Free MCLE – The DBA offers over 350 continuing legal education (CLE) courses each year, most of which are offered at no charge. Excellent presentations on every topic of law are offered at convenient times (usually lunch and evening) throughout the year, including presentations that will fulfill the law ethics/professional responsibility requirement. CLE courses/seminars are held at the Belo Mansion and also at a North Dallas location. The cost of DBA membership is much less than a single seminar, which can often cost $500-$1,000, not including travel. The money you save obtaining your MCLE requirements through the DBA will more than offset the cost of your membership dues.

Mentoring Program - The DBA offers a mentoring program through the Senior Lawyers Committee. Contact (214) 220-7447 for more information.

Peer Assistance–The DBA offers an assistance program for chemical and alcohol dependency problems through its Peer Assistance Committee. Meeting dates are listed in Headnotes each month.

Lawyer Referral Service Panel – You can participate on the DBA Lawyer Referral Service Panel, which assists the public in obtaining legal help. The panel is a great way for small-firm and solo attorneys to gain clients. For information ahernandez@dallasbar.org or (214) 220-7499.

FOR YOUR PRACTICE

Law Firm Merchant Account - If you are accepting credit cards, trust your transactions to the Law Firm Merchant Account. Correctly safeguard and separate client funds into trust and operating accounts.  Funds are never commingled.  Credit cards attract clients, improve cash flow and reduce collections. DBA members can save up to 25% off their credit card processing fees through the Law Firm Merchant Account.  To change or set up your credit card processing through the Law Firm Merchant Account:  call 866-376-0950 or visit   www.affiniscape.com/dallasbar

As a DBA member, you can include your photo, address, phone number, e-mail and area of practice in the DBA Pictorial Directory, which is published each year and available at no charge to all DBA members. For more information or to update your information/ digital photo, please send an email to pictorial@dallasbar.org.

ABA Publication Discounts - Dallas Bar members can purchase ABA books at a 15% discounted rate. For a complete list of titles or to place an order, go to www.ababooks.org. Discount does not apply to ABA-CLE ipod products.

Discounted Office Supplies – DBA members receive a discount on office supplies through Association Members Only. Please contact 1-800-420-6421, extension 222 for a cost comparison and start saving today!
 

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY WORK

Networking Opportunities – You will find that membership in the DBA and participation in its many activities offers wonderful opportunities for networking with fellow lawyers from all areas of practice. When you come down to DBA’s headquarters at the Belo Mansion for Section meetings and Committee meetings, you will meet other attorneys and generate long term friendships, resources and referrals.

Family Activities - Each year the DBA invites all members to participate in the complimentary Family Holiday Party in December. Families are also encouraged to participate in Habitat for Humanity, the Mother’s Day Brunch and holiday concerts at the Meyerson. See Headnotes for more updates on family activities.

PERSONAL

Bank of America – Take advantage of a low interest rate credit card designed specifically for DBA members!

Texas Rangers Tickets – DBA members will receive discounted tickets to Ranger games.

Fitness Center Discounts – Discounts are available at The Baylor-Tom Landry Fitness Center, the Texas Club, and the Dallas Athletic Club.

Country Club Membership - The Golf Club of Dallas, a 52-year old club that offers dining, golf, tennis and other facilities and services to its members, will offer one month dues free as well as other promotions or benefits to DBA members who join the club.

Clothing Discounts – DBA members receive a 15% discount off regular and everyday valued merchandise at Brooks Brothers, Brooks Brothers Factory Outlets, Carolee, and Adrienne Vittadini stores nationwide. Members will also receive a 20% discount off of regularly priced merchandise at JoS. A. Bank. In order to receive a 20% discount, DBA members must request a free personal corporate discount card.

Hotel Discounts - DBA members may now enjoy discounted rates at many La Quinta Inns and Suites. Rates range from $85 all the way down to $49 at some hotels in Texas. Members will receive a 15% discount at hotels outside of Texas.

