In May, I chose not to renew my American Bar Association (ABA) membership for the first time since passing the bar exam nearly forty years ago. This personal decision reflects a broader trend indicating the ABA’s dwindling relevance.
Historically, ABA membership offered attorneys substantial benefits, including top-tier continuing legal education, career opportunities, networking, and practice support. Despite its increasing involvement in political and social issues that often conflicted with my views, I maintained membership due to the value it provided.
Over time, however, the benefits of ABA membership have declined, even as its political stance has grown more pronounced. The organization’s left-leaning political bias aligns with the general political tendencies within the legal profession, where a preference for extensive regulations suggests self-interest. This liberal shift has undermined the ABA’s credibility.
The ABA’s openly ideological assessments of federal judicial nominees have led to its exclusion from the confirmation process by one political faction. The nation’s increasing polarization is mirrored in the ABA’s amicus briefs and public positions, which consistently follow one side.
The organization further complicates matