Appointments Committee

Mission

Recommend to the Board of Governors the appointment of members to fill openings on state-wide boards, committees and commissions. Achieve a "balance" in all appointments as they relate to each voluntary professional activity, i.e., age, gender, geography, ethnicity, area of practice.

Time Commitment: The Committee meets approximately 7 times per year, usually for 2 hours.

The Committee and the Board of Governors consider all aspects of diversity in their recommendations and appointments.

Apply Now

For more information, including public meeting information, please contact:

Genna Barela
4201 N. 24th Street, Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85016-6266
602.340.7201
Genna.Barela@staff.azbar.org

Professional Volunteer Opportunities (see below)

The State Bar Appointments Committee is currently accepting applications from Active Members to fill the following upcoming vacancies. Application forms are due at the State Bar office by the deadlines noted and can be obtained by contacting Genna.Barela@staff.azbar.org or calling 602.340.7201. Click on the link below to download an attorney (or non-attorney public member) application form.

The Standing Appointments Committee and the Board of Governors consider all aspects of diversity in their recommendations and appointments.

Deadline Extended: Monday, November 18, 2024.

Attorney Application Form here.

Non-Attorney Public Member Application Form here.

The Board of Governors will address openings on the following entities during 2024-2025:

• American Bar Association House of Delegates
• Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct
• Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness
• Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Examinations
• City of Mesa Judicial Advisory Board
• City of Surprise Judicial Selection Advisory Board
• Client Protection Fund Board of Trustees
• Community Legal Services Board of Directors
• DNA-People's Legal Services Inc. Board of Directors
• State Bar of Arizona Board of Governors – Non-Lawyer Members
• State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization – Non-Lawyer Members and a Law School Representative

The Board of Governors' Special Constitutional Appointments Committee recruits and screens applicants for the following judicial nominating commissions (go to https://www.azbar.org/about-us/board-of-governors/board-committees/special-constitutional-appointments-committee/):

• Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments
• Coconino County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
• Maricopa County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
• Pima County Commission on Trial Court Appointments
• Pinal County Commission on Trial Court Appointments

For more information about these professional volunteer positions, contact Genna.Barela@staff.azbar.org or call 602.340.7201.

State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization (2 Public Members, 1 Law School Representative) - Application Deadline Extended to November 18, 2024

Purpose: The Board of Legal Specialization (BLS), under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court, administers the program for the certification of legal specialists in 10 practice areas: administrative, bankruptcy, construction defect, criminal law, estate and trust, family law, personal injury and wrongful death, real estate, tax, and workers’ compensation. Identifying attorneys who have a high degree of experience in certain fields of law improves the quality of legal services and provides useful information for those seeking legal services.

The 13-member BLS consists of eight practicing attorneys who are Active Members of, and in good standing with, the State Bar of Arizona. The Board’s composition is four certified legal specialists and four lawyers who are not specialists, one representative from an ABA-accredited law school in Arizona, and four members of the public.

Openings: Nine; two certified legal specialists, two active attorneys who are not certified legal specialists, four non-attorney public members, and a representative from an ABA-accredited Arizona law school. Per policy, judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible. The Board of Governors will submit nominations to the Arizona Supreme Court for its ultimate appointment.

Candidate Criteria/Qualifications: BLS members must –
• Possess the time, skill and patience to examine applications and peer review information submitted by attorneys seeking specialization certification or recertification.
• Understand the importance of applying the Supreme Court Rules pertaining to the process consistently and fairly.
• Attend approximately 12 meetings per year that normally convene at 4:00 p.m.

Term: Four years.

Deadline: Applications are due by COB November 18, 2024. Questions? Contact Mabel.Ramirez@staff.azbar.org ; 602.340.7326.

Lawyer Application

Public Member Application

Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness - Application Deadline Extended to Monday, November 18, 2024

Purpose: Responsible for the investigation and recommendation of applicants for admission to the practice of law in Arizona; reviews approximately 500 applications per year; conduct attend inquiries and hearings concerning applicant qualifications.

Openings: Four lawyer positions and three public member positions.

Candidate Criteria/Qualifications:
• Active members in good standing.
• Judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible.
• Between file review, inquiries, hearings, and business meetings, members devote an average of 25 hours per month to their Committee responsibilities.

Term: Initial appointment of four years, with the possibility of reappointment.

Deadline: Applications are due by COB November 18, 2024. Questions? Contact Genna.Barela@staff.azbar.org or call 602.340.7201.

Lawyer Application

Public Member Application

Arizona Supreme Court Committee on Examinations - Application Deadline Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Purpose: Oversee the Uniform Bar Examination, grading and administration of all test components; review accommodation requests; proctor the February and July exams; responsible for the performance of the graders (2 graders, approximately 500 essay answers per exam); adhere to the grading standards of the National Conference of Bar Examiners.

Openings: Four lawyer positions.

Candidate Criteria/Qualifications:
• Active members in good standing.
• Judicial, retired, and inactive members are welcome to apply but must change their membership to “active” in order to be eligible.
• Applicants should familiarize themselves with Supreme Court Rules 33 and 35 which establish the duties of the Committee.
• Committee applicants who currently serve or have served within the past two years as law school faculty (including adjunct) at one of Arizona's accredited law schools or as tutors or faculty for bar review courses will not be considered if such service could give rise to significant conflicts of interest regarding their duty to the Supreme Court to review or grade the examinations of their current or former students.

Terms: Initial term of four years, with the possibility of reappointment.

Deadline: Applications are due by COB Monday, November 18, 2024. Questions? Contact Genna.Barela@staff.azbar.org or call 602.340.7201.

Lawyer Application