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Bar World Basics

A high-level overview of the bar community

Bar Map

Bar Map

What is the Bar Community?

More than 2,000 bars serve the needs of lawyers and communities through­out the United States. This community includes:

  • Geographically-based bars:
    • The American Bar Association (voluntary)
    • 32 mandatory state bars, 4 mandatory territory bars, and the mandatory D.C. Bar to which lawyers must belong in order to practice
    • 24 voluntary state and 3 voluntary territory bars*
    • More than 500 voluntary local (metropolitan and county) bars
    • Approximately 40 mandatory judicial district bars to which lawyers must belong in order to practice (in North Carolina only)
  • Practice specialty bars at the national, state, and local levels (voluntary)
  • Racial and ethnic bars at the national, state, and local levels (voluntary)
  • Women’s bars at the national, state, and local levels (voluntary)
  • LGBTQ+ bars at the national, state, and local levels (voluntary)
  • Other affinity bars (voluntary)

The vast majority of voluntary bars are IRS-designated 501(c)(6) organizations, though a few are 501(c)(3) organizations. Just under half of mandatory state bars are 501(c)(6) organizations. The remaining mandatory state bars identify themselves as government agencies, executive state agencies, judicial agencies, public corporations, instruments of the state supreme court, a public body corporate, or a political subdivision of the state supreme court.

Learn more about the types of bars.

View a list of state bars by type.

*Four states (California, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia) and the District of Columbia have both a mandatory state bar and a voluntary state bar.

Bar Basics - Key Organizations for Bar Leaders

  • ABA Center for Bar Leadership (CBL)
    The primary connection between the organized bar and the ABA. CBL provides programming and resources for bars​, including the ABA Bar Leadership Institute, Bar Leader Weekly, and consulting and research services.
  • ABA Standing Committee on Bar Leadership​ (SCOBL)
    The bar leader partner to the ABA Center for Bar Leadership. It helps provide guidance and strategic direction regarding the ABA's work with state, local, and special-focus bars.​
  • ABA House of Delegates
    Here are some frequently asked questions relating to the ABA House of Delegates, the ABA's governing body, representing the U.S. legal profession, electing officers and board members, and overseeing member qualifications.
  • American Bar Foundation (ABF)
    A research institute dedicated to advancing justice through rigorous, empirical research on law and society. It produces nonpartisan studies that inform legal practices, policies, and societal issues, while fostering intellectual development through fellowship programs.
  • NABE – The Association for Bar Professionals ​
    The membership organization for bar professional staff. ​Formerly the National Association of Bar Executives.
  • National Conference of Bar Presidents ​(NCBP)
    A membership organization that provides information and training to state, local, specialty and affinity bar association presidents.​
  • National Conference of Bar Foundations (NCBF)
    A membership organization that helps advance the work of bar foundations.​
  • Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System​ (IAALS)
    A national, independent research organization that advances solutions that improve the civil justice system.​
  • Legal Services Corporation (LSC)​
    A publicly funded, nonprofit corporation that provides funding for civil legal aid for low-income individuals.​
  • National Center for State Courts (NCSC)
    The NCSC is organization that provides information, research, and thought leadership on innovation and progress in the nation’s state court systems.
  • Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLEA)
    ACLEA is an organization dedicated to enhancing the performance and professionalism of continuing legal education professionals through leadership, community, and development.
  • The National Association of Bar Counsel (NOBC)
    The NOBC was formed to enhance the professionalism and effectiveness of disciplinary counsel throughout the United States. It is made up of more than 400 individuals from over 60 state and federal disciplinary jurisdiction and is represented in the ABA House of Delegates.
  • The National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
    The NALP is an organization that provides employment data and research on the legal job market in the United States.

Events to Know

  • ABA Bar Leadership Institute (BLI)​
    The ABA’s premier leadership training program for bar leaders. Held every March, the program is designed for incoming bar leaders and their chief staff executives.  ​
  • Law Day
    Held annually on May 1, this national event celebrates the rule of law. Bars often commemorate the day with educational programming​.
  • National Conference of Bar Presidents/ABA Midyear Meeting/National Caucus of State Bar Associations
    One of NCBP's and ABA's biannual meetings held in late January/early February. The ABA House of Delegates meets on the final day.
  • NABE – The Association for Bar Professionals/National Conference of Bar Presidents/ABA Annual Meeting/National Caucus of State Bar Associations
    A major legal meeting held in late July/early August. The conference begins with the NABE meeting (bar staff), followed by NCBP (bar elected leaders) and ABA meetings. The ABA House of Delegates convenes on the final two days of the meeting.
  • Conference of Metropolitan Bar Associations ​(COMBA)
    Includes bar associations from metropolitan areas. Held in September.
  • Great Rivers Bar Leaders Conference ​(GRBC)
    Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Held in October.
  • Jackrabbit Bar Conference​
    Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming​. Held in June.
  • Mid-Atlantic Bar Conference (MABC)
    Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania​. Held in the fall.
  • New England Bar Association​ (NEBA)
    Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont​. Held in the fall.
  • Southern Conference of Bar Presidents​ (SCBP)
    Alabama, Arkansas, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Held in the fall.
  • Western States Bar Conference​ (WSBC)
    Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Northern Marianas Islands​. Held in late March/early April.

Contact

Questions on this topic? Contact Molly Flood, Associate Director, ABA Center for Bar Leadership.

E: [email protected]
P: (312) 988-5362