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ISBA Sections & Committees

Join an ISBA section or committee to be connected with attorneys across the state working in similar practice areas.

Sections typically are related to substantive practice areas, and range from agricultural law to utility law, and everything in between. Section members pay a small dues fee ranging between $10 and $25, which help cover the cost of hosting the online community, publications, CLEs, and events. Upon dues payment, you will receive immediate access to the section's online community and will begin receiving section emails (frequency can be customized).

Committees typically are related to topics that cross practice areas and include topics such as diversity, women in the law, legal ethics, and well-being. Committees are free for all members to join.

Benefits for each section and committee vary, but typically include the opportunity to:

  • have discussions with members about specific topics through an online community/email distribution list
  • be a leader in your practice area by joining the section’s council. Council members meet regularly to discuss leadership of the section and
  • consider proposed legislation relevant to the practice area (committees do not have councils);
  • receive email newsletters with practice area updates;
  • fine-tune your knowledge, and network with other practicing attorneys through section and committee programs — and receive deeper discounts to attend.
Affiliate Membership Committee

The mission of the Indiana State Bar Association Affiliate Membership Committee is to support and strengthen the success of paralegals, law librarians, legal administrators, and court administrators in Indiana and those they serve through continuing legal education, knowledge sharing, networking events, professional development opportunities and more. It also supports the retention, recruitment, and engagement of affiliate members. 

Agricultural Law Section

The Agricultural Law Section provides leadership in identifying and addressing current and emerging issues of importance to the agricultural community; monitors proposed and pending legislation, and assembles and disseminates information to public officials and members of the general public. Such activity generates a better understanding of matters relating to agricultural law and the agricultural community.

The section hosts an annual meeting in the fall that generally includes a full day of CLE. This event takes place in a different part of the state each year. To propose or request content or speakers for these events, please email Leah Baker at   lbaker@inbar.org.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section 

The Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section is working to make ADR an integral part of the judicial system – a first step in resolving conflicts, not an afterthought.

Animal Law Section

The Animal Law Section focuses on all matters relating to the laws of non-human animals within the State of Indiana and their impact. The Section seeks to be a resource for the legal community and the public by providing continuing education, commenting on proposed legislation, and connecting members across the legal community. 

The section hosts a variety of social, continuing legal education, and service-based programs throughout the year. 

Appellate Practice Section

The Appellate Practice Section brings together ISBA members who have a primary interest in appellate practice. Members encourage and plan continuing legal education forums for those in appellate practice, and work to simplify and expedite appellate procedure where appropriate.

Articles & Bylaws Committee

The Articles & Bylaws Committee exercises parliamentary jurisdiction for the Association, reviews the articles and bylaws, prepares additions, deletions and amendments whenever appropriate, and recommends the same to the Board of Governors.

Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Section

The goal of the Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Section is to create cooperation between counsel for creditors and debtors and promote understanding and expertise in the field of commercial and bankruptcy law.

Business Law Section

The Business Law Section focuses on business transactions, addressing questions regarding methods for establishing a business organization, raising capital, implementing new means of technology, etc. It also considers and, if appropriate, acts upon legislative initiatives affecting business. It does this by providing a general and specialized legal advice, offering continuing legal education opportunities, and hosting networking events.

Children's Rights Committee

The Children's Rights Committee makes a continuing study of laws pertinent to the civil rights of children and reports its findings and recommendations to the Board of Governors.

Clients’ Financial Assistance Fund Committee

The Clients’ Financial Assistance Fund Committee manages and administers the Clients’ Financial Assistance Fund for the purpose of maintaining the integrity and protecting the name of the legal profession in Indiana.

Construction & Surety Law Section

The purpose of the Construction & Surety Law Section is to provide opportunities for practitioners in this field to meet regularly and exchange information and knowledge about trends in the law and industry affecting construction and surety law. In addition, it provides programs and forums for improved legal services in the construction and surety law areas.

Corporate Counsel Section

The Corporate Counsel Section serves as a forum for attorneys in corporate legal departments. It provides attorneys with opportunities to examine problems and experiences in the field of corporate law through discussions.

Criminal Justice Section

The Criminal Justice Section is comprised of prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges. While it is a group of attorneys with seemingly different interests, its goal is to ensure justice for all participants in the criminal justice system. Members strive to achieve this goal through education initiatives, supporting the adoption of and changes to laws that will benefit participants in the criminal justice system, and promotion of the highest standards for all.

