Local Bar Associations
APABA DC is the oldest and largest association of Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys in the Washington, D.C. area. Since its founding in 1981, we have served our community by promoting the professional growth and advancement of our members, shedding light on issues affecting the APA legal community in the Washington, D.C. area, and enabling our members to work collaboratively with other leaders to serve the community at large.
The Capital Area Muslim Bar Association's ("CAMBA") mission is to foster a sense of fellowship amongst diverse Muslim legal professionals and establish an institutional presence within the Capital Area legal community. CAMBA strives to elevate our members to prominence, develop future leaders, and amplify our collective voice to impact legal issues affecting the Muslim community.
Founded in 1990, the District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association is an independent, non-partisan bar association serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer lawyers, law students, and legal professionals in the national capital area. The District of Columbia LGBTQ+ Bar Association works to advance the interests of the LGBT community, to be their voice within the legal community, and to improve their professional lives.
The Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers Division, National Bar Association (GWAC) is a network of African American women attorneys dedicated to the professional development of its members. We are committed to improving the quality of life in the Greater Washington D.C. area through a variety of activities, including educational programs and community service projects.
The Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia (HBA-DC) is a pivotal non-profit established in 1977 as the Hispanic Lawyers Association (it adopted its current name in 1984), serving close to 500 Hispanic lawyers and law students in the D.C. region. Committed to fostering professional growth, the HBA-DC runs multifaceted initiatives. The association's Judicial Pipeline Project guides attorneys with judicial aspirations, and its LLM subcommittee aids foreign-trained attorneys in navigating the U.S. legal landscape. Every year, HBA-DC proudly hosts the Latina Leadership Academy, empowering Latina professionals through skill development and networking opportunities. Law students receive specialized attention, benefiting from programs like the resume review workshop and a mentor pairing system to ensure their readiness for the legal world. Furthermore, through scholarships, advocacy, pro bono activities, and community outreach, HBA-DC continuously champions the interests and representation of the Hispanic community in D.C.'s legal domain.
NABA-DC was established in 1997 to promote the educational and professional advancement of Native American attorneys and Indian country. NABA-DC is committed to promoting the sovereignty of Native American tribes and their communities; protecting the legal rights of individual Native Americans, their communities, and their tribes; providing community outreach and education about legal issues that affect Native Americans; and promoting the cultural heritage of Native Americans, their communities, and their tribes.
The South Asian Bar Association of Washington, D.C. (SABA-DC) is a voluntary bar association dedicated to the needs, concerns, and interests of the South Asian legal community in the Washington, D.C. area. In pursuit of its objectives, SABA-DC regularly organizes panels, receptions, networking events, community outreach efforts, public service projects, mentoring programs, political awareness campaigns, and a variety of other activities.
The Vietnamese American Bar Association of the Greater Washington, DC Area, Inc. (VABA-DC) exists to promote the professional growth and advancement of Vietnamese American attorneys, encourage and facilitate the entry of Vietnamese American students into the legal profession, and contribute to the public interest by serving as a voice for the local Vietnamese American community and assisting community members with legal concerns. As part of its mission, VABA-DC collaborates with other Asian American groups on issues that affect our members and our community.
NAPAWF DC strives to create a community of AAPI women, nonbinary, trans, and intersex leaders working to educate and advocate for social and economic justice, emphasizing a local angle on national issues.
Founded in 1917, the Women’s Bar Association is one of the oldest and largest voluntary bar associations in metropolitan Washington, DC. Today, as in 1917, we continue to pursue our mission of: Maintaining the honor and integrity of the profession; promoting the administration of justice; advancing and protecting the interests of women lawyers; promoting their mutual improvement; and encouraging a spirit of friendship among our members.
The Washington Bar Association supports the professional development and related needs of Black lawyers in the District of Columbia and is committed to social justice and advocacy on behalf of the Black community.