Strategic  Plan

  • Print Page

Overview

On June 9, 2020, the Board of Governors approved the strategic plan that will serve as the foundation for the Bar’s vision over the next five years.

The plan’s six priorities focus on the Bar’s vision of leading within the legal profession, empowering individuals, enhancing member value, providing public service and professional excellence, fostering community and connections, and encouraging organizational and operational excellence.

Process

In the fall of 2019, President Susan Hoffman appointed a Strategic Planning Committee, chaired by former President Tim Webster. Committee members were selected to represent the breadth of interests of the Bar’s 110,000+ strong member base. The American Bar Association’s Bar Services Division was engaged as a consultant to facilitate the process.

The Committee first surveyed the legal landscape and completed an in-depth assessment of the Bar’s programs and services. Our core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion were given significant emphasis throughout planning discussions. A thorough stakeholder analysis followed. To ensure priorities reflected the voices of all members, the Committee distributed a member-wide survey.

Once survey findings were aggregated and analyzed, topics and questions were drafted for focus groups and one-on-one interviews. Over six months, the Committee conducted dozens of facilitated discussions with members, staff, institutional partners, and legal profession and community leaders to obtain additional input and finalize the framework.

Looking Ahead

The Board of Governors’ affirmative vote signals the beginning of our five-year journey.

In coming months, executive leadership and staff will work closely with the Board of Governors to operationalize the plan. Immediate next steps include identifying organizational implications of the priorities and objectives; scoping and executing projects bound by performance metrics; and continuously reporting progress.

For the plan to truly reflect the voice of the membership, individual members are encouraged to share their feedback throughout the coming months.

The framework below integrates multiple interests and needs. It provides direction while giving the Bar the flexibility to adjust as circumstances warrant. It addresses immediate member and Bar needs, and encourages the Bar to explore longer-term trends impacting the profession. Finally, it balances the Bar’s responsibility to serve the public interest while supporting individual lawyers in the D.C.metro area and around the globe.

The D.C. Bar wants to hear your feedback! email or contact us via Twitter.

“We hope that the Strategic Plan will provide the direction and priorities to guide the Bar and serve our members effectively during challenging times and a changing legal environment in the five years ahead.” - Susan Hoffman, President

“The Strategic Planning Committee worked hard to provide the D.C. Bar with a critical tool for guiding organizational policy and initiatives for the next five years, not just a ‘paper tiger’ that would sit on the shelf.  We were able to build off of the excellent work of the Committee that developed the 2015-2020 plan by updating and fine tuning the strategic goals for the new decade.” - Timothy Webster, Chair, Strategic Planning Committee

D.C. Bar Strategic Plan

Skyline