Vol. 75, No. 6, June
2002
Your Pesky Dues
Member dues for 2003 remain at $210. Revenue-producing programs,
products, and services fund 60 percent of overhead.
by George C. Brown,
State Bar executive director
A conversation between two partners in 1988:
"So, you going to join the State Bar now that it's voluntary?"
"Nope. I don't get anything for my dues."
"Do you read the Wisconsin Lawyer? Go to convention? Use the
ethics hotline or legal research sources?"
"Yep."
"Then why aren't you going to join?"
"Because I don't get anything for my dues."
Both partners did join the voluntary bar, because they both realized
they did get something for their dues.
Return to mandatory status. From 1988 through 1992,
the State Bar essentially was a voluntary bar association. Though
membership in the Bar had been a condition of practice in Wisconsin
since 1957, in 1988 mandating membership in the organization was
declared unconstitutional by the federal district court. The Wisconsin
Supreme Court suspended enforcement of the mandatory membership rule
until all appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court cases, Keller v. State
Bar of California and another action, Gibson v. Florida
Bar, were resolved. Effective July 1, 1992, the Wisconsin Supreme
Court reinstated the integrated Bar in Wisconsin. However, under
Keller, you are entitled to not pay mandatory dues for those
activities that fall outside of the standard established by the
Wisconsin Supreme Court in SCR 10.03(5).
Dues for 2003. Your 2003 dues remain at $210 for the
fourth year in a row. According to ABA figures for 2002, Wisconsin's
dues level is ranked 22nd among the 33 mandatory bar associations.
Alaska's dues are highest at $440 and Louisiana's are lowest at $100.
The average for all mandatory state bar associations is $245.
Where your dues dollars are spent. Almost a third of
dues goes to communications, including underwriting the cost of this
magazine and the annual directory, the newsletter, the two Web sites,
WisBar and LegalExplorer, and other sources of accurate and timely legal
information. Another 20 percent funds the work of the numerous State Bar
committees and divisions. Nearly 25 percent funds member and public
services, including the Lawyer Referral and Information Service and
law-related education. The remainder funds government and public
relations and other activities that impact Wisconsin's justice
system.
Your dues fund less than 40 percent of State Bar operations. The
remaining 60 percent of funds comes from the fees that are paid by
attorneys and nonlawyers who attend CLE seminars and the Annual
Convention and who purchase CLE books, from advertising in the
Wisconsin Lawyer, from products sold to lawyers and the public
nationwide, and from numerous other revenue-generating sources.
Just thought I'd give you a glimpse of what you get for your dues.
For detailed information about your membership benefits, please see member benefits.
Wisconsin
Lawyer