The theory for this, advanced by a task force on governance in 1995, was that the board could reach further to candidates who had not served as governors if those candidates then got a year to sit in on all meetings and get up to speed on the operations of the board and the Bar. WSBA staff are much better organized to support the president now than used to be the case. That takes a lot of the logistical burdens away. As things stand, it s not a requirement, but tends to be the result. It s important that we continue our progress and cast a wider net for the presidency than we have in the past.
People can, of course, think what they like.
But read the papers. The census figures now being released record dramatic ethnic changes in our population over the last 10 years. The New York Times reported in March that, nationwide, over half of all law students are women, up from 10 percent just 30 years ago. Change is happening underneath us. The Young Lawyers Division, our most youthful membership cohort, is running circles around the rest of the Bar in opening its leadership to all of its members women, minorities and without stacking decks, or lots of promotional fuss.