Bar Association

A bar association is a professional organization that strengthens legal liability and protection for officers and members. Over time, the concept has developed and spread worldwide, with associations working with lawyers and legal professionals. The definition of a bar association is "an organization of lawyers," and there are often several available to those working within the profession. There are rules for both admittance and conduct that must be followed if professionals wish to maintain their ability to practice law in a given state or country. Bar associations offer educational opportunities, guidance, networking, and information to lawyers, judges, notaries, law teachers, and law students.

In the United States, there are several national-level associations, such as the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the National Bar Association, as well as local bar associations within each state. The Canadian Bar Association has branches in each province, representing more than thirty-seven thousand legal professionals. The International Bar Association works with more than two hundred associations and legal societies, sharing information and setting guidelines to promote uniformity and support of the legal profession.

History of the Bar Association

On August 21, 1878, a group of seventy-five lawyers from twenty-one states met and formed the first national lawyers association, named the American Bar Association (ABA). The first permanent chairman elected was Benjamin H. Bristow of Missouri, and his first act was to appoint a committee to frame an organization constitution. Written by Simeon Eben Baldwin, the constitution was quickly approved. Soon, membership increased, bringing the total number of members to 201. The first official ABA annual meeting was held in Chicago in 1889, and 158 members of the association attended. The ABA continued to grow, offering guidance and communication between members. In 1893, the Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar was created as the first ABA Section, a specialty group for members who share affinities, areas of practice, or special interests. The following year, a section on trademark and copyright law was established. By 2024, the ABA had just over thirty sections, divisions, and forums.

An internal conflict within the ABA arose in 1921 that led to the founding of the National Bar Association (NBA). Three Black men had been admitted to membership without their race being known until after their admittance. The ABA's charter did not specifically ban African Americans because the founding members had never assumed the possibility that Black individuals would enter the legal profession. Upon the discovery, the ABA rescinded the membership of the three lawyers, one of whom (William Henry Lewis) was the first Black assistant attorney general of the United States, creating a media storm and debate within the bar. Subsequently, the three lawyers were reinstated under a "grandfather effect," but new bylaws withheld membership from all but White men. In response, twelve Black lawyers founded the National Bar Association in 1925 in Des Moines, Iowa. Women had been admitted as members of the ABA since 1918, but it was not until 1943 that the association passed a resolution allowing for membership to be independent of "race, creed, or color." This came full circle in 2015 when the ABA elected its first Black woman president, Paulette Brown.

In the twenty-first century, the various bar associations worldwide continue to expand and promote legal authority, networking, and human rights. The ABA has new projects working with at-risk youth and teens across the United States, offering accreditation to law schools, and promoting ethical conduct for lawyers. The ABA also has come forward in the twenty-first century as a political force, taking a stance on issues such as same-sex marriage, poverty, and abortion.

Bar Associations Worldwide

Since the establishment of the American Bar Association in the nineteenth century, new organizations have been founded worldwide. Bar associations operate on every continent, except Antarctica. Offices are generally located in densely populated urban areas, often with subdivisions or sectors that cater to specific aspects of the law. The International Bar Association (IBA) strives for unity in the field of law and justice that bypasses nationality and borders. Inspired by the United Nations and with the goal of establishing legal and administrative support for international justice, representatives from thirty-four national bar associations met and formed the initial basis of the IBA in New York in October of 1947.

Although the concept of a bar association began with the ABA in the United States, it has clearly since become an international inspiration. Although laws and cultures differ between states and countries, the purpose of a bar association remains relevant. In the United States and Canada, as well as worldwide, various associations work toward common goals and provide resources not only for members but also for the communities they serve.

Bar associations strive to educate, represent, and promote the legal profession. Law students or those with plans to enter the legal profession are also offered encouragement by various bar associations. There are a number of youth programs, such as symposia, camps, seminars, and mock trial competitions.

Bibliography

"ABA Timeline." American Bar Association, www.americanbar.org/about‗the‗aba/timeline.html. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

"About Canada’s System of Justice." Department of Justice, www.justice.gc.ca/eng/csj-sjc/just/. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Chikwendu, Talibah. "National Bar Association's History Provides Firm Foundation." AFRO, 27 July 2011, www.afro.com/national-bar-associations-history-provides-firm-foundation/. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

"Frequently Asked Questions." The Canadian Bar Association, www.cba.org/CBA/Info/faq/. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Reynolds, Matt. “4 Black Bar Association Leaders Reflect on Historic Moment.” ABA Journal, 23 Feb. 2022, www.abajournal.com/web/article/four-black-bar-association-leaders-reflect-on-historic-moment. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

"Sixty Years after Admitting Its First Black Member, the American Bar Association Elects an African-American President." Journal of Blacks in Higher Education 35 (2002): 34–35.