Over the last 18 months, as many of us have been working remotely with most interactions limited to Zoom, our reliance on dependable communities has grown. Communities serve many purposes, take on many different forms, and are found everywhere from your neighborhood to the State Bar of Arizona. Although the State Bar might not be what you initially think of when you hear the word community, as a lawyer it should be. With 30 different Sections and 7 committees, the State Bar of Arizona is the perfect place for lawyers to connect and find their legal community.
Sixteen years ago as a brand-new lawyer, I found a very supportive community with the Young Lawyers Division. Although I was initially hesitant about joining due to the time commitments, I am so glad I did. Once I started regularly attending meetings, I found that the other young lawyers could be great resources. They understood me and the challenges of learning the law. We could commiserate about mistakes we made, but we were also there to help each other when we had questions. That is exactly what the Divisions and Sections of the State Bar are supposed to do.
As a member of the bar, you are not required to join a Section or a committee. I know a lot of people don’t even look at the list of Sections when filling out the fee statement every year. Or maybe you look but wonder, why would I pay more money for Section membership? Beyond the financial reasons—including discounted topical education opportunities and the connection to community—being a member of a Section or a committee gives you the chance to become more involved. The State Bar of Arizona is your bar association. Like most things in life, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it.
With 30 different Sections and 7 committees, the State Bar of Arizona is the perfect place for lawyers to connect and find their legal community.
There are 30 Sections within the State Bar of Arizona. If you are a practicing lawyer or a retired lawyer in Arizona, there is a Section for you. They provide lawyers with the opportunity to gather, in person or virtually to network. They also provide a collective voice for issues that might be important in your area of law, whether it be the need for a rule change or even a law change. There are also 58 online communities associated with the Sections where members can post questions and access document libraries.
As the world has had to adapt to remote working and learning, it has become more convenient to be an active member of a Section. Many Sections meetings continue to meet via Zoom or at least provide a remote option for those who cannot meet in person. These options make it easier for members outside of Maricopa County to actively participate.
Although Section membership is a great way to start becoming more involved, it is not the only way. There are partner bar organizations, including county bar associations and specialty bar associations, which are listed on the State Bar website. These are another great way to become actively involved in your legal community.
Just try one
As a mom of two young kids (both under 5), I understand the feeling that there is insufficient time to add more to your plate, but this year I encourage everyone to find and join a Section or a group that interests you. You don’t need to wait till it’s time to renew your bar fees. Go online and register, try out a Section for the next six months. Evaluate what the group has to offer. Is the CLE offered by the Section more pertinent? If not, reach out to the Section leaders and tell them what you want to hear. Even better, consider volunteering to help present at a future CLE. Use the community boards to ask questions, network and just connect. If you find that having a strong legal community is beneficial, then renew your Section membership and even consider running for a leadership position.
As Kathrine Switzer, an author and the first woman to officially run the Boston Marathon, said, “Life is for participating, not spectating.”
