State Bar Committees
You can help shape your profession's future and network with your colleagues by serving on one of the State Bar's standing or special committees. Each year, the incoming State Bar president fills the open spots on standing committees and appoints members of the special committees.
Interested in volunteering but want to learn more about what opportunities are available and what time commitment is involved?
- Additional information about each of the State Bar Committees can be found here.
- An estimated Committee Volunteer Time Commitment fact sheet for each of the State Bar Committees can be found
here.
Ready to volunteer to serve on a committee?
About State Bar Elections
Would you like to become more involved in State Bar activities? Consider serving your colleagues and helping shape the profession as an officer, Board of Governors representative, or a section or division officer.
Election ballots will be mailed by the second Friday in April, and ballots must be returned to the State by no later than the fourth Friday in April. Those elected will take office on July 1.
State Bar offices
The State Bar annually elects a president-elect, treasurer or secretary, and a Judicial Council representative. A Nominating Committee, appointed by the president, chooses two or more candidates to run for these offices. The Nominating Committee announces its slate of candidates by Dec. 15. Members also can self-nominate by submitting to the State Bar a petition signed by 100 active Bar members by Feb. 1. For more information or to receive a petition, contact
Kim Jansen at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106, (608) 250-6106.
Board of Governors. Districts 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 elect governors in odd years. Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 elect governors in even years. District 2 (Milwaukee County) elects seven governors in odd years and five governors in even years. District 9 (Dane County) elects three governors in odd years and four governors in even years, and all other districts elect one governor. The
Board of Governors is the State Bar's policymaking body. Governors serve two-year terms.
To be considered for a seat on the board, members must submit a
petition signed by 10 active members in their district to the State Bar by the first business day of March.
For more information, contact
Kim Jansen at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6106, (608) 250-6106.
Learn more about State Bar elections here.
Divisions
The State Bar's
divisions hold annual elections in April.
By mailed ballot, Government Lawyers Division (GLD) members elect a president-elect, secretary, treasurer, and three division directors to serve two-year terms in odd years. Three division directors are elected to serve two-year terms in even years. GLD members interested in being nominated are invited to write to the GLD Nominating Committee in care of the
State Bar by Jan. 16.
By mailed ballot, active and emeritus status Nonresident Lawyers Division (NRLD) members elect a president-elect for a one-year term, and a secretary, treasurer, and five directors to serve two year terms in odd years. In even years, a president-elect for a one-year term and five directors for two-year terms are elected. Those active and emeritus status NRLD members interested in running are asked to send their resumes and letters of interest to NRLD Nominating Committee in care of the
State Bar by Jan. 15.
The following Senior Lawyers Division (SLD) positions are elected each spring: a president-elect for a one-year term, a secretary (in odd years), a treasurer (in even years), and three directors to serve two-year terms. According to the SLD bylaws, if the election is uncontested, no ballots will be mailed. Interested members are invited to write to the SLD Nominating Committee in care of the
State Bar by Jan. 16.
Each April the Young Lawyers Division (YLD) members elect the division president-elect by mailed ballot. Members interested in running for division president--elect are invited to write to the YLD Nominating Committee Chair in care of the
State Bar by Feb. 1. YLD directors, the secretary, and treasurer are elected during the annual meeting in May, by nomination from the floor.
Sections
Members interested in running for board positions on any of the State Bar's
sections should contact the appropriate section chair.
ABA Delegates
State Bar of Wisconsin ABA Delegates (elected by Board of Governors for a two-year term)
- Jose Castro (Young Lawyer Delegate) (2025)
- Elisabeth T. Bridge (2026)
- Renee A. Read (2025)
- Tatiana Shirasaki (2026)
- Amy E. Wochos (2026)
State of Wisconsin Delegate (elected by Wisconsin ABA members for a three-year term)
Nominations
Nomination guidelines for these positions can be found in the
State Bar Bylaws, Article III.
The State Bar Board of Governors elects representatives to the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates at the board meeting held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the State Bar of Wisconsin each year. Three representatives are elected in even-numbered years, and two representatives are elected in odd-numbered years. One of the two positions elected in an odd-numbered year must be held by a young lawyer who is otherwise qualified under the ABA Constitution. Terms begin immediately following the ABA annual meeting in August.
Petitions must be filed with State Bar Executive Director by April 15.