The section meets approximately every other month and meetings are open to all members of the section. Section member can attend in person or telephonically. 

Data Security and Privacy Section

Whether you practice in healthcare, bankruptcy, or mergers and acquisitions, and whether you are a solo practitioner in a rural county, or a partner at a large law firm in Indianapolis, data security and privacy affects your clients’ day-to-day operations. You may be familiar with notable industry-specific privacy laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), and now, our ever-changing, data-driven economy makes privacy important to all industries and all clients.

Emerging privacy legislation at the state and federal levels has already drastically changed how companies think about the data they collect. (Not to mention, as lawyers we are bound by the Model Rules of Professional Conduct to protect our clients’ information!)
The Data Security and Privacy Section helps lawyers address their clients’ growing data considerations. The section brings together a network of privacy professionals throughout the state of Indiana and trains attorneys seeking experience in this exciting and evolving practice area. 

Diversity Committee

The purpose of the Diversity Committee is to promote full and equal participation in the ISBA, our profession and the justice system by all persons.

Elder Law Section

The Elder Law Section focuses on serving the needs of older adults and persons with disabilities. Its activities include advocating the development of laws benefiting elder citizens and persons with disabilities, simplifying and expediting forms and procedures related to the practice of elder law, promoting ethical and competent practice in the field of elder law, and disseminating information for the better understanding of the public in matters relating to elder law.

The section meets approximately quarterly and meetings are open to all members of the section. Section member can attend in person or telephonically. Section meetings generally also include free continuing legal education. The section typically hosts its annual meeting and “holiday party” in conjunction with the Elder Institute.

Employment, Labor & Benefits Law Section

The Employment & Labor Law Section is comprised of attorneys who are involved in a broad range of state and federal legal issues affecting the workplace. The section concentrates its time on the development of networking and referral opportunities for section members; educating section members and others as to the law affecting the workplace; promoting the efficiency and fairness of administration of labor and employment law; and promoting collegiality among section members.

Environmental Law Section

The Environmental Law Section promotes dialogue among legal practitioners in this field, considering all matters of interest regarding environmental law. It also focuses on helping members of the public become involved in environmental rule making and other processes, promoting alternative dispute resolution and mediation as a means of speedily resolving disputes, and helping make state environmental orders more accessible to practitioners and to the public.

Family & Juvenile Law Section

The Family & Juvenile Law Section spends a great deal of time reviewing, proposing and drafting legislation related to family and juvenile law, and looks for ways to ensure speedy and just resolution of family disputes. It promotes high standards of professional conduct for lawyers and judges in the field of family and juvenile law. It also contributes a periodic column to the ISBA’s magazine and publishes a variety of handbooks.

The section generally hosts its annual meeting at the ISBA Annual Meeting. All section members are welcome to attend. 

Federal Judiciary Committee

The Federal Judiciary Committee monitors all activities that affect the federal court system and federal court judges.

Finance Committee

The Budget Committee shall make annual recommendations to the Board of Governors concerning the fiscal affairs of the Association.

General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section

The General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Section (GP SSF) provides a medium through which general practitioners may cooperate with, encourage and assist each other in the resolution of problems common to them and to the legal profession. Through the section’s LPM committee, CLE and providing information to members are high priorities, with an emphasis on practical ways to improve client services, including use of new technologies. This section hosts the annual Solo & Small Firm Conference. 

Governmental Practice Section

The Governmental Practice Section is divided into three divisions—planning and development, administrative law, and municipal corporation law. Each division considers all matters of legal interest related to the various subjects covered by it and communicates appropriate information to the other divisions.

Health Law Section

The Health Law Section promotes the interests of the Section’s members and of the Association in the area of health law, studies and makes appropriate recommendations concerning health law matters, and monitors the developments of this area of practice. Some of the areas on which the section concentrates are: professional liability; managed care; fraud and abuse; social security; long-term care; and ethical issues. The section sponsors an annual Health Law Symposium.

The section hosts an annual meeting in the fall that generally includes a full day of continuing legal education. To propose or request content or speakers for these events, please email Leah Baker at lbaker@inbar.org.

