Legal News

Most lawyers refuse to join the ABA

By Glen Ashman

ABA Seeks to Shore Up Waning Membership
The National Law Journal

ABA membership isn't growing at the same rate as the profession, according to its incoming president, a White & Case partner, who notes that the association doesn't even represent half of all U.S. lawyers anymore. Tracking member revenue on a daily basis, the organization so far expects a decline of between 2,000 and 4,000 members this year. When the ABA gathers for its annual meeting in Chicago on Thursday, its board of governors will weigh a key question: How does the association get membership climbing again?

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My commentary:  Simple answer - many lawyers refuse to join for several reasons.  Mine are:

1. A use of dues money for political advocacy on positions contrary to my personal views.  No money should be used for political causes (all money should be for legal causes).
2. A distressing long term focus on sales.  I hate their sales calls, emails and other contacts over the years.
3. Far too many tie-ins to supposed good deals on things like hotels, insurance, car rentals and books.   The deals actually aren't deals (better deals are available with other companies and organizations available to me) and I don't think the focus of the ABA should be what businesses I patronize.  If there are going to be discounts, they need to be better than what I can find with Google online.
4. A focus on big firms and a real lack of focus on small firms and sole practitioners.
5. Extremely excessive dues.  I get no value for the amount charged.

Full post as published by It's (Barely) Legal on July 27, 2009 (boomark / email).