Officially Speaking
Bar Associations: "What Have They Done for Me Lately?"

Why join the American Bar Association/Law Student Division, the American Bar Association, or any bar association at all? The answer is to gain a resource for customer service, professional development and experience.

As an active ABA/LSD officer and member, I am most often asked, "What made you become involved in the ABA/LSD in your first year of law school?" My response always mentions several personal reasons but includes my goals for professional development, networking opportunities and information support systems. The American Bar Association is a national association of lawyers whose primary purpose is to represent the legal profession and to serve the public and the profession by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the law.

I joined the ABA/LSD in my first year. Initially I became involved with the LSD after a 3L invited me to the Fourth Circuit Fall Roundtable. After attending the meeting I knew I wanted to stay involved in an association that had the same special interest in the legal profession that I had. At the spring meeting I decided to run for Governor of the Fourth Circuit as a first-year student. It was pretty gutsy, but I figured the best way to have an effect is to get involved. I served my second year as Governor and then ran for Division Delegate. I currently serve the Division as one of three representatives to the ABA's House of Delegates. I have gained so many benefits and learning experiences as a result of my ABA/LSD participation: friendships, networking, job opportunities, professional development, experience and pride in my profession.

Now, what can association membership do for you, and why should you be a member of the ABA/LSD, state bar association or local bar association? People join associations today because they are going to gain a return in the future. This is called customer service. All of these associations offer services and products. What associations can also offer you is experience. The decision you face is which association best suits your needs. First, any membership in an association supports the profession. Many members have an interest in the intangible effects that benefit them personally, such as improving the image of lawyers. Conferences and meetings, too, are benefits that contain a plethora of other positives. At conferences you can network with others, educate yourself, develop your professional skills and influence policy issues. Another benefit of association membership is receiving new or practical materials and information. Experience in any area is a training benefit that cannot be repeated or replaced.

Participation in the ABA/LSD, or any state or local bar association, provides experience for a lawyer's day-to-day needs and demands. Participating at such an early stage in your career is rewarding and important, because young lawyers are the future of the profession. Young lawyers often show more interest in intangible benefits of a group voice, such as "improving the image of lawyers" and the "advocacy of legal issues." Start in law school and witness the change you can have on your profession.

These are some of the reasons that I value and support my bar association membership. Join the ABA/LSD and reap your own benefits, from a large number of persons uniting together to improve the justice system, represent the legal profession and serve the public and the profession. Ask your school ABA representative or national officer how you can become a member, or contact the ABA/LSD directly at (800) 285-ABA1.

Virginia V. Trost, Law Student Division Delegate
Regent University College of Law
virgtro@regent.edu