Dues structure and rates
2010-11
rates
-
Law student: $35
-
Admitted to bar in 2010: $75
-
Admitted to bar 2006 - 2009: $175
-
Admitted to bar 2001 - 2005: $275
-
Admitted to bar 2000 and prior: $360
-
Sustaining member*: Dues plus $150
-
Life member (50 years at bar): FREE
-
Sitting MA & federal judiciary:
FREE
*The sustaining member category applies to those members who
demonstrate a high level of commitment to both the association and
the profession.
Special
categories
- Government attorney: full-time government employee or
legislator: $150
- Lawyers in transition: $150
- Paralegal/legal assistant: full-time paralegal or legal
assistant: $150
- Retired attorney: $150
- Affiliated professional: non-lawyer, e.g. social worker,
doctor, etc.: $175
- Law professor: teaching full-time, not in private
practice: $175
- Out-of-state attorney: attorney's principal office is
located outside Massachusetts: $175
Dues waiver
If approved, all members are expected to pay a minimum of $75 or
50 percent of his or her membership dues (whichever is greater).
Waivers will not be granted for more than three
consecutive years.
Tax information
Massachusetts Bar Association dues are not tax deductible
as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. However, they
may be tax deductable as an ordinary and necessary business
expense, subject to restrictions imposed as a result of association
lobbying activities. The MBA estimates that the non-deductible
portion of dues allocable to lobbying is 6 percent.
Term of membership
Membership in the MBA runs from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31. Please
note that we send reminder notices as renewal time approaches.
However, your prompt payment of dues will ensure that you continue
to receive all of your benefits in a timely manner. Should your
membership lapse, you may reactivate it at any time by becoming
current on your dues for the year.
If you need to update any of your membership information, please
contact our Member Services Center:
Tel: (617) 338-0530
Fax: (617) 542-3057
E-mail: [e-mail membership]
Dues are not pro-rated and non-refundable.
General section and division information
All memberships include participation in one primary section.
Any additional section selections are $50 each.
There are 17 sections and one division that typically
develop more than 100 education programs and Section
Review, a comprehensive magazine published four times per
year. Membership in additional sections is $50 each. Below is a
list of the available sections.
For more information on individual sections and the Young
Lawyers Division, click here.
- Each section is governed by a chair and a
15-member council, all appointed by the president
of the association annually, with terms commencing Sept. 1. Service
on a section council is limited to a maximum of three
years on the council and two years as a
chair.
- Each section also includes several practice groups, which are a
sub-groups that focus on more specific areas of law. The chair of
each particular section names chairs of the practice
groups.
- Ad-hoc committees are established by the
section chair around a specific issue and are not expected to last
beyond the association year. The exclusive purpose is to develop an
opinion and eventually draft a piece of legislation regarding one
narrow issue.
- To manage the day-to-day responsibilities of the section
council, the chair often establishes section-specific
standing committees.