodes

  • Discussion with Melissa Johnson, Past President of the San Diego Bar Association

    Discussion with Melissa Johnson, Past President of the San Diego Bar Association
    Dec 15 2025
    In the next episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina president of the Austin Bar, talks to Melissa Johnson, Past President of the San Diego Bar Association and Executive Council member of the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP). This episode was recorded at the American Bar Association/ National Conference of Bar Presidents meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. To learn more about NCBP, visit https://ncbp.org
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    18 min
  • Women Leading the Way: Conversations with NCBP Trailblazers

    Women Leading the Way: Conversations with NCBP Trailblazers
    Dec 1 2025
    The National Council of Bar Presidents has had only 10 female presidents in its 75-year history, but women have become increasingly prominent in leadership in recent decades. In this episode, Amanda Arriaga speaks with three of the NCBP’s female presidents about their leadership experiences and their efforts to advance diversity within the profession. They underscore the importance of leaders cultivating strong relationships and acting as a source of encouragement and support for those who follow in their footsteps. Kay Hodge served as NCBP President from 2007-2008 and was also its first Asian president. She is also a Past-President of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Mary Torres served as NCBP President from 2009-2010 and was its first Hispanic female president. She was also the first Hispanic female President of the New Mexico Bar Association. Karol Corbin Walker served as NCBP President from 2012-2013 and was its first African American female president. She was also the first African American President of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
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    38 min
  • Bar Leadership in Action: Wellness, Technology, and the Rule of Law

    Bar Leadership in Action: Wellness, Technology, and the Rule of Law
    Nov 17 2025
    At ClioCon 2025, Patrick Palace sat down with bar leaders from across the country to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing bar associations and their members today. Jonathan Dunitz shares his deep commitment to promoting wellness and destigmatizing mental health and substance use challenges within the legal profession. Drawing on his own experiences with depression as an attorney, Jonathan offers a personal and insightful perspective, along with practical strategies and resources bar associations can implement to support their members. Next, Kevin Plachy highlights his bar association’s research into technology adoption and understanding among legal professionals. He presents key findings from the Washington State Bar Legal Technology Task Force’s survey, Embracing Change: Strategic Roadmap for Washington’s Legal Profession in a Time of Technology Disruption, and offers actionable advice for how bar associations can help their members embrace and adapt to technological change. Finally, John Mudd discusses fostering bar community and transcending cultural and political divides. He shares how the State Bar of Montana works to uphold professional ethics and the rules of professional conduct—ensuring that lawyers honor their oaths to protect both the rule of law and the people they serve. Jonathan M. Dunitz is Counsel at Verrill’s Portland, Maine office and is a Past President of the Maine State Bar Association. Kevin Plachy is Director of Advancement at the Washington State Bar. John Mudd is Executive Director of the State Bar of Montana.
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    43 min
  • Good Governance – Continuity, Culture, and Change

    Good Governance – Continuity, Culture, and Change
    Nov 3 2025
    Strong governance keeps a bar association thriving through generations of leadership. In this episode, host Amanda Arriaga sits down with leaders from the Allegheny County Bar Association to explore how their thoughtful leadership, strategic planning, and commitment to mission and values has brought lasting success. Executive Director Dave Blaner, Assistant Executive Director Thomas Petropoulos, President Amy Coco, Immediate Past President Regina Wilson, and President-Elect Daniel Fitzsimmons share how their organization has built a culture of stability and innovation. As Mr. Blaner prepares to retire in the summer of 2026, he, Mr. Petropoulos and the leadership of the Bar association discuss the multi-year leadership transition process that has prepared the association for seamless continuity as they move into the future. From maintaining financial health to deeply investing in legal community relationships, this conversation highlights how the ACBA continues to grow and adapt while staying true to its mission—proving that effective governance is both an art and a long-term investment in the bar’s legacy.
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    50 min
  • Discussion with Juan Thomas, Past President of the National Bar Association and President Elect of NCBP

    Discussion with Juan Thomas, Past President of the National Bar Association and President Elect of NCBP
    Oct 20 2025
    This bonus episode of Leading the Bar features a special installment from the Council of Firsts series, which spotlights trailblazing leaders who were the “first” to break barriers in their bar associations. In this episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina president of the Austin Bar, talks to Juan Thomas, past president of the National Bar Association and President-elect of the National Conference of Bar Presidents. (NCBP). This episode was recorded at the American Bar Association/ National Conference of Bar Presidents meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, and includes a new introduction by Amanda Arriaga and Patrick Palace, NCBP President. To learn more about NCBP, visit https://ncbp.org
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    22 min
  • Discussion with Carl Smallwood, Director of the Divided Community Project at Moritz Law School and the first African American President of the Columbus Bar Association

    Discussion with Carl Smallwood, Director of the Divided Community Project at Moritz Law School and the first African American President of the Columbus Bar Association
    Sep 22 2025
    This bonus episode of Leading the Bar features a special installment from the Council of Firsts series, which spotlights trailblazing leaders who were the “first” to break barriers in their bar associations. ----- In this episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina president of the Austin Bar talks to Carl Smallwood, Director of the Divided Community Project at Moritz Law School and the first African American President of the Columbus Bar Association. This episode was recorded at the American Bar Association/National Conference of Bar Presidents meeting in Louisville, Kentucky. To learn more about NCBP, visit https://ncbp.org For more information about the Divided Community Project, visit https://go.osu.edu/dcp. To contact Carl directly, you can find him at smallwood.21@osu.edu. For more resources about DCP’s democracy work, visit https://go.osu.edu/dcpdemocracy or Speaking Out to Strengthen the Guardrails of Democracy. For information about the American Bar Association’s Task Force and Advisory Commission on American Democracy, visit https://ambar.org/democracy. For additional resources about the rule of law, the World Justice Project can be found at https://worldjusticeproject.org/
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    35 min
  • Your Questions, Answered: Bar Leaders at NCBP

    Your Questions, Answered: Bar Leaders at NCBP
    Sep 15 2025
    Bar leaders care deeply about the mission and values of their associations, but no leader has it all figured out. In this special episode following the NCBP Annual Meeting, a panel of bar leaders tackles the real, pressing questions submitted by you, their peers, at the conference. Amanda Arriaga welcomes Patrick Palace, Lynette Paczkowski, and Robin Wolpert to share candid perspectives on understanding member needs, navigating political tension, managing leadership transitions, leading across diverse regions, and much more. This thoughtful conversation offers honest insights into many of the complexities of modern bar leadership.
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    49 min
  • Leadership in Action: How Bar Involvement Shapes Legal Careers

    Leadership in Action: How Bar Involvement Shapes Legal Careers
    Aug 25 2025
    In this collaborative episode from the National Conference of Bar Presidents’ Leading the Bar podcast and the Chicago Bar Association’s @theBar podcast, host Amanda Arriaga talks with Dan Cotter, Trisha Rich, and Jonathan Amarilio about the impact of bar leadership on their professional lives. The conversation explores how bar associations serve as a springboard for career development, mentorship, and service to the legal community. From initial involvement to holding top leadership positions, each guest offers insights into why giving back through bar service has been both personally and professionally meaningful. Dan Cotter just completed his term as President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents and is a Past President of the Chicago Bar Association. Trisha Rich is the First Vice President of the Chicago Bar Association and served as co-host of the @theBar Podcast for many years. Jonathan Amarilio is Treasurer of the Chicago Bar Association and co-founded the @theBar Podcast.
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    30 min