ABA: Membership now offers new, enhanced benefits

The American Bar Association is officially launching its updated membership model this week, instituting a wide range of changes that respond to the diverse needs of today’s lawyers.

Those changes include new professional development offerings and a simplified dues structure that lowers dues for many lawyers.

“We want to communicate better with members, to give them what they want and need from an association,” ABA President Bob Carlson said. “We will connect with the legal community and increase awareness of the great impact the ABA has both inside and outside the legal profession.”

The new benefits of membership include access to a growing CLE Member Benefit Library with more than 450 courses as well as to exclusive, current members-only content targeted to members’ preferences and useful to their practices and careers.  

Members will be able to join the Law Practice Division and the Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division at no additional cost.

All members will have access to the content generated by both divisions, along with a wide range of premium information and CLE programs from the Center for Professional Responsibility.

The ABA Career Center has been redesigned to provide easy access to webinars, podcasts and a national job board.

Career Forward, a platform enhanced by artificial intelligence and powered by Korn Ferry Advance®, will provide real-time feedback on interviewing skills and developing professional resumes. 

All of this will be available with a sensible dues structure built on five price points:

• $75 for those admitted to the bar less than five years (including new members of the bar);

• $150 for those admitted to the bar five to nine years, solo practitioners, small firm members, judges, retirees, and public service/government lawyers and international (non-U.S. licensed)

• $250 for those admitted to the bar 10 to 14 years;

• $350 for those admitted to the bar 15 to 19 years

• $450 for those admitted to the bar 20 years and more.

Members belonging to more than one category will pay the lower dues.