Introducing Newly Installed President Betsy C. Griswold
Continuity in Challenging Times
The Board of the Atlanta Bar Association and its Section and Committee leaders assume leadership in a time of real complexity.
BETSY C. GRISWOLD IHG Hotels & Resorts President @ AtlantaBar. org
W elcome to the 2026-2027 Atlanta Bar Association bar year!
Thank you to our Executive Director Toni Roberts and her staff. Nothing that happens each year could occur without them. Thanks to President Brown for his leadership this past Bar year.
It is a profound honor to serve in the position of President of the Atlanta Bar Association, an entity that has served the legal profession— and the public— since 1888-for 138 years. Few institutions endure that long without purpose, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to service. The Association has endured because generations of lawyers before us believed that the law is not merely a profession, but a calling— one grounded in responsibility, integrity, and service to others.
That was never more meaningful to me than last year’ s annual meeting where Chief Justice Peterson asked each lawyer in the room to recite the oath we all took when we were originally admitted to the Bar. It is even more important that we focus on this each and every day as the rule of law is challenged.
I serve in this role with humility, gratitude, and deep respect for what has been entrusted to us.
The practice of law continues to evolve rapidly. Economic uncertainty, increasing demands on lawyers’ time and wellbeing, and broader societal pressures all shape the environment in which we serve. But difficult times are not new to this Association.
In its 138 year history, it has endured wars, economic downturns, social transformation, and profound change in how law is practiced. I won’ t mention AI in this message!
What has carried it through is not reaction, but continuity of purpose, a steady commitment to service, professionalism, and the public good.
Service at the Center of Who We Are
My focus for the Association in the coming year will be Service and developing a strategic plan not just for this Bar year, but one that will provide continuity for the future. As the mission statement of the Atlanta Bar states: We are“ Lawyers Who Serve” At its core, the Association exists for service.
First-Service to our members, through robust sections and committees that educate, support, and connect lawyers across practice areas and various stages of a career.
As a caretaker of this Association this next year, the Board will strive to understand and deliver what our members and sections want and need from the Atlanta Bar Association, not just for today, but for tomorrow as well.
Our sections and committees are the working heart and lifeblood of this Association. They reflect the generosity of members who give their time and expertise not for recognition, but because they believe that a strong
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