Every board member should read the organization’s bylaws at least once a year in order to ensure that each board member has a clear understanding of the organization’s stated goals and structure. On a regular basis, but at least every two years, the bylaws should be thoroughly reviewed to determine if revisions need to be made because of relevant statutory changes or because the needs of the organization have moved in a new direction. Even if nothing needs to be changed, the process of review will provide increased confidence in the organization’s essential governing documents. Here’s a handy checklist to use when thinking about bylaw revisions.
For inspiration, here are links to bylaws from various women’s bar associations:
Arizona Women Lawyers Association
Colorado Women’s Bar Association
Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia
Florida Association for Women Lawyers
Georgia Association for Women Lawyers
Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys
Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
Association for Women Attorneys (New Orleans)
Mississippi Women Lawyers Association
New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association
New Jersey Women Lawyers Association
New York Women’s Bar Association
Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York
North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys
Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association
South Carolina Women Lawyers Association
Vermont Bar Association, Women’s Division
Virginia Women Attorneys Association
Looking for a copy of the NCWBA bylaws? Click here to download.
