The sheer number of bar associations and attorney trade associations can make you dizzy! Bar associations serve many different purposes, from continuing legal education to networking, from professional and business development opportunities to referrals. In many cases, you can become a student member of bar associations. First, though, you must be able to navigate your many choices. This list should help you get started:
- First, you typically will have to be a member of your state’s bar association in order to practice law in that state. To become a member, you usually have to graduate law school, pass the jurisdiction’s bar exam and be sworn into the state’s bar (in some cases, you may be sworn in by motion.) To find out jurisdiction-specific bar requirements, go to http://www.ncbex.org/comprehensive-guide-to-bar-admissions.
- Your local bar association may also interest you. Local bars serve attorney members in specific counties, cities and towns. In addition to local bars, many states also have additional statewide bar associations that are not mandatory to join but worthwhile to consider—from referral services to continuing legal education, those state bars can provide you with valuable networking and business development opportunities. A list of many state and local bar associations can be found at http://www.abanet.org/barserv/stlobar.html
- Next, you may also become a member of a national bar association, such as the American Bar Association, which has many different sections and divisions for members. To see a list of ABA sections, divisions and forums, go to http://www.abanet.org/sections.
- There are also various specialty bar associations that you can join. Specialty bar associations serve attorneys who work in a specific practice area, work environment, or type of work. For law students, these associations can be a great source for information about working in a particular field and getting started in that field. As some examples, check out:
- The American Intellectual Property Law Association at http://www.aipla.org/
- The Association of Corporate Counsel at http://www.acc.com/
- The National Legal Aid and Defender Association at http://www.nlada.org/Jobs
- The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys at http://naela.com
- The American Immigration Lawyers Association at http://www.aila.org
- Finally, there are bar associations that serve specific groups of attorneys—women lawyers, for example, or attorneys from various minority and ethnic groups. Below are just a handful of examples:
- The National Association of Women Lawyers, http://www.nawl.org/site3.aspx
- The National Bar Association, http://www.nationalbar.org/career/index.shtml
- The Hispanic National Bar Association, http://www.hnba.com/jobs/default.asp
- The Minority Corporate Counsel Association, http://www.mcca.com/index.cfm?nodeid=1
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, http://www.napaba.org/napaba/showpage.asp?code=home
