Become a Member of the Erie County Bar Association
Membership Application
To become a member of the Erie County Bar Association, please complete our online application and submit it to the Erie County Bar Association. If you have any questions regarding the application or membership please contact us at (814)459-3111 or admin@eriebar.com.
Membership Categories
Active Members
A lawyer is eligible for active membership in this Association:
- If such lawyer is a member of the legal profession, has a current (active or inactive) Pennsylvania law license in Pennsylvania or any other United States state or territory; or
- If such lawyer is a Judge of a state or federal Court within Pennsylvania.
- Only active members of this Association shall be entitled to vote at meetings of members, hold elective office in this Association, participate in the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS), participate as a mediator in the Association's mediation program, and vote in the judicial election or retention ratings.
Associate Members
The following persons may make applications for Associate memberships:
- A non-practicing member of the legal profession who no longer has a current (active or inactive) Pennsylvania law license, a retired Judge of a state or federal Court within Pennsylvania, or a retired or former active member of the Erie County Bar Association;
- Any practicing member of the legal profession who does not qualify for active membership.
- Associate members shall not vote at meetings of members, hold elective office in this Association, participate in the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS), participate as a mediator in the Association's mediation program, or vote in the judicial election or retention ratings. Associate members shall be eligible for appointment to any of the Association's Sections, Divisions, and Committees other than Nominating, Bylaws, Budget and Personnel. Subject to the preceding and such additional limitations as shall be approved by the Board of Directors from time to time, associate members shall be entitled to all services and notices provided to members of the Association.
- To qualify for Associate membership, a non-practicing member of the legal profession or retired Judge of a state or federal Court within Pennsylvania, or a retired or former active member of the Erie County Bar Association must have been in good standing with the admitting court(s) and the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board at the time they stopped practicing and/or retired from the legal profession.
Emeritus Member
- Emeritus status lawyers are retired from the practice of law but seek to provide pro bono services to legal aid organizations. A lawyer is eligible for emeritus membership in this Association if such lawyer has met the requirements of Pennsylvania Rule of Disciplinary Enforcement 403 and has been approved for emeritus status in Pennsylvania.
- Emeritus members shall not vote at meetings of members, hold elective office in this Association, participate in the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS), participate as a mediator in the Association's mediation program, or vote in the judicial election or retention plebiscites. Emeritus members shall be eligible for appointment to any of the Association's Sections, Divisions, and Committees other than Nominating, Bylaws, Budget and Personnel. Subject to the preceding and such additional limitations as shall be approved by the Board of Directors from time to time, emeritus members shall be entitled to all services and notices provided to members of the Association.
Legal Professional Member
The following persons may apply for legal professional membership:
- Any person, not a lawyer, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law firm, corporation, government agency or other organization and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible (or was so employed or retained within the past two years), or
- Any person, not a lawyer, who is a legal administrator, librarian, or a marketing, information technology, professional development or recruitment professional at a law firm or law department.
- Legal professional members shall not vote at meetings of members, hold elective office in this Association, participate in the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS), participate as a mediator in the Association's mediation program, or vote in the judicial ratings or retention ratings. Legal professional members shall be eligible for appointment to any of the Association's Sections, Divisions, and Committees other than Nominating, Bylaws, Budget and Personnel. Subject to the preceding and such additional limitations as shall be approved by the Board of Directors from time to time, legal professional members shall be entitled to all services and notices provided to members of the Association.
Student Member
- A student is eligible for Student membership in this Association if the student is currently enrolled at an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited law school, or has graduated from an ABA-accredited law school within the past two years but has not yet been admitted to the practice of law in Pennsylvania, or if the student is currently enrolled in an accredited college or university.
- Subject to the limitations below and any others as may be approved by the Board of Directors, student members shall be entitled to all services and notices provided to members of the Association. They shall be eligible to attend meetings of any of the Association's Sections, Divisions, and Committees other than Nominating, Bylaws, Budget and Personnel. They shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of members, hold elective office in this Association, participate in the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS), participate as a mediator in the Association's mediation program, or vote in the judicial election or retention ratings.
Honorary
A member of the legal profession may be made an honorary member of this Association by a vote of the Board of Directors.
- Honorary members shall not vote at meetings of members, hold elective office in this Association, participate in the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS), participate as a mediator in the Association's mediation program, or vote in the judicial election or retention plebiscites. Honorary members shall be eligible for appointment to any of the Association's Sections, Divisions, and Committees other than Nominating, Bylaws, Budget and Personnel. Subject to the preceding and such additional limitations as shall be approved by the Board of Directors from time to time, honorary members shall be entitled to all services and notices provided to members of the Association.
Membership Benefits
How does a membership benefit you?
- ECBA top-quality CLE Seminars with "Members Only" rates - Saving you $180/year - more than pays for your annual local dues!
- Lawyer Referral & Information Service - Participate and gain new clients
- Mediation Services - Available to help you assist your clients with resolving their disputes more quickly and economically
- Access to ECBA's "Member " website featuring:
- Download current legal/court forms
- Local Civil, Criminal and Orphans' Court Rules
- Legal Journal opinions, archived
- Helpful Charts & Lists
- Erie County Title Standards Manual
- Tuesday's Technology Tips, archived
- Handy links to other useful websites and much more
- Members' Websites are Linked on the ECBA site for FREE - Do we have yours?
- ECBA E-Newsletter - Keeping you up-to-date on the events and happenings of your association
- FREE hard copy of the Annual Alphabetic Attorney List - Handy access to members' names, office addresses/phone/fax/E-mail
- Videoconferencing services - Save time and money when conducting business with individuals who are out-of-town
- FREE use of ECBA Conference Room - Handicapped accessible
- Dues waived - local and state - For attorneys new to the practice of law
- Social Events - Including the Annual Charity Golf Tournament; Mid-Year Meeting; Annual Meeting with Holiday Cocktail Party; Holiday Dinner Party and more
- Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers - Confidential help for attorneys experiencing drug, alcohol, gambling or mental health problems
- InCite - FREE legal research for PBA members - More than recoups your state annual dues!
- Erie County Legal Journal via E-Mail - Ensures that you see each week's issue immediately upon publication
- Sections - Practice-oriented; designed to provide practical professional tools, opportunities, and connections you can't find anywhere else; includes Bankruptcy, Business & Commercial Law, Civil Litigation, Criminal Practice, Estates & Trusts, Family Law, Real Estate, Workers' Compensation
- Divisions - Demographic oriented; provide a forum for the exchange of ideas/information and support for members who are Solo/Small Firm Practitioners and/or Young Lawyers
- ECBA Staff - Knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and always willing to assist ECBA members in any way possible
How does a membership benefit the community?
- Attorneys & Kids Together (AKT) - ECBA's signature community project - Supporting the educational needs of students living in homeless situations
- Lawyer Referral & Information Service - Be part of our ABA accredited referral service as we help connect individuals and businesses with local attorneys who can assist them
- Mediation - Qualified ECBA members assist individuals and businesses in resolving their disputes more quickly and economically
- LAVA - Legal Volunteer Attorneys (since 1981) - Offers low-income individuals free legal assistance in certain civil matters
- Speakers Bureau - Participate in speaking to community groups on a variety of legal topics
- Fee Dispute Process - Assist clients if they have questions, concerns or disagreements about fees charged by their attorney
- Naturalization Ceremonies - Welcome new citizens into our community
- Living Trust Brochures - FREE copies available to members of the community
- Videoconferencing Services - Saving local companies time and money as they conduct business with out-of-town customers or interview potential employees
