Attention attorneys, join your local bar association.

If you are practicing law in California the odds are that you are already a member of the California Bar Association, the largest bar association in the state of California, so you may be asking why bother joining and paying extra to be a member of a local or specialty bar association? Why spend the extra money? Why take the time to sit through 'boring' meetings? You're already too busy trying to build your practice or you're already spending long hours trying to impress the senior partners so that you can make partner. You have better things to do than waste your time with more work related meetings. Right? Wrong!!!

Local and specialty bar associations are in effect social clubs where you can relax, socialize, meet new friends and at the same time learn about your business, support your business and network.

You've heard of networking haven't you? Well, whether you are a sole practitioner, are a partner in a small partnership or are working for a giant firm, networking is probably the most important thing that you can do in order to build and insure your future. Joining a local or specialty bar association is a great way to enjoy yourself and network at the same time.

What's that you say? Hanging out with other attorneys is not going to help you, after all they are not going to become clients of yours. You are right they probably won't become your client, however frequently potential clients come to them that they, for one reason or another can not or will not accept (usually because the case is for a matter that they do not handle or is too big or too small for their type of practice). Family law attorneys do not usually attempt to take on intellectual property cases, criminal defense attorneys don't usually take on social security disability cases, etc.. That attorney can do one of two things, he or she can say sorry, we can't help you or he or she can build good will by saying we can't take this case but I know of this very good attorney who does handle your type of case, let me call that attorney and see what he can do for you. The first attorney now has a grateful client or potential future client and you, because he or she got to know and respect your abilities at the meetings, now have a new client.

You say you work as an associate for a large firm and aren't actively seeking new clients. Well, bringing in new clients sure won't make your bosses unhappy and you never know what the future will bring. You might meet your own future partner or a new and better employer at these meetings.

These meetings can also be good places to meet judges (it never hurts to have a judge know and like you), court clerks, private investigators and other legal service providers.

Bar association meetings usually have guest speakers and you never know what information you might pick up that could help you in the future.

There are numerous other reasons to join and support your local or specialty bar association. Check some out. You may end up joining more than one.

This article was written by David G. Hallstrom, Sr. for California Bar Associations and copywrited by California Personal Injury Attorneys, a directory listing personal injury attorneys, with websites, in California. Permission is given to reprint this article provided that it is reprinted whole and unedited, that credit is given to both the author and California Personal Injury Attorneys.us and that all links contained herein are kept live and working.