WBA Website Launch!

The Washington Bar Association, Inc. (WBA) is thrilled to announce the launch of its new and improved website, located at: www.washingtonbar.org

Our new website is designed to improve the WBA membership experience, in addition to reflecting the excellence of the WBA brand.

The website not only has a new look, but it also simplifies the process for initiating or renewing WBA membership though our official membership management system, Member365.

The new website also makes it easier than ever to make WBA donations or purchases.

Under the News tab, you’ll have access to all previous WBA communications for the current bar year, including the new “Legacy Series” podcast.

The WBA’s signature and upcoming events are also featured, including photo galleries from previous events this year, including the Ollie May Cooper Award Ceremony and Founders’ Lecture and the WBA President’s Holiday Reception.

We invite you to explore and enjoy the WBA’s new website!

WBA Upcoming Events

General Body Meeting

The Washington Bar Association will hold a Mid-Year General Body Meeting & Networking Reception at 6:00pm on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at Hogan Lovells, 555 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC

Please make plans to attend the Washington Bar Association’s mid-year General Body Meeting and Networking Reception. The meeting will include updates on the state of the WBA, as well as information on upcoming events and opportunities to get involved.

A Networking Reception for WBA members and law students from local law schools (American, Catholic, GW, Georgetown, Howard, and UDC) will immediately follow the General Body Meeting. Come share your experiences and insights on how to succeed in the legal profession with the next generation of lawyers.

  • RSVP by February 15.
  • Attestation and proof of full vaccination required.
  • Masks must be worn indoors at all times.

MLK Weekend Recap

Thank you to everyone who joined the WBA and NBA in DC for the D.C. Peace Walk for Voting Rights for the MLK Holiday. The WBA joined the NBA in partnering with the King Family and more than 100 civic organizations, to insist that the U.S. Senate pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act with all deliberate speed.

WBA Virtual MLK Day of Service Project

Thank you to all the WBA members and friends who participated in the WBA’s Virtual MLK Day of Service Project by helping to transcribe Black Civil War Soldier records through the National Archives Citizen Archivist Program.

WBAEF Charles Hamilton Houston Scholarship Competition

The Washington Bar Association Educational Foundation, Inc. (WBAEF) is pleased to announce the 2022 Charles Hamilton Houston (CHH) Scholarship Essay Competition. Members of the 2022 WBAEF CHH Scholarship Committee are WBAEF President Charlyn M. Stanberry, WBAEF Vice President Gavin H. Logan, WBAEF Secretary Brittani Gordon, WBAEF Scholarship Chair Henry E. Floyd, Jr., WBAEF Immediate Past President Jason A. Grant, and WBAEF Fundraising Chair Chibundu Nnake.

Law students currently enrolled in D.C.-area law schools are invited to participate in the CHH Essay Competition. Entrants will submit an essay on the topic: “Can the federal government require all students attending schools and universities that receive federal funding to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if age-appropriate vaccines are available?” Essays must be in typewritten form, using a 12-point font, double spaced on 8 ½ x 11” white paper with 1-inch margins; not to exceed ten (10) pages. Essays will be judged on the following criteria: (1) appropriateness; (2) clarity; (3) organization; (4) creativity; and (5) documentation of works cited. Monetary scholarships are awarded to the first ($5,000.00), second ($3,500.00) and third ($2,000.00) place winners. Checks will be made payable to the respective law student winners.

Disclaimer: The WBAEF Scholarship Committee has the authority to decrease essay scholarship award amounts based on the quality of essay submissions.

Essays must be submitted on or before the deadline of Friday, March 4, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. EST via email only. Entries will be judged and scored based on the criteria above. Essay submissions must be emailed in PDF format to WBAEF Scholarship Chair, Henry E. Floyd, Jr., at hfloydesq@gmail.com.

Winners of the CHH Essay Competition will be presented during the Washington Bar Association, Inc.’s and Washington Bar Association Educational Foundation, Inc.’s 2022 Law Day Dinner scheduled for Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. Attendance is required to receive scholarship awards. More details forthcoming.

Please direct all questions to CHH Scholarship Chair Henry E. Floyd, Jr. at his respective email address above.

WBA Membership

Don’t forget to register in the WBA’s new membership management platform! Member 365.

As a reminder, the WBA bar year runs from September to June, and our dues structure has been realigned to adhere to the bar year calendar. Dues collection for the 2021-2022 bar year began last month, in September and will be applicable through June 2022.

If you know others who may be interested in establishing or renewing membership in the WBA, please forward this email to them.

We look forward to enhancing your WBA membership experience through Member365.

Thank you in advance for your support of this important transition.

Questions? Please contact us at info@washingtonbar.org

DC Refers

DC Refers was created to increase access to justice for people of modest means in the District of Columbia. Many people in the District of Columbia earn too much to qualify for free legal services from pro bono lawyers or nonprofit legal aid providers, but do not earn enough to afford the rates that most lawyers charge for their services. People whose income falls between 200-400% of the federal poverty guidelines often have limited or no option to obtain legal assistance. We seek to fill that justice gap.

DC Refers invites lawyers with at least two years of experience in their practice area to apply to join our online directory of reduced fee lawyers. Attorneys who join our directory are not required to accept any particular client referral. But if they do accept a client who qualifies for a reduced rate, the lawyer may not charge the client more than $150 per hour. Of course, clients who do not qualify for a reduced rate may be charged the attorney’s normal rate.

If you know someone who would benefit from our services, please share our fliers in English or Spanish.

To learn more about DC Refers or join our directory visit our website https://dcrefers.org/ or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin,

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE. DONATE NOW!

Every donation – no matter the amount – is extremely valuable to the Washington Bar Association. Your contribution will help the WBA support professional development and address the related needs of Black lawyers in the District of Columbia, while furthering our commitment to social justice and advocacy efforts on behalf of the Black community.