Q&A with Richard Dreitzer, 100th President of the State Bar of Nevada

Our very own Richard Dreitzer was sworn in as the 100th President of the State Bar of Nevada this summer. Rich brings more than two decades of practicing business litigation to his role and his dedication to both the legal profession and community makes this recognition undeniably well-deserved.

We sat down with him to discuss this milestone to learn more about what his vision is for his term as President and the lifelong influences and motivations that led him to this monumental moment of his career.

Congratulations on this incredible accomplishment. What does this milestone mean to you personally and professionally?

First and foremost, I am truly humbled and honored to occupy the position of President of the State Bar of Nevada (SBN). For me, holding this office represents the culmination of more than twelve years of service as a member of the Board of Governors of SBN, addressing hundreds of decisions relative to the Nevada legal community (large and small), across literally dozens of meetings throughout the State of Nevada and, in many cases, around the country. 

I believe very deeply in the twin goals of bar governance – public protection and membership services. Thus, after more than a decade of working with nearly every aspect of the SBN and seeing, first hand, the wonderful job that SBN staff, Board Members and hundreds of volunteer attorneys do for the SBN, I am so grateful to lead such an effective and talented organization as its President.

I am also gratified by the genuine encouragement and support I have received from my firm, Fennemore, over these many years. Fennemore recognizes and honors the value of bar service across each jurisdiction where it has an office and I am quite fortunate to have had this institutional support. I have always felt the “wind at my back” with Fennemore behind me.

What are your primary goals and initiatives for your term as president?

During my year as President, I have two basic objectives:

Firstly, I hope to facilitate a statewide discussion on issues of civility in legal practice: What are the stressors that lead to uncivil behavior and what can be done to address them? Also, what role can practitioners and members of the judiciary throughout the State of Nevada play in improving civility among Nevada practitioners? I am planning a “listening tour” throughout Nevada’s legal communities, large and small, to gain insight into the obstacles to improved civility in practice and attempt to remove them or lessen them, to allow us to achieve this goal.

Secondly, in 2028, the Multistate Bar Examination (MBE) is being retired as a testing instrument by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). Hence, Nevada is at the precipice of an entirely new era in assessing the professional competence of new law school graduates. The bar examination as we have known it, is about to change significantly and it is my goal to work in tandem with all stakeholders to facilitate these changes as we hope to implement our upcoming “Nevada Comprehensive Licensing Examination” (also known as the “Nevada Plan”) in place of the traditional bar examination.

What motivated you to pursue becoming President of the Bar Association?

A keen interest in the business and the culture of the practice of law, and a desire to make a stress-filled profession more member-friendly – yet, at the same time, more protective of the public whom we, as lawyers, serve.

Who have been your mentors or major influences throughout your legal career, and how have they shaped your approach to leadership?

I have been so fortunate to have worked in close proximity to a number of truly talented and thoughtful people including Clark County District Court Judge Gene T. Porter, for whom I clerked, as well as Salvatore Gugino, in my first position with a civil firm. These mentors taught me the value of thorough research and preparation, the importance of common sense and following your instincts, along with the benefits of a well-developed sense of humor and a good heart.

As a long-standing member of the SBN Board of Governors, I have also seen some of the best SBN Presidents that our bar has ever had and I have learned from their great example over the years. These mentors taught me how to manage difficult issues and competing viewpoints in a fair, yet politically sensitive way, in order to get to a “right answer” for a particular subject.

In recent years at Fennemore, I have also learned from some of the thought leaders on issues such as where the legal profession is headed and how we must adapt to survive. These colleagues have instilled in me the importance of creativity and “outside the box” thinking and how we must all anticipate the future of our profession in order to ensure we are a part of it.

How has your involvement with the Nevada Bar Association over the years prepared you for this role?

In my twelve years on the SBN Board of Governors, I have been fortunate to see the example of great leadership at every single meeting I’ve attended. As a Board Member, I have experienced great camaraderie and have developed the skill of disagreement without being disagreeable.  Thus, I believe I have been well prepared for this exciting challenge. The examples I have needed to follow have been in front of me for more than a decade.

What advice would you give to young lawyers who aspire to reach leadership positions within the legal community?

Take the time to get involved in service to your state’s (or county’s) bar association. The legal community in every city and state is essentially an extended family and bar service is the best way I know of to connect yourself to that extended family and enrich your practice as an attorney – be it professionally, personally or reputationally.

The investment is worth it and who knows where it could take you?  Getting out into the legal community builds relationships, business opportunities and connection to those with whom we practice. The lunch hour you spend in bar service now could become the job, client or circle of friends that enriches your life later.

Anything else you’d like to add?

As with any worthwhile endeavor, you get out of it what you put into it. Get involved! You won’t regret it!