- Law Students: A law student currently enrolled in an ABA-approved
school.
- Paralegals/Legal Assistants: A person qualified through education,
training or work experience to perform work that requires knowledge
or legal concepts and is customarily but not exclusively performed
by a lawyer. This person shall be retained or employed by a law office,
governmental agency or other entity or be authorized by administrative
statutory or court authority to perform this work. A paralegal/legal
assistant may apply for associate membership under rules prescribed
by the Board of Governors if sponosred and employed by an active lawyer
member of the Association.
- Law Firm Administrators: A law firm administrator is a non-lawyer who is qualified through education, training or work experience. This person shall be retained or employed by law office, governmental agency or other entity or be authorized by administrative statutory or court authority to perform this work. A law office administrator may apply for associate membership under rules prescribed by the Board of Governors if sponosred and employed by an active lawyer member of the Association.
Law students, paralegals/legal assistants and law firm administrators may participate in activities or the Association as authorized by the Board of Governors, except they may not participate in:
- Electing members of the Board or Governors
- Nominating a member of the Board or and officer of the Association, and may not serve in any of those capacities
- May not vote in Association elections or referendums
- Ma not sign a petition for Association elections or referendums
- May never have been disbarred or suspended from the practice of law in any jurisdiction, and are of good character
Here are some of the great reasons to become a MSBA Member!
The publications alone are worth the cost of annual dues. You’ll receive the Maryland Lawyers’ Manual, the most comprehensive lawyer and judge directory in Maryland which also includes a complete directory of government agencies. The Maryland Bar Journal reports everything from changes in the law to practical tips that will help with the business side of your practice. Every month the Bar Bulletin brings you up-to-date news about your association, your fellow attorneys, continuing education, career opportunities, computer advice, and more.
Members also receive benefits such as discounts on car rentals from the leading companies, discounts on Lexis computerized legal research, fax machines, mobile phones, express mail, and long distance telephone service.
Our Law Office Management Assistance provides guidance and information to our members, especially to our solo and small firm practitioners. With an eye to rapidly changing technology, the MSBA offers Maryland appellate opinion summaries by email through EBB, Electronic Bar Briefs.
The MSBA also provides Courthouse Security I.D. badges in many counties.
The staff of the MSBA Lawyer Assistance Program can help troubled lawyers. The task of the Lawyer Assistance Program and committee is to offer practical assistance to attorneys suffering from: poor working habits, poor office and financial organization, alcohol or drug dependency, or lack of knowledge and skills.
MSBA represents and protects your legislative interests before the Maryland General Assembly, through its Committee on Laws and our office of Legislative Relations.
Our Job Connection in the Bar Bulletin offers law firms an opportunity to post vacancies and for individual lawyers to state their availability.
The Bar Associations’ Insurance Trust offers insurance programs for disabilities, dental, basic life, supplemental life, universal life and personal accidents. The Bar Associations’ Insurance Trust strives to bring the best possible coverage at the least cost to members. As insurance costs rise, this benefit of Association membership can pay you back many times over.
MSBA Members receive preferential pricing on all courses offered by the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL). MSBA members get a $30 discount on all regular, live MICPEL courses. Plus, MICPEL gives an additional $20 discount on programs to young attorneys who are members of MSBA's Young Lawyers Section, and a $20 discount to MSBA Section members when they attend a program sponsored by their Section. For more details contact MICPEL at 410-659-6730 or at www.micpel.edu.
The MSBA Ethics Hotline will answer your ethical questions free of charge as well as provide advisory written opinions.
Check out the MSBA's 50 plus active Sections and Committees. You can take an active role in developing legal policy in areas of special interest to you. The personal rewards of extending your legal knowledge through this forum can have a direct impact on the success of your practice.
MSBA’s Annual and Mid-Year meetings offer an opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues and sharpen your skills through instructional sessions and presentations by prominent members of your profession.
In conclusion, we remind you of the MSBA Travel Program, which offers discounts on travel packages. Bank Of America also offers Maryland State Bar Association members a Gold MasterCard with no annual fees, the Gold Reserve Credit Line and the Professional Services Account which allows attorneys to accept VISA and MasterCard for the payment of client services.
You’ll find our arguments irrefutable. The Maryland State Bar Association is one of your best professional bargains.