AGENDA

In addition to the Bar Leadership Summit events, the Women’s Section of the Alabama State Bar is celebrating its 25th anniversary on Jan. 17 in Montgomery. All summit attendees are also invited to purchase tickets and attend the Women’s Section events.

Wednesday, January 17

10:30 A.M.-12 P.M. – 2024 WOMEN’S SECTION RECEPTION AND BRUNCH FOR WOMEN JUDGES AND RECOGNITION OF 50-YEAR MEMBERS

Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at Convention Center (Starlight Foyer)
201 Tallapoosa Street
Montgomery, AL 36104

Ticket price for attorneys: $60
Tickets for judges: complementary

Register here by Jan. 10.

3:00 P.M. – LEADERSHIP SUMMIT TOUR OF THE EQUAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE’S LEGACY MUSEUM IN MONTGOMERY. (No cost for tour.)

400 N Court St.
Montgomery, AL 36104

6:00-8:00 P.M. – ALABAMA STATE BAR WOMEN’S SECTION 25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATORY GALA

Central Restaurant
129 Coosa Street
Montgomery, AL 36104

Ticket price for Attendees: $85

Register here by Jan. 10.

Those who do not choose to attend the Gala can plan dinner on your own with other Bar Leadership Summit attendees.

Thursday, January 18

9:15 A.M. – BAR LEADERSHIP SUMMIT WELCOME 

Alabama State Bar Building
415 Dexter Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36104

9:30 A.M. – INTRODUCTIONS

Alabama State Bar President Brannon Buck

9:40 A.M. – SESSION I: MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS, MESSAGING, AND BRANDING

Melissa Warnke, Director of Communications of the Alabama State Bar, will share strategies for communicating with your members, effective messaging, and creating a brand for your organization. She will also provide practical advice for using AI and social media platforms to enhance your member communications. 

10:40 A.M. – SESSION II: STRATEGIC PLANNING IN A CHANGING LEGAL PROFESSION

Forrest Latta, Immediate Past-President of the Mobile Bar Association, Ann Sirmon, Executive Director of the Mobile Bar Association, and Terri Lovell, Executive Director of the Alabama State Bar, will discuss the benefits of and best practices for strategic planning in a profession with rapidly changing demographics and technologies.  The make-up of the legal profession and the practice of law will look completely different in ten years. This program will help your organization plan to navigate that uncertain future.

11:45 A.M. – BREAK AND LUNCH

12:30 P.M. – SESSION III: TWENTY IN SIXTY

In this sixty-minute, fast-moving session, we will learn about twenty successful initiatives that state and local bars and other associations have undertaken in the last five years.  Chad Coker, Director of Operations for the Alabama State Bar, will lead a lively discussion where you will hear from other attendees, learn from their successes, and come-away with a fresh set of ideas for your organization.  

1:30 P.M. – BREAK                                                      

1:40 P.M. – SESSION IV – BREAK-OUT ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

One of the benefits of having leaders throughout the profession all in one place is the opportunity to communicate and collaborate in person. We will break-out into smaller groups, matching leaders from organizations with common characteristics and missions, to discuss common challenges and opportunities. Alabama State Bar leadership will moderate the discussions, but this hour is our chance for informal dialogue and information sharing.                                   

2:45 P.M. – ADJOURN TO JUDGES CONFERENCE

Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at Convention Center
201 Tallapoosa Street
Montgomery, AL 36104

3:10 P.M. – 4:15 P.M. – BENCH & BAR CIVILITY PANEL AT JUDGES CONFERENCE

Well over fifty percent of lawyers have experienced incivility or unprofessional behavior from a fellow member of the bar in the last six months. The decline in civility among lawyers exacerbates stress and mental health problems in the profession. The public’s perception of lawyers is at an all-time low. We will join the Circuit and District Judges Associations Conference at the Renaissance Hotel for a panel discussion on how to promote and (re)instill a culture of civility and professionalism—a topic that affects every lawyer and every association in the profession.  

There will be opportunities to socialize with the judges attending their conference, other Bar Leadership Summit attendees, and Members of the Board of Bar Commissioners on Thursday evening. Events are still being finalized, and any updates to the agenda will be emailed to registrants.