Vol. 75, No. 6, June 2002

Your Pesky Dues

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