ISBA's strategic plan is a promise of how your state bar association will help you thrive as a legal professional. Expect to see services, benefits, and initiatives from ISBA that closely align with your needs as a legal professional -- specifically as they relate to advocacy, education, connections, and equity and inclusion. Also expect to see ISBA leading or partnering in conversations related to these four categories. 

Because ISBA is an organization guided and driven by its members, so was the creation of this strategic plan. It is the product of a membership survey, data analysis, member interviews, focus groups, and professionally facilitated conversations with ISBA leaders and staff. 

Read the strategic plan below, or download a copy here.

Advocacy

Aspirational goal
Serve as the leading voice of the profession. Enhance Indiana’s legal system by working with the legislature, courts, and other key stakeholders to educate and advocate for issues that align with ISBA's mission.

Areas of influence
The following are ways in which ISBA will influence issues that align with ISBA’s mission:

• Issue awareness
• Education about the issue (members, partner organizations, legislature, the public)
• Empower individual member advocacy
• Assist partner organizations with their advocacy efforts
• Legislative advocacy
• Public advocacy

Connections

Aspirational goal
Create opportunities for members to connect with each other. Become the central hub for building connections within Indiana’s legal community. Offer a variety of ways for members to connect based on their goals and preferences.

Knowledge base
The following member-based research findings will serve as the organization’s knowledge base for connections: 

• People connect through ISBA mainly for professional support. Emotional support is an added benefit.
• People need a purpose/goal to come together.
• The type of employment dictates reasons for connecting.
• Career stage dictates reasons for connecting.
• Members build connections around similar ISBA interests.
• Virtual and in-person have their unique place, and can be an opportunity.
• Members desire personalization/customization in terms of connection preferences and frequency. 

Education

Aspirational goal
Provide members with ample educational opportunities customized to their professional goals and learning styles. Each educational opportunity will be high quality, engaging, and practical.

Knowledge base
The following member-based research findings will serve as the organization’s knowledge base for education: 

• The best CLEs have engaging experts as presenters. The quality of the presenter can make or break a program.
• The best CLEs deliver practical, high-value information that can be put into practice immediately. Inspirational CLEs are also seen as valuable.
• There is a shortage of “master’s-level” programming. 
• Educational format and delivery must “match” content.

Equity & Inclusion

Aspirational goal
Be an active leader and partner in fighting against inequalities in Indiana’s legal system. Address inequalities through civil legal aid, policing & prosecuting policy, legislation, and inclusion & mentorship within the legal profession.

Areas of influence
Member- and expert-based research identified the following areas in which ISBA is uniquely positioned to address inequities in the legal system:

• Civil Legal Aid
• Policing/prosecuting policy
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Mentorship in the legal profession
• Diversity, equity and inclusion in ISBA as an association