D.C. Bar Standing Committees

The Attorney/Client Arbitration Board (ACAB) oversees a Fee Arbitration Service which includes a Voluntary Mediation Program. The Fee Arbitration Service has jurisdiction over disputes about fees paid, charged or claimed for legal services between attorneys and their clients. It includes a mandatory program for attorneys when named as respondents, and for clients when named as respondents where the parties entered into a pre–dispute agreement to arbitrate fee disputes if the agreement complies with Legal Ethics Opinion 376. It also includes a voluntary program when clients are named as respondents in the absence of a pre-dispute agreement between the parties addressing how fee disputes will be handled. The ACAB consists of 11 members — seven active members of the Bar and four nonlawyers. The ACAB holds approximately five to six committee meetings, one arbitrator training session, and one arbitrator and mediator appreciation reception per year.

The Audit Committee provides independent oversight of the D.C. Bar and D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center’s financial reporting, internal controls, and audit functions, on behalf of the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar and the Board of Directors of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center.

The Budget Committee assists the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar and the Board of Directors of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center in its duty to make appropriations and authorize disbursements from the funds of the D.C. Bar and D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center (collectively, the “Organization”) by overseeing the preparation of, and amendments to, the Organization’s operating and capital project budgets. The committee helps identify and allocate resources to meet organizational and program objectives and satisfy the Board’s fiduciary duties to responsibly use of member license fees.

The Communities Committee oversees the operation of the D.C. Bar Communities Program which advances the professional development and competence of members of the D.C. Bar by delivering high-quality educational programming and professional networking opportunities. The committee serves as a liaison entity between the D.C. Bar Board of Governors and the voluntary Communities; ensures compliance of Communities and their steering committees with Communities Policies and Procedures; and advises the D.C. Bar Communities staff on governance and programming.

The Continuing Legal Education Committee oversees the District of Columbia Bar Continuing Legal Education Program and the education component of the Mandatory Course on the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct and District of Columbia Practice. The committee evaluates course proposals, develops course ideas, and recommends course chairs and faculty members.

The Executive Committee is authorized to exercise all the powers and perform all the duties of the D.C. Bar Board of Governors (“Board”) between the regular Board meetings, except the committee shall not, unless otherwise authorized by the Board, (a) amend the by-laws, (b) make rules or regulations governing nominations or elections, or (c) initiate the taking of any referendum or poll of members of the Bar. The committee shall also perform such duties as called upon by the Board.

(Previously Regulations/Rules/Board Procedures Committee)

The Governance Committee reviews the District of Columbia Court of Appeals Rules Governing the District of Columbia Bar, the D.C. Bar Bylaws, and the D.C. Bar Membership Manual and proposes changes as needed. The committee reviews other policies and procedures of the D.C. Bar and D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center upon request of the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar or the Board of Directors of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center.

The Innovations in Legal Practice Committee, formerly called the Global Legal Practice Committee, studies issues arising from globalization in the practice of law that have a significant impact on law practice for the D.C. Bar and its members. The committee makes recommendations concerning the changing models for obtaining and delivering legal services in the United States and abroad. These models include but are not limited to, alternative legal services providers, business structures, multi-disciplinary practices, non-traditional financing of law practice operations, and regulatory innovations for the protection of consumers of legal services.

The Investment Committee assists the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar and the Board of Directors of the D.C. Bar Pro Bone Center in its duty to oversee the D.C. Bar and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center’s (collectively, the “Organization”) investment matters by monitoring, reviewing, and reporting on the Organization’s investment activities and performance; as well as on the activities, services, and advice provided or facilitated by any independent investment advisers engaged by the Organization.

The Judicial Evaluation Committee conducts annual confidential evaluations of selected judges on the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia by way of an online survey instrument. The committee’s purpose is to create a fair, secure, and anonymous tool for D.C. Bar members to evaluate D.C. Court judges and to provide that feedback to the Chief Judges of the D.C. Courts and the D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure. The committee uses an independent consultant to administer the survey to streamline the survey process and provide a secure and anonymous method of evaluation, thus encouraging candid responses and reaching a broader participant pool.

The Lawyer Assistance Program (LAP) assists individuals with substance abuse, mental health (including stress), and emotional problems that interfere with their professional or personal lives. The LAP’s services are available to members of the D.C. Bar, judges serving on any court located within the District of Columbia, applicants for admission to the D.C. Bar, and law students enrolled in law schools located in the District of Columbia if they have stated the intent to apply for D.C. Bar membership. Members of the Lawyer Assistance Committee address policy issues, help with outreach, and identify ways to improve the program.

The Leadership Development Committee oversees the District of Columbia Bar John Payton Leadership Academy (“Academy”) and its education component. The committee assists with outreach and recruitment for the Academy and nurtures the continued leadership development of Academy alumni within the D.C. Bar and the legal community. The committee also assesses the need for and develops and promotes additional leadership training opportunities.

The Legal Ethics Committee issues formal opinions on questions arising under the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct. The D.C. Bar Board of Governors typically appoints lawyers with experience in legal ethics including teaching, advising one’s firm or agency, writing and/or serving on a related committee.

The Nominations Committee presents a slate of candidates to the membership in accordance with the procedures set forth in the District of Columbia Bar Bylaws. The committee actively recruits and solicits well-qualified and eligible D.C. Bar members as nominees to run for election for the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar and the Board of Directors of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center the American Bar Association House of Delegates.

The Pension Committee oversees the activities of the D.C. Bar Staff Retirement Committee. The Staff Retirement Committee administers the staff retirement plans sponsored by the D.C. Bar and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, including the D.C. Bar Employees’ Money Purchase Pension Plan, the D.C. Bar Deferred Compensation Plan, the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Voluntary Retirement Savings Plan, and other plans approved by the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar and Board of Directors of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center.

The Pro Bono Committee advises the Board of Directors of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center and provides voluntary oversight of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center activities including, but not limited to, its clinics, projects, programs, community outreach initiatives, fundraising activities, and financial affairs.

The Rules of Professional Conduct Review Committee reviews the D.C. Rules of Professional Conduct (“D.C. Rules”). On its own initiative, or upon request by the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar (“Board”), members of the D.C. Bar, the courts, or the public, the committee examines a particular rule or rules and may make recommendations to the Board. The committee also reviews changes to the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct proposed and adopted by the American Bar Association and considers related developments or events that may warrant changes to the D.C. Rules.

The Screening Committee recommends to the Board of Governors of the D.C. Bar the appointment of qualified individuals to serve on certain D.C. Bar committees and Commissions or boards of organizations to which the D.C. Bar is statutorily mandated to appoint or recommend members. The Committee recommends the appointment of qualified individuals to the following entities:

1. Neighborhood Legal Services Program
2. D.C. Judicial Nomination Commission
3. D.C. Commission on Judicial Disabilities and Tenure
4. Attorney/Client Arbitration Board
5. Rules of Professional Conduct Review Committee
6. Legal Ethics Committee
7. District of Columbia Bar Foundation
8. Board on Professional Responsibility
9. Clients’ Security Fund