American Immigration Lawyers Association
aila.org
membership@aila.org
Number of members: over 11,000 nationally
Cost: $80 — San Diego chapter (must also join National Chapter)
Date founded: 1946
Mission Statement: The American Immigration Lawyers Association is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members.
Association of Business Trial Lawyers San Diego
www.abtl.org
(619) 948-9570
abtlsandiego@yahoo.com
1010 University Ave., Ste. 113, PMB 386
San Diego, CA 92103
map it
Number of members: 750+
Cost: $100 — in practice more than 3 years; $85 — in practice less than 3 years;
$50 — judges & public sector attorneys; firm membership discount program available
Newsletter: Yes, quarterly
Date founded: 1972
Mission Statement: To promote the highest ideals of the legal profession — competence, ethics, professionalism and civility — through relevant and interesting educational programs and frequent informal interaction with other members of the bar and bench who embrace these ideals.
Notable Facts: Chapters in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange County, Northern California, San Joaquin Valley; annual seminar at
resort destinations, even years in Hawaii; biennial one-day trial skills seminar in San Diego; dinner programs;
“Meet the Judge” brown bag lunch programs; “nuts and bolts” lunch programs.
Contact: President Richard D. Gluck, Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann
Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
www.casd.org
(619) 696-1166
casd@casd.org
2535 Camino del Rio S., Ste. 345
San Diego, CA 92108
map it
Number of members: 900+
Cost: $25 to $755 (depending on the years of practice)
Member benefits: List serve access, deposition bank, vendor discounts, networking events, educational seminars, community service opportunities, job bank, complimentary subscription to Trial Bar News.
MCLE credit: Yes
Newsletter: Trial Bar News
Date founded: 1960
Mission Statement: CASD is an organization of trial lawyers in San Diego County who work to preserve and protect the legal rights of consumers.
Notable Facts: CASD is committed to supporting the needs of trial lawyers in San Diego County in all areas of their practice by
inspiring excellence in advocacy through training and education.
Contact: Bonnie Benitez, executive director, bonnie@casd.org
Criminal Defense Lawyers Club
sddefense.org
Member benefits: Receive e-mail alerts about latest motions posted, access and ability to download motions, post your own motions, and post calendar events.
MCLE credit: Yes
Newsletter: Monthly
Date founded: 1974
Mission Statement: To lend assistance to members and others who are in need of assistance on issues relating to the representation of the accused by all legal means.
Notable Facts: Founded by members who went on to become state and federal court judges. Members are considered to be the elite of the San Diego criminal defense community.
Contact: Ben Kington, bk@boyce-schaefer.com
Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association
earlbgilliambar.org
contact@earlbgilliambar.org
PO Box 124655
San Diego, CA 92112
map it
Number of members: 100
Cost: $20 for law students/associate members; $75 for judges; $50-60 for attorneys, depending on years in practice.
Member benefits: Listing in the EBGBA Attorney Directory
Newsletter: Bi-yearly
Date founded: 1976
Notable Facts: EBGBA represents the interests of African-American attorneys, judges, law professors and students in the county of San Diego. The nonprofit organization’s mission statement articulates its commitment to “defending the legal and human rights of African-Americans; eliminating the root causes of poverty, powerlessness and racism; preserving the high standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession; and promoting the professional and personal interests of individual members.”
Contact: President Udoka Nwanna
Federal Bar Association
fedbar.org
fba@fedbar.org
Number of members: over 16,000 nationwide
Cost: $30 for law students; $75-$160 for attorneys; $95 for retired members
Member benefits: Benefits include networking with federal practitioners in our local area and nationally, a subscription to the
San Diego Chapter quarterly newsletter, opportunities to get to know members of the local federal judiciary at social bench/bar and CLE events; and discounts for most FBA-sponsored social and CLE events, including the very popular Judith N. Keep Federal Civil Practice Seminar and State of the District programs held every year.
MCLE Credit: More than 700 hours of CLE credit available
Publication: The Federal Lawyer
Contact: Hubert Kim
Filipino-American Lawyers of San Diego
falsd.org
info@falsd.org
11622 El Camino Real, Ste. 300
San Diego, CA 92130
map it
Number of members: 50
Cost: $15 for students, $25 for attorney (1-3 years of practice), $50 for judge, legal professional, and attorney (+3 years)
MCLE credit: Free to members, various topics
Newsletter: News by e-mail
Date founded: 1978
Mission Statement: The Filipino-American Lawyers of San Diego is committed to ensuring that attorneys of color, particularly Filipino-American attorneys, have access to equal opportunities in the legal profession. It aims to develop multicultural solutions,
to foster diversification and to sustain multicultural coalitions in all channels of the legal system.
Notable Facts: Annual dinner held every January, free community law school, scholarships for law students taking the Bar Exam
Contact: President Melissa Deleon, melissa@rechslawoffice.com, (619) 696-6200
Foothills Bar Association of San Diego County
foothillsbar.org
info@foothillsbar.org
PO Box 1077
El Cajon, CA 92022
map it
Number of members: 100+
Cost: $65 per year
Member benefits: 4 MCLE Sections, Discount on Annual “Hard to Get” Credits Seminar, Annual telephone directory, listing on website, monthly section meetings, discount on annual dinner.
MCLE credit: Free to members
Newsletter: Yes
Date founded: 1962
Notable Facts: The Regional Bar for East San Diego County
Contact: President Carolyn Brock, carolyn@crbrocklaw.com
Iranian-American Bar Association
www.iaba.us
iaba@iaba.us
5185 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Ste. 624
Washington, DC 20016
map it
Number of members: 2,000
Cost: $70 for attorneys, $50 for public sector attorneys, $20 for students, Free for judiciary.
Member benefits: seminars, MCLE, conferences, events, social networking, scholarships, pro bono events and mentorship
MCLE credit: Yes
Newsletter: Yes
Date founded: 2000
Mission Statement: IABA is a non-religious, independent organization and is not in any way affiliated with any other organization. IABA is not a lobbying or advocacy group, but primarily an educational organization. As such, IABA seeks to educate and inform
the Iranian-American community about legal issues of interest, and to ensure that the American public at large, as well as our
representatives and other government officials, are fully and accurately informed on legal matters of interest and concern to the
Iranian American community. In addition, IABA strives to publicize and promote the achievements of Iranian American lawyers
and other legal professionals.
Contact: Arshan Amiri, sandiego@iaba.us
Korean-American Bar Association of San Diego
www.kabasd.org
kaba.sd@gmail.com
PO Box 122831
San Diego, CA 92112
map it
Number of members: 50+
Cost: $40 for California private attorneys; $20 for California public sector attorneys; $10 law students
MCLE credit: Yes
Date founded: August 2007
Mission Statement: The Korean-American Bar Association of San Diego (KABA-SD) was established to provide Korean-American attorneys and law students in the greater San Diego area the opportunity to network and socialize with each other; offer legal,
educational, political, charitable, and other services to the Korean-American community; and advance Korean Americans in the legal profession. To further its mission and preserve the cultural heritage of our community, KABA-SD hosts events, such as informational workshops, mentoring programs, fundraisers, and other networking and social activities. KABA-SD works with minority and
community organizations on matters of common concern and is open to all those interested in furthering KABA-SD’s objectives.
Contact: kaba.sd@gmail.com