Membership

MEMBER BENEFITS

THE ESSEX COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION is the professional association of the Essex County Bar founded in 1899. With 3000 members, it is the largest county bar in New Jersey. It is also the most diverse. Since its inception, the ECBA has enthusiastically implemented programs and aggressively embraced positions to meet the needs and concerns of the Essex County legal community and the community-at-large

BENEFITS
Educational opportunities: The Essex County Bar Foundation offers between 20 and 30 seminars each year. The seminars are organized by the ECBA substantive law committees, with top professionals and known experts as speakers. ECBA educational programs are designed to be conveniently located and very affordable for ECBA members in good standing. Many ECBA programs are approved for CLE credits in NJ/NY/PA.

Committees: The membership application includes a sign-up form for over 30 committees and all members are encouraged to sign up for as many committees as they like. The level of committee activity and commitment varies from monthly breakfast or luncheon meetings to after-work gatherings. Each substantive committee is require to plan and hold at least one major seminar on the relevant substantive area of law for the general bar membership. This is an opportunity to meet and network with colleagues in a particular area of practice and with the membership generally. There are numerous other valuable benefits of committee membership and we encourage bar members to join and attend as many social and substantive committee events as possible to learn about the committees and their work. Membership in the ECBA Committees is a free benefit to all Bar members.

Conference Room Facilities: The Essex County Bar Association/ Foundation Headquarters Conference Room is available to ECBA/F members in good standing at no cost for meetings, depositions, or programs and can accomodate up to 20 people. Availability is on a first-come, first-reserved basis. For information or to reserve the conference room, call 973-622-6207 ext. 10.

Lawyer Referral Service (LRS): Any ECBA member in good standing is eligible to join the ECBA LRS. For a modest fee, you become eligible to receive referrals in your particular practice area. You must agree to charge only $25 for the first 1/2 hour consultation after which your regular fees apply. You cannot have pending Ethics or Fee Arbitration Complaints pending against you and you must have a malpractice policy naming the ECBA LRS as a holder of a certificate. Click here for more information on LRS and to get an application or call ECBA Headquarters at 973-622-6207.

Publications: The Essex County Bar Foundation is proud of its publications. We publish a substantial newsletter, The Chronicle, with substantive articles six times a year. This newsletter is available to members at no additional cost. We have published numerous editions of the Disability Law Primer which enjoys statewide circulation thanks to a generous grant from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and is also available at no charge to ECBA members. We have recently published Traps for the Unwary which is a compilation of work by 38 lawyers/authors. It is a primer for all New Jersey Lawyers on pitfalls to avoid in everyday practice in 30 substantive and procedural areas. This handsome publication, which has received rave reviews, is available for $25.00 for ECBA members and $45.00 for non-members by contacting ECBA headquarters at (973) 622-620

Networking: ECBA offers a number of events such as the Annual Judicial Reception, where lawyers can meet and socialize, thereby enhancing the civility between colleagues. Monthly dinners and/or cocktail parties keep the lines of communication open and provide a forum for meeting the judiciary as well as new lawyers.

Travel: The Essex County Bar Foundation sponsors an annual conference each year for a five day getaway to such places as Scottsdale, Arizona, and Marco Island, Florida. Numerous substantive law seminars are produced, a golf and tennis tournament is held as well as a cocktail party.

Financial Discounts:
Product and Service Discounts: Membership in the ECBA provides practicing attorneys and others the opportunity to participate and attend myriad reasonably priced social and substantive events, CLE programs and to offer their services and support to numerous charitable, educational and other community programs. Additionally, members in good standing of the ECBA enjoy discounts and special benefits at numerous local and national products and service providers, including, among others:

Paychex – Payroll, Nationwide payroll and human services provider
New York Sports Club
Discounted disability law insurance
Credit cards
United Parcel Service.

Professional Enhancement: ECBA/F enhances the image of lawyers by sponsoring an Ask A Lawyer program in community libraries and adult education programs, numerous charitable events throughout the year including an annual Children's Holiday Party for underprivileged children and the annual Race Judicata which benefits a local charity group each year, Law Day programs, and more.

Lawyer Advocacy: ECBA reviews legislation, proposed court rules and Congressional initiatives for the purpose of taking positions so the legal profession in Essex County can be heard by advocating on behalf of lawyers and their clients. ECBA has a long and proud history of activism on issues affecting the delivery of legal services to the poor in Essex County.