The Belo Mansion - DBA Members are encouraged to bring guests for the daily lunch buffet and happy hours. Members may rent the Belo Mansion for personal events such as weddings, business meetings and much more. For information http://www.belomansion.com/Home.htm, or call (214) 220-0239.

As a DBA member, you can place a low-cost classified ad in the DBA newsletter Headnotes. For more information, please contact Jessica Smith by email or at 214-220-7477. For classified rates, click here. For display ad rates, click here.

The DBA has nearly 40 committees, covering numerous issues important to DBA members. The goal of the committees is to enhance the professional lives of DBA members and increase bar services and involvement to the general public. The work of these committees is truly phenomenal, and your contribution on these committees can be one of the most rewarding and productive experiences of being a member of the Dallas legal community. For a list of available committees, click here. If you are a DBA member and would like to join a committee, please email your committee preferences to Membership, and she will enroll you in the committees of your choice. For a membership application, click here.

Dallas Bar Association members receive a copy of DBA Headnotes every month. It includes a calendar of CLE programs and listing of DBA events and other items of interest to members, including employment and office-sharing opportunities. Contact Jessica Smith by email or at 214-220-7477 for more information.

DBA Online - Dallas Bar Association members receive DBA Online, our online, weekly newsletter. Click here for an online listing of our most recent announcements. For more information, contact Jessica Smith by email or at 214-220-7477.

The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program is the joint pro bono program of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. DVAP provides a variety of volunteer opportunities for lawyers and other legal professionals to help the poor in our community obtain legal services. Clinics include the Neighborhood Legal Clinics, Wills Clinics, and the Pro Se Clinic. DVAP also provides free CLE training seminars and mentoring on pro bono cases. To volunteer, contact Chris Reed-Brown by email or at 214-748-1234, ext. 3316.

DBA members (with the exception of Non-Resident or Law Student members) have the privilege of participating in the Judicial Evaluation and Judicial Election Polls which are administered every other year. Results from these polls are posted on the DBA website. To view recent evaluation and election polls, click here.

Looking for a Legal Secretary? DBA members may request a copy of all legal secretarial resumes currently on file, and the resumes will be mailed to them. For more information on this service, click here or contact Teddi Rivas by email or at 214-220-7447.

Mailing labelsfor the DBA membership are available for rental. Labels for the entire membership are $500 plus tax for DBA members, and $750 plus tax for non-members. Labels for specific sections are .10 cents plus tax per name for DBA members, and .15 cents plus tax per name for non-members. Orders must be placed 7 days in advance. To order, contact Teddi Rivas at trivas@dallasbar.org by email or at 214-220-7447 and to receive a faxed order form.

The DBA sponsors many enjoyable social activities throughout the year, including a holiday party, sporting events and cultural activities. Events are published on our events page and in Headnotes and DBA Online.

As a service to its members, the Dallas Bar Association makes available for purchase State Bar legal forms. Print the list of available forms and return it to the attention of Teddi Rivas in the Dallas Bar offices. Please contact Teddi by email or at 214-220-7447 if you need to arrange to have the forms picked up from the Dallas Bar offices.

Memberships in substantive law sections are available for almost every area of practice for a nominal fee. Members meet monthly at the Belo Mansion, usually at noon or in the evening. At the meetings, esteemed practitioners in particular legal fields discuss topics designed to keep you abreast of your area of law generally, as well as fulfilling your CLE requirements. Participation in these sections is also a great way to meet colleagues in your area of specialization. Click here for a list of DBA Sections. If you are a DBA member and wish to join one or more DBA Sections, please send a check payable to the Dallas Bar Association in the amount of the section’s dues with a letter requesting to be added to that particular section. For more information, please contact Membership by email or at 214-220-7414. The DBA also encourages you to look into the benefits of membership in other bar associations, including the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers , the Dallas Asian-American Bar Association, the J.L. Turner Legal Association, the Dallas Hispanic Bar Association, and the Dallas Women Lawyers Association.