United States Legal Associations:

A complete guide of National and State Bar Associations. There are two types, one of which is official and usually called an "integrated bar" which is qualified by the particular state's highest court to establish rules for admission and conduct. There are also local bar associations by city or county which are unofficial and voluntary, but do conduct the business of attorneys, such as settling fee disputes and working with the local courts on rules. There is also the American Bar Association, a national voluntary organization of attorneys.

American Bar Association

The American Bar Association is one of the world’s largest voluntary professional organizations, with nearly 400,000 members and more than 3,500 entities. It is committed to doing what only a national association of attorneys can do: serving our members, improving the legal profession, eliminating bias and enhancing diversity, and advancing the rule of law throughout the United States and around the world.

Founded in 1878, the ABA is committed to supporting the legal profession with practical resources for legal professionals while improving the administration of justice, accrediting law schools, establishing model ethical codes, and more. Membership is open to lawyers, law students, and others interested in the law and the legal profession.

National headquarters are in Chicago, however maintain a significant office in Washington D.C.

American Arbitration Association

The American Arbitration Association® (AAA), is a not-for-profit organization with offices throughout the U.S. AAA has a long history and experience in the field of alternative dispute resolution, providing services to individuals and organizations who wish to resolve conflicts out of court.

The AAA role in the dispute resolution process is to administer cases, from filing to closing. The AAA provides administrative services in the U.S., as well as abroad through its International Centre for Dispute Resolution® (ICDR). The AAA's and ICDR's administrative services include assisting in the appointment of mediators and arbitrators, setting hearings, and providing users with information on dispute resolution options, including settlement through mediation. Ultimately, the AAA aims to move cases through arbitration or mediation in a fair and impartial manner until completion.

Additional AAA services include the design and development of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) systems for corporations, unions, government agencies, law firms, and the courts. The Association also provides elections services as well as education, training, and publications for those seeking a broader or deeper understanding of alternative dispute resolution.

American Association for Justice

For more than 65 years, the American Association for Justice, also known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA®), has supported plaintiff trial lawyers—as the collective voice of the trial bar on Capitol Hill and in courthouses across the nation and by providing exclusive services designed for trial lawyers. Get connected to the resources that thousands of trial lawyers use to be successful and grow their practices.

The Mission of the American Association for Justice is to promote a fair and effective justice system—and to support the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in America’s courtrooms, even when taking on the most powerful interests.

Hispanic National Bar Association

To serve as the national voice for the concerns and opinions of Hispanics in the community generally, and in the legal profession in particular. To promote the recruitment and retention of Hispanics in law schools and provide them with financial assistance. To develop mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of information among Hispanics involved in all segments of the legal profession. To conduct conventions and seminars in order to provide continuing legal education for attorneys and foster the exchange of ideas and information among its members. To provide testimony before Congress, state legislatures and executive agencies on issues of concern to Hispanics. To work with other bar associations, governmental agencies and community groups to achieve greater involvement in and understanding of the American legal system by the national Hispanic community.

National Bar Association

The objectives of the NBA "…shall be to advance the science of jurisprudence; improve the administration of justice; preserve the independence of the judiciary and to uphold the honor and integrity of the legal profession; to promote professional and social intercourse among the members of the American and the international bars; to promote legislation that will improve the economic condition of all American citizens, regardless of race, sex or creed in their efforts to secure a free and untrammeled use of the franchise guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States; and to protect the civil and political rights of the citizens and residents of the United States."

The National Bar Association maintains a commitment to political issues on a national and international plane. Supported the nomination and confirmation of several African-Americans currently in key political and judicial positions. Developed a judicial selection process during the Carter Administration to ensure meaningful gains for minority judges under the Omnibus judgeship Act. Called for legislation to curb groups that advocate imminent violence. Testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on behalf of the Legal Services Corporation. Co-sponsored the NBA Women Lawyers Division U.S. Supreme Court Swearing-In Ceremony. In the Spring of 2000, The National Bar Association and West Group completed a joint project donating a gift of Westlaw access to the United Nations for use by the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda (ICTR) and for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The gift provided unlimited access to Westlaw to approximate 400 United Nations prosecutors, judges and clerks staffed by both tribunal for four years.

NATIONAL LAWYERS ASSOCIATION is a professional trade association. National Lawyers Association is an organization for attorneys who do not want their bar association taking stands on issues without their prior approval. National Lawyers Association follows a policy of non-involvement in political issues. The bylaws of the National Lawyers Association provide in part for the prior approval of two-thirds of the entire membership, not just the voting members, before the adoption of public policy positions. National Lawyers Association is a national bar association, organized to improve the image of the legal profession, to advance legal institutions and respect for the law, and to educate the public.

National Native Bar Association

Representing Indian Nations not just Indian Lawyers. NNABA shares many of the same goals of diversity and increased understanding of our communities’ unique cultural and legal issues with minority bar associations. However, most of our lawyers are both U.S. citizens and citizens of their respective Tribal nations. Our members, therefore, also share the communal responsibility, either directly or indirectly, of protecting the governmental sovereignty of the more than 560 independent Native American Tribal governments in the United States.

History of the Formation of NNABA. The National Native American Bar Association began in 1973 as the American Indian Lawyers Association. After a few name changes (American Indian Bar Association to Native American Bar Association), in 1980 we reorganized and developed a chapter system for state Indian bar associations, and we became the National Native American Bar Association. Each of the Chapters has a vote on the NNABA Board of Directors. As the name Native American implies, NNABA represents the interests of all populations indigenous to the lands which are now collectively the United States : American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.