Section 5: Department of Membership Services

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DENVER BAR ASSOCIATION DEPARTMENT OF MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

The life and vitality of the organized bar is its membership. The Department of Membership Services was established in 1987 in response to a growing concern over the time and financial demands being placed on attorneys, and the potential impact these demands could have on the bar association in terms of a decline in membership. The department currently has five full-time staff persons (the office is shared with the Colorado Bar Association).The Department of Membership Services is responsible for:

1.The recruitment and retention of members in the Denver Bar Association.

2. The development and maintenance of benefits and services for the membership.

3. Administration of the DBA’s committees.

To fulfill the function of recruitment and retention of members in the DBA, the department along with the DBA Membership Services Committee, has identified several groups of attorneys and non-attorneys to target for membership. These include law students, newly admitted attorneys, public counsel, corporate counsel, non-members and non-renewing members. The retention of current members is also of primary concern. Several programs have been developed to work with these groups. In conjunction with the recruitment and retention function, the department is also responsible for maintaining all membership records and statistics.

The department is also responsible for developing and maintaining benefit programs and services for the membership. These currently include discount programs on travel arrangements, office supplies, YMCA membership, and computer services.

Annual departmental projects include: a Denver District & County Court Orientation Program; participation in area law school programming; assistance with the publication of the Legal Directory and the coordination of the dues billing process.

DENVER DISTRICT AND COUNTY COURT ORIENTATION PROGRAM

The DBA Young Lawyers Division organizes a half-day orientation program of the Denver District and County Courts for new admittees to the bar. New admittees are invited to attend this introduction to the "ins & outs" of law practice in the Denver Court system. They also have the opportunity to meet with judges and other important court personnel. This event is traditionally held in November, just after the fall Swearing-In Ceremony.

COLORADO LEGAL DIRECTORY

The Colorado Legal Directory is Colorado's only comprehensive statewide legal resource directory. This directory, which is revised annually, includes an alphabetical listing of Colorado attorneys, law firms and corporate legal departments, as well as complete federal, state and local court information. The directory also contains a list of attorneys organized by specialty practice area. Every DBA member receives a complimentary copy of this directory as a member benefit each year.  All DBA members as of July 1 each year are recognized by a special notation in that year's directory .

RECRUITMENT AT LOCAL LAW SCHOOLS

The DBA encourages law students to join the CBA and the DBA if they plan to live and/or practice in the Denver area. To encourage active involvement in a local bar, the DBA, along with several other bar associations, waives membership dues for law students as long as they join the CBA. The DBA Membership Department works closely with the University of Denver College of Law and the University of Colorado School of Law to stimulate bar involvement.

DUES COLLECTION

The DBA Membership Department is responsible for collection and record keeping of annual dues for DBA members.

INACTIVE MEMBER STATUS

HISTORY OF PROPOSAL
There are many attorneys registered as "inactive" with the Colorado Supreme Court. Believing that some of these persons would be interested in joining the DBA, even though they are not practicing law, the Membership Services Committee in 1989 proposed creating an Inactive membership status. The Board of Trustees approved this membership category on a trial basis. In 1991, inactive membership was created on a permanent basis.

INACTIVE MEMBERSHIP DEFINED
To be eligible for inactive membership, the attorney must be registered as inactive with the Colorado Supreme Court. Inactive members receive all benefits of active membership, except the right to vote or to hold office.
 

DENVER BAR ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP DUES

2010-2011