By Member Services Department
Members of the King County Bar Association find lasting relationships; gain business, career, and legal insights; and give back to the community through committee work, donations, and pro bono service. Our community accomplished amazing things this past year, and I am certain our new membership year (starting July 1, 2025) will bring even more opportunities for every attorney.
During the 2024-25 membership year, KCBA amended its bylaws to add a JD-Only membership category. This means law graduates who have yet to pass the bar or who’ve decided not to take the bar can become regular members of KCBA. This year also included the launch of a new Child Law Section, encompassing a broad set of practice areas that work on child justice issues. And, in addition to our yearly Swearing-In Ceremonies for new lawyers, KCBA hosted a retaking of the Oath of Attorney on Law Day, May 1, 2025, for 300 seasoned attorneys, who reaffirmed their dedication to the rule of law in a ceremony led by King County Superior Court Presiding Judge Ketu Shah. KCBA also took action with amicus briefing in two lawsuits challenging Executive Orders punishing law firms for their representation of particular clients.
To be sure you don’t miss out on all the action, renew or join today! There are so many ways you can jump in and make even more of your membership:
• Join a committee to make an impact on our judiciary (through the Judicial Candidate Evaluation or Judicial Conferencing committees); take positions on legislation (Public Policy) and revisions to court rules (Judiciary & Litigation); or shape the future of KCBA’s programming and benefits (Member Services or Continuing Legal Education). Our New Lawyers Division runs several active committees as well, which are open to all KCBA members regardless of years of practice. Consider the boost to your career, as well: Many of our committee members become KCBA or King County Bar Foundation board members and count committee and board participation as career highlights.
• Engage with a section to focus on your particular area of practice. We have more than a dozen practice-area-focused sections to choose from, and these groups are always looking for CLE speakers, new leadership, and enthusiastic members. Join a section and you can earn free CLE credits, meet others with similar or associated law practices, and keep up on the latest advancements. Each section also has a listserv for sharing ideas and referrals.
• Do you need to build your practice? Join KCBA’s Lawyer Referral Service which helps community members find attorneys — not for pro bono help but for paid legal assistance at your already-established hourly rates. We provide referrals in nearly every area of law and receive thousands of calls per year. Join LRS and give it a try — to build your book of business and expand your marketing reach.
• Expand legal access with KCBF. KCBA makes it so easy to give back to your community. Through our King County Bar Foundation, we support free legal services for low-income community members. The Foundation also provides diversity scholarships to historically underrepresented groups at both of our local law schools. KCBA also offers many ways to donate your time through our Neighborhood Legal Clinics, Records Project, and other programs.
• Learn with us! KCBA members enjoy discounts on nearly all Continuing Legal Education programs, whether in person, online, or streaming via our website! We have more than 200 titles to choose from, and multiple live opportunities every month.
To check if you are a current member or to join for the first time, go to www.kcba.org/join and enter your name to determine if you already have a profile with KCBA. Either way, it is easy to join online and get all of the great benefits KCBA provides. Contact us at membership@kcba.org or 206-340-2572 if you have any questions.
