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State Bar Board of Trustees Announces Leah Wilson as Next Executive Director

After its meeting on June 9, 2021, the Board of Trustees announced it had unanimously appointed Leah T. Wilson as the State Bar’s next Executive Director. Wilson served in the same role from September 2017 to January 2020.

“The Board welcomes the return of Leah to lead the State Bar—she is the right person at the right time,” said Board Chair Sean SeLegue. “Leah previously served with distinction as Executive Director. She is a standout leader who possesses a unique set of skills—to both think big and lead staff to get things done. Her track record shows that she is committed to and capable of carrying out the State Bar’s mission of protecting the public, increasing access to justice, and enhancing diversity in the profession. We greatly look forward to working with her again.”

“I am honored that the Board has selected me to lead the State Bar again at this challenging time,” said Wilson. “I believe deeply in the State Bar’s public protection mission and know that it demands accountability, transparency, and bold action as well as continuous improvement. As with all public agencies and organizations, the State Bar must navigate a significant transition as we emerge from the pandemic. I look forward to working with the Board and the agency’s dedicated, hard-working staff to write the State Bar’s next chapter.”

The selection followed an exhaustive search conducted by Bob Murray & Associates under the direction of Board Vice-Chair Ruben Duran and Trustee Arnie Sowell. The search yielded a diverse applicant pool, with Wilson emerging as the most qualified candidate by unanimous consensus of the Board.

Wilson returns to the State Bar after 18 months as Senior Director at Resource Development Associates, a consulting firm serving public, private, and philanthropic clients, during which she also supported the State Bar in a consulting capacity. She first joined the agency in 2015 as its first chief operations officer, part of a new management team charged with transformational reform of the agency after a period of significant upheaval and controversy. She was appointed Executive Director in 2017. Working closely with the Board, Wilson led the agency through significant governance and structural reforms aimed at greater accountability, transparency, effectiveness, and strategic focus. 

Before joining the State Bar, Wilson served as the Court Executive Officer for Alameda County Superior Court, with a staff of nearly 700 and a $90 million budget. She is a graduate of UC San Diego and received master’s and law degrees from UC Berkeley.

Wilson’s expected start date is July 12, 2021. Interim Executive Director Donna Hershkowitz, who led the organization through the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, will return to her prior role as Chief of Programs.

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The State Bar of California's mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.