A few weeks ago, I spoke on a panel about how to get on a board and what it takes to stay there. It was the last session on the last day of the conference, when most attendees had already left for the airport, but my room was full.
That full room told me people want to lead. They have skills and passion, and they want to give back to the communities that have given them so much. Many of them haven’t found where to put that energy yet.
In our latest member survey, nearly 9 in 10 members said they want to help shape CLOC, and nearly 30% want a volunteer leadership role.
This month, CLOC is giving them that place with the largest volunteer recruitment in our history.
More seats at the table than ever before
From today through October 31, CLOC is accepting applications for councils, committees and group leadership roles, plus nominations for three open Board seats. We have never offered this many opportunities at once.
Three of the councils are new. The first is the Technology & Innovation Council, because AI is moving fast and no one has perfected it, whatever some may claim. Our more than 6,500 members deserve trusted guidance on how AI can benefit them and which red flags to watch for. We’re also building the Professional Advancement & Leadership Development Council because of a question I hear all the time: “Laura, how did you get here?” People want to know which courses to take and who to have coffee with. I expect to join that council myself. The third, the Global Advisory Council, will bring what members see in their own legal markets into CLOC’s plans.
We also don’t have all the answers, and I love that. If you see a need among our members, tell us. Some of the best ideas for CLOC’s future will come from the people who raise their hands this month. We’re listening.
Who should apply
We want applications from across our ecosystem: law firms, in-house teams, academia, government, students and every industry we support. We want senior leaders and people just starting out. If you’re curious, that’s enough to apply.
If you’re thinking, “I don’t have enough experience to contribute,” let me tell you a story.
A while back, a young student told me she didn’t think she had enough wisdom to share with our Inclusion & Social Impact Council. I told her, “Can you just get in here, please? Let’s figure this out.” She joined, and she told us about the financial hurdles that kept people from attending the CLOC Global Institute (CGI). Her story led us to set aside funding to help people attend the event, and that funding became our Community Access Program (CAP). At CGI this year, so many recipients came up to me, thanking me for the chance to be in this space, and it all started with one student who raised her hand.
What we’re looking for
Above all, we’re looking for passion for legal operations and for the people who will come after us. Tell us how you would invest in CLOC and what you’d leave for others to build on.
Some councils, such as Technology & Innovation, will be led by subject-matter experts, because our members rely on that guidance. Those councils will still have room for people who are eager to learn.
A small group of us, myself included, will read every application. If a leadership role isn’t the right fit this time, we’ll look for a place for you on a committee.
What it takes
Like me, you have a day job that has to come first, so we’ve designed these roles to avoid a heavy lift.
One application covers every council, committee and group leadership role, and you can raise your hand for as many as interest you.
Why I give my time
I started volunteering young, as a candy striper in a pediatric ward, and I’ve been caring for people my whole life. None of this feels like work to me. We do it out of love for people and passion for this profession.
I see that same spirit across CLOC, from our staff to the largest, strongest Board we’ve had. Through CLOC Cares, we’ve volunteered at food banks and shelters in the cities that host CGI.
The people who join us as volunteer leaders will teach others what they’ve learned and help build the next generation of legal ops professionals and good human beings, shaped by expertise you can’t buy. Many of them will go on to lead in their own communities, and we will prepare them for that.
I’ve been blessed with so much, and giving back is my privilege. I invite you to do the same.
Three open Board seats
Last year, we opened Board seats to members beyond core legal operations roles. Our Board now includes other voices from across the legal ecosystem, and their perspectives make our decisions stronger.
This year, three directors who are legal operations professionals finish their terms on December 31. We’re looking for legal operations professionals to fill those three seats, so the Board keeps a strong practitioner voice alongside those other perspectives.
Board nominations use their own form and election process. You can nominate yourself or a colleague by October 31.
Learn more and apply here. Applications are open through October 31.
Have questions first? Join our informational webinar on October 14 at 1 PM ET.
