Leading the Bar

Strong bar leadership begins with strong governance, and the Washington State Bar Association has set an example of both. Amanda Arriaga and Patrick Palace welcome Francis Adewale and Terra Nevitt to celebrate the WSBA's accomplishments and reflect on the leadership, collaboration, and strategic vision that have shaped their organization. Together, they discuss what makes effective bar governance,...

What does it take to lead today's legal profession? In Season 2 of Leading the Bar, now also on VIDEO, we continue to explore what it takes to lead today's legal profession. Hear from bar presidents and other legal leaders as they discuss navigating challenges, driving innovation, strengthening their organizations, and preparing the profession for what's next. Through candid conversations and real...

In certain capacities, artificial intelligence is quite capable of doing quality legal work. It may enhance a lawyer’s workflows, provide new opportunities for access to justice, assist in legal research—the possibilities seem innumerable. So, should we be fearful of its potential? Are we all out of a job? Amanda Arriaga and Patrick Palace welcome Ed Walters to talk through the ethics and opportun...

In the 75-year history of the NCBP, only 10 of its presidents have been female. In this episode, Amanda Arriaga talks with two of these trailblazing women, Marna Tucker and Jennifer Parent, to hear their stories of leadership and inspire future generations of women as they pursue leading roles in law. They reflect on the challenges they faced on their paths to leadership roles, the mentors and mom...

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 the next episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina president of the Austin Bar talks to Robin Wolpert, Past President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents (NCBP...

Strengthening relationships between the bench and the bar is essential to the health of our legal system and the effectiveness of professional collaboration, but achieving that alignment is not always straightforward. Building on their plenary session at the NCBP Midyear Meeting, Judges Bridget Duignan and Ann Keele join us to go into greater depth on strategies for fostering stronger cooperation...

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 Tekey Wallace, President-Elect of the Military Spouse JD Network (MSJDN) and...

At the NCBP’s Midyear Meeting in San Antonio, Amanda Arriaga sat down with conference speaker Michael Ariens, professor at St. Mary’s School of Law, for a deeper discussion on law, democracy, and ways to engage with the challenges we see in both the legal profession and our society at large. They discuss the relevance of the Declaration of Independence as we celebrate its 250th anniversary and wre...

Six months into his presidency, Patrick Palace joins host Amanda Arriaga for a candid check-in on his leadership, priorities, and vision for the future. Patrick reflects on the path that led him to the practice of law and the values that continue to shape his work, especially his dedication to preserving the independence and integrity of the legal profession. The conversation explores his efforts...

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 the next episode of the Council of Firsts, Amanda Arriaga, first Latina president of the Austin Bar, talks to Kathleen Wilkinson, past president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and past...

Leadership doesn’t always come naturally; it is a skill developed through service, mentorship, and a deep commitment to others. In this episode, Amanda Arriaga and Patrick Palace welcome Nate Alder, a longtime leader in multiple associations, including the NCBP. Drawing on his many years of service, Nate shares insights that deepen our understanding of how to lead with humility and a genuine commi...

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 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...

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 cult...

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, Jonath...

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, P...

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...

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...

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 underst...

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,...

In this special episode of Leading the Bar, we celebrate 75 years of the National Conference of Bar Presidents with outgoing president Dan Cotter and incoming president Patrick Palace. Host Amanda Arriaga leads a conversation about the evolving role of bar associations and the enduring mission of NCBP to empower, connect, and inspire legal leaders. They explore the evolving challenges and opportun...

Jeremy Evans, founder of California Sports Lawyer and past president of the California Lawyers Association, joins Amanda Arriaga and Lynette Paczkowski on the second episode of Leading the Bar, the podcast from the National Conference of Bar Presidents designed to help lawyers engage and grow as leaders. Evans shares insights from helping lead the creation of CLA after its historic separation from...

Legal lions and TV judges Keith and Dana Cutler join Amanda Arriaga on the inaugural episode of "Leading the Bar," a new podcast from the National Conference of Bar Presidents designed to help lawyers engage and grow as leaders. With over 75 years of collective experience, the Cutlers, known for their roles on "Couples Court with the Cutlers" and "Cutler's Court," share their insights into the imp...

Bar presidents share strategies, tools and insights for attorneys growing into leadership roles. Learn from real stories of growth, crisis management, and innovation in NCBP's Leading the Bar podcast. Listen monthly for compelling stories the next generation of lawyer-leaders can use to develop skills, confidence, and vision to lead with purpose and integrity.