Improvements in Judicial System Committee

The Committee on Improvements in the Judicial System promotes the election or appointment of properly qualified candidates for judicial office. The committee also concerns itself with judicial salaries, pensions and tenure, and studies other facets of the judicial system in Indiana.

IndianaDocs Committee

The IndianaDocs Committee is responsible for creating, reviewing, approving and keeping current all practice-related forms for inclusion in the IndianaDocs library. This document assembly software allows members to save time, effort and money in the production of repetitive documents and forms.

Intellectual Property Section

The Intellectual Property Section promotes the patent system of the United States, considers and takes action on patent, trademark and copyright law. It is also endeavors to provide education to the general public and general legal practitioners regarding intellectual property law concepts, and to increase their awareness of intellectual property law issues.

International Law Section

Members of the International Law Section work together to formulate professional opinions of international law issues, and to promote understanding, activity, research and expertise in the field of international law.

Investments Committee

Members of the Investments Committee are by request only. To request to join, contact Joe Skeel at jskeel@inbar.org. 

Land Use & Zoning Section

The Land Use & Zoning Section is responsible for drafting the legislation that governs the processing of development plans and planned unit developments by local zoning. The section also makes information available to the public to improve understanding of matters relating to land use and zoning, and promotes the simplification and expedition of land use and zoning forms and procedures. It cooperatively publishes the Indiana Planning & Zoning Law Annotated with the Indiana Planning Association.

Latino Affairs Committee

The Latino Affairs Committee seeks to provide a unified voice addressing the legal issues uniquely affecting the Latino community of Indiana. The committee coordinates resources to ensure equal access to justice for Indiana’s Latino community, promotes the legal concerns of Latinos within the broader legal community, and raises awareness of issues that affect the Latino community.

Law Practice Management Committee

The Law Practice Management Committee studies, evaluates and recommends improved methods of managing the practice of law to maximize efficiency, productivity, effectiveness, and financial reward from such practice. The committee shall also develop and recommend projects and programs that will help members of the Association furnish high-quality legal services to their clients. 

Law Student Engagement Committee

The purpose of the Law Student Committee (LSC) is to represent law students within the ISBA and Young Lawyers Section; to help shape the policies and priorities that affect legal education; and to create a deliberative forum for the exchange and expression of law student views and a voice to advocate those views; and to promote diversity and equal opportunity within the profession.

Lawyer Advertising Rules Review Committee

The Lawyer Advertising Rules Review Committee shall study Indiana’s Rules of Professional Conduct concerning lawyer advertising and recommend any changes that may be needed.

Leadership Development Academy Committee

The Leadership Development Academy Committee has been established to empower and develop lawyers to be informed, committed and involved so that they may fill significant leadership roles in their local and state bar associations, in Indiana communities and organizations, and to serve as role models in matters of ethics and professionalism.

Legal Ethics Committee

The Legal Ethics Committee seeks to raise the Bar’s ethical standards, promote the Bar’s ethical awareness, and clarify the Bar’s ethical responsibilities, all in accordance with the rules of the Supreme Court of Indiana.

Litigation Section

The Litigation Section brings together attorneys who are primarily interested in trial work and the issues those in the practice of trial law encounter focusing on investigation and improvement of the civility of lawyers; review of the Indiana rules of evidence; helping to improve discovery practices; and increasing the public’s understanding of the legal profession.

Military & Veterans’ Affairs Committee

The Military & Veterans’ Affairs Committee shall explore and identify legal issues and needs of service members (active duty, Guard or Reserve) living in Indiana or stationed and deployed outside of Indiana, and assist service members and veterans with such needs; continue the Lawyers for Soldiers Program, which provides pro bono legal assistance to service members, veterans and their families; and develop a network of ISBA members (judges, JAGs and lawyers).

Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee shall nominate members of the Association for the office of Vice President and for the Offices of Members of the Board of Governors all in accordance with the Articles of Association. Members of the Nominating Committee are by presidential appointment.

Probate, Trust & Real Property (PTRP) Section

The Probate, Trust & Real Property Section provides a forum for attorneys interested in probate law, estate planning, estate and guardianship administration, trusts, real estate law, death taxes, elder law and other related areas of law.

The Probate Review Committee (a section subcommittee) meets quarterly via Zoom. These meetings typically take place on the last Friday of the month each quarter and precede the meeting of the section council. PRC is generally accredited for two hours of continuing legal education. PRC focuses on reviewing, drafting, and proposing legislation. All section members are welcome to attend. 

