Episodes

  • 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 mins
  • 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 mins
  • 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 mins
  • 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 mins
  • 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 mins
  • 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 mins
  • Celebrating 75 Years of NCBP

    Celebrating 75 Years of NCBP
    Aug 18 2025
    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 opportunities facing bar leaders today—from defending the rule of law amid growing politicization to bridging generational divides and embracing innovation. Dan and Patrick share candid insights on leadership, community-building, and how bar associations can remain vital in our rapidly changing legal landscape.
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    39 mins
  • Jeremy Evans on Leadership, Breaking Away, and Knowing When to Pivot

    Jeremy Evans on Leadership, Breaking Away, and Knowing When to Pivot
    Jul 21 2025
    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 the State Bar of California, explaining why voluntary bar associations are uniquely positioned to focus on education and advocacy. He reflects on how his passion for sports—including visiting all 30 Major League ballparks—helped shape his career, and encourages lawyers to think deeply about their goals and embrace the courage it takes to pivot. Evans also discusses how bar leaders can stay connected to their members, avoid mission drift, and balance the personal and professional benefits of volunteer leadership. This episode offers practical lessons for any lawyer interested in building meaningful relationships, creating positive change, and leading with purpose. California Lawyers Association: http://calawyers.org/California Lawyers Foundation: https://calawyersfoundation.org/California Sports Lawyer: https://www.csllegal.com/National Conference of Bar Presidents: https://ncbp.org/
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    54 mins