Your Voice, Our Strength:
Advocacy in Action

My path and purpose have remained steady on this journey to become the Illinois State Bar Association’s next Third Vice President in 2026. As an environmental lawyer, my passion is ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all including my two children (ages 13 and 10). Several of my early career mentors served as a state bar president and observing their impact through bar service inspired me to take on roles of increasing responsibility.

If elected, I will help ensure our Association remains fiscally sound and responsive to the immediate needs of members. I consistently tackle tough issues in times of crisis and believe that I am well equipped to serve as your next ISBA Third Vice President.

My focus for ISBA

Membership Recruitment and Retention

I am committed to this Association because I want future law students and lawyers to have a place where they can find support, innovative practice tools, and career growth. As leaders, we need to recruit prospective members and help new and seasoned members remain involved.

Championing Advocacy for the Profession

As your next Third Vice President, I will continue to advocate for lawyers in all practice settings, access to justice, and important issues facing the public. For over 20 years, I have demonstrated strong advocacy for our profession and the public as we strive to enhance the delivery of legal services and uphold the rule of law.

As one of ISBA's At-Large Delegates in the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates (HOD) since 2014, I have developed strategies to advance the goals of the State and Local Bar Caucus and the Women’s Caucus. In 2019, the ABA HOD passed Resolution 101A 2019M, which encourages courts at all levels across the nation to provide private and dignified lactation rooms in their buildings. Providing reasonable access to lactation rooms has been a passion of mine for many years, and I was honored to cast a vote in favor of this historic Resolution.

In May 2023, I received an ISBA Presidential Commendation for my work in successfully advocating for the passage of ABA Resolution 402, which reaffirms longstanding ABA policy that sharing legal fees with nonlawyers and the ownership or control of law practices by nonlawyers is inconsistent with the core values of the legal profession.

Service to the Public

Together, we can make a difference by developing initiatives that enhance access to justice, particularly for underserved communities. Our state bar coalition and my fellow committee members on the ABA Standing Committee on Delivery of Legal Services worked collaboratively to revise and enhance proposed ABA Resolution 605 which encourages states to study community justice worker programs. The ABA HOD adopted the final version of ABA Resolution 605 on August 12, 2025.  Our work continues and I would be honored to lead our Association as your next Third Vice President.

-Emily N. Masalski