To propose or request content or speakers for these events, please email Leah Baker at lbaker@inbar.org

Pro Bono Committee

The Pro Bono Committee is responsible for fulfilling the ISBA’s commitment to pro bono efforts as an integral part of its mission and long-range planning. As such, the Pro Bono Committee develops and implements programs to educate members about the need for and opportunities to engage in pro bono civil legal services for the poor, and encourages members to undertake pro bono representation.

Prof. Legal Ed., Admission & Development (PLEADS) Section

The Professional Legal Education, Admission & Development (PLEADS) Section promotes the educational and professional development of Indiana law students and members of the Indiana bench and bar. PLEADS also monitors and comments on the rules for admission to the bar, discipline of attorneys and rules of professional conduct. PLEADS coordinates with other sections and committees of the ISBA, subordinate units of the Supreme Court and the law schools of Indiana.

Senior Lawyers Section

The Senior Lawyers Section aims to support senior attorneys before and after retirement. This is done through annual programs, social engagements, and serving as advisors to the ISBA. All members of the ISBA in good standing, 55 years of age and over, are eligible for membership.

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity Committee

The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee works to educate attorneys, judges, the Association, and members of the general public about the law as it relates to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.

Social Security Disability Law Section

The Social Security Disability Law Section's goals are to keep Indiana attorneys current on changes in regulation, policy, interpretation and practice before the agency; promote an effective means of communication between local administrative law judges, hearing offices and attorneys; and serve as an outreach to the public and law students interested in disability law.

Staff Counsel Section

The Staff Counsel Section brings together captive insurance staff attorneys and the unique issues they encounter. It provides insurance staff attorneys with opportunities for discussing and sharing problems and experiences in the practice of law through discussions at meetings, seminars and institutes. The Section shall also develop and recommend project or programs which will help members of the Association furnish high quality legal services to their clients.

State Legislation Committee

The State Legislation Committee monitors the activities of the legislature in those areas of interest pertinent to the profession of law; keeps the Board of Governors informed upon such matters; and supports by testimony and other means the policies of the Association before the General Assembly.

Taxation Section

The Taxation Section strives to improve the quality of tax practice in Indiana by offering a vast array of activities designed to help members improve the quality of their tax practice. It helps provide various seminars on tax-related items and presentations on topics of interest at its annual meeting. It also reviews all tax measures introduced before the Indiana General Assembly and hosts social functions aimed at honoring those working with the taxing agencies and courts.

The council meets approximately every other month and meetings are open to all members of the section. Section members can attend in-person or telephonically.

The section hosts several programs throughout the year, including continuing legal education and the annual state tax reception in the fall, which recognizes those in the field of taxation throughout the state. To propose or request content or speakers for these events, please email Leah Baker at lbaker@inbar.org.

Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee

The Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee investigates the unauthorized practice of law (UPL) by persons not licensed to practice law in Indiana. As appropriate, the Committee may provide comments or opinions, formal or informal, on the subject of UPL.

Utility Law Section

The Utility Law Section (ULS) brings together attorneys interested in the rights & responsibilities related to public utilities, & provides a forum for those who want to discuss & formulate solutions to problems related to utility law. Additionally, the Section makes use of its diverse membership to facilitate communication with the IURC on issues of general interest.

Well-Being Committee

The Well-Being Committee believes healthy and positive lifestyles are vital to the practice of law. This committee supports and inspires a culture shift by advocating for the importance of physical and mental well-being, personal growth, career satisfaction, and community involvement.

Women in the Law Committee

The Women in the Law Committee makes recommendations to the ISBA for action to address problems identified by surveys and reports regarding women in the practice of law. The committee also holds an annual Bench Bar Retreat and is developing a service project.

Written Publications Committee

The Written Publications Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving articles on professional subjects in Res Gestae, and solicits professional articles of current interest to the membership.

Young Lawyers Section

The Young Lawyers Section (YLS) is dedicated to its steadfast commitment of providing opportunities and assistance to new lawyers in the practice of law. All ISBA members in their first 10 years of practice are eligible for YLS membership. Members of the YLS have access to its e-discussion list; receive a copy of its newsletter YLS Network; benefit from networking opportunities; and create lifelong relationships with leading legal professionals.