Be a Leader

Looking for a chance to lead? To grow? To make a difference in your legal community? Let the NSBA help connect you with great leadership opportunities!

NSBA Elected Leadership

The NSBA is governed and administered by an elected President, a House of Delegates and an Executive Council. Each year the NSBA holds an election, where members vote for their representatives in the Executive Council, House of Delegates and the President-Elect Designate, who will eventually ascend to be the NSBA President. 

But how does one get on the ballot? In the spring, the NSBA announces its notice of elections and provides instructions and a nominating petition, which requires the signatures of members who are eligible to vote. The filing period for the nomination and biographical information takes place during the month of April. NSBA elections take place in July.

Election Schedules

The election schedule for President-Elect Designate for the coming years is presented below:

• 2025: Greater Nebraska
  
• 2026: Douglas/Sarpy Counties
• 2027: Lancaster
• 2028: Douglas/Sarpy Counties
• 2029: Greater Nebraska

The Executive Council election schedule for the coming years is presented below by district:

• District 1 elections: 2026, 2030, 2034
• District 2 elections: 2027, 2031, 2035
• District 3: elections: 2027, 2031, 2035
• District 4 elections: 2025, 2029, 2033
• District 5 elections: 2028, 2032, 2036
• District 6 elections: 2028, 2032, 2036

House of Delegates elections are held in odd-numbered years (2025, 2027, 2029). Elections for odd numbered districts and even numbered districts rotate. For example, in 2024, there will be no House elections. In 2025, elections will be held for odd-numbered districts. In 2026, there will be no house elections. In 2027, elections will be held for even numbered districts.

Section Leadership

The NSBA has 31 Sections, each with their own Chair and Executive Committee. In addition to a great opportunity to demonstrate and develop leadership skills, serving in Section leadership also provides other opportunities including: networking; shaping the future of law, practice and procedure and continuing education opportunities; public service, and an opportunity to market yourself as a lawyer.  Section leaders are generally elected by members of the Section at their Annual Meeting (typically held in October). If you are interested in Section leadership, please contact Bri Petersen. 

NSBA Committees

Much of the Association’s work on behalf of its members is carried out by its Committees. Committees generally fall into three categories: Administrative, Professional Enhancement and Administration of/Access to Justice. Ever wonder how NSBA committees are chosen? They’re appointed each November by the NSBA President and/or the Chair of the House of Delegates (and at other times upon request). Nominate yourself using this form. Descriptions of each committee's respective functions are provided below.

Administrative Committees

• Budget and Planning: Develops and recommends the NSBA annual budget.
• Barristers Ball: Plans a black-tie gala for the purpose of raising funds to support the Nebraska Lawyers Foundation.
• Elections: Supervises and certifies the results of NSBA elections.
• Investment: Manages the investment portfolio of the NSBA.
• Nominations: Makes nominations for Chair-Elect Designate of the House, ABA Delegates, NSBF Board and the NSBA Public Service Awards.
• Rules and Bylaws: Drafts for consideration and adoption by the House of Delegates any required amendments to the House Rules and/or Bylaws, and revisions to the Nebraska Supreme Court Rules, Creating, Controlling and Regulating the Nebraska State Bar Association. 

Professional Enhancement Committees

• Annual Meeting: Plans the NSBA Annual Meeting.
• Education: Assists with identifying needs and planning continuing legal education programs sponsored by the NSBA.
• Fee Arbitration: Provides voluntary arbitration of fee disputes between attorneys and clients.
• Professional Enhancement: Makes recommendations concerning the ethical standards applicable to the members of the NSBA and the rules and regulations for professional responsibility.
• Publications: Serves as the Editorial Board for The Nebraska Lawyer magazine.
• Legal Forms: Identifies and drafts forms to make available through NebDocs.
• LSAT Prep Scholarship Committee: Makes recommendations regarding the Nebraska Lawyers Foundation’s LSAT Prep Diversity Scholarship.
• Membership Support: Makes recommendations regarding NSBA member benefits.
• Nebraska Find a Lawyer Advisory Committee: Makes recommendations regarding the NSBA’s lawyer referral website.
• Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Program Advisory Committee: Makes recommendations concerning the Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Program.
• Nebraska Lawyers Assistance Program Support: Provides assistance to lawyers, judges and law students troubled by substance abuse problems, stress, depression and other types of issues, disabilities, illnesses, or injuries which may impair their ability to perform in a competent and professional manner.
• Real Estate Practice Guidelines: Proposes rules that will assist in the orderly and efficient transfer of land titles and reviews and proposes changes in existing title examination standards. 

Administration of and Access to Justice

• NSBA Judicial Resources Committee: Establishes the NSBA’s position on the allocation of judicial resources. Makes recommendations to the Judicial Resources Commission.
• Legal Services: Responsible for the programs, policies and guidelines for volunteer legal services.
• Legislation: Establishes the NSBA’s position on legislation.
• Practice and Procedure: Monitors, studies and evaluates the laws and proposed laws of the state and the rules of court which relate to civil, criminal or juvenile practice.
• Rural Practice Initiative: Increase access to legal services in underserved legal communities by facilitating the placement of law students and attorneys in rural communities.

Leadership Positions within the Legal Community

The NSBA plays a role in nominating lawyers for various leadership positions.

If you are interested in learning more about these opportunities, please contact Liz Neeley at the NSBA (unless otherwise noted).

• ABA Delegates: Serves on the governing body of the American Bar Association.
• Client Assistance Fund: Assists claimants in recovering losses caused by dishonest conduct committed by Nebraska lawyers.
• Commission on the Unauthorized Practice of Law: Protects the public from potential harm caused by the actions of nonlawyers engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.
• Judicial Nominating Commissions: As a member of a Judicial Nominating Commission, you have a serious responsibility to the citizens of your state to exert your best efforts in finding the most qualified individuals to accept nomination for judicial office. For more information, contact the Clerk of the Supreme Court.
• Judicial Resources Commission: Recommends judicial resource allocation across the state of Nebraska.
• Judicial Qualifications Commission: Reviews complaints submitted by any citizen concerning the ethical conduct of judges in Nebraska.
• Legal Aid of Nebraska Board: Governing body for Legal Aid of Nebraska.
• Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy: Assists Nebraska counties in providing indigent criminal defense services.
• Nebraska Lawyers Trust Account Foundation: Administers the Interest On Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) program.
• Nebraska State Bar Association Health Insurance Consortium: Governs the NSBA Health Insurance Consortium, a health insurance plan for eligible members of the Nebraska State Bar Association.
• Nebraska State Bar Foundation Board: Provides civics education.
• Racial Profiling Advisory Committee: Makes recommendations with the respect to the prevention of racial profiling by law enforcement agencies.
• Legal Education for Public Service and Rural Practice Loan Repayment Assistance Board: Administers a loan repayment assistance program for public interest lawyers and lawyers serving underserved rural communities.
• Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation: Studies laws and regulations relating to oil and gas, mining, energy, public lands, water, environmental and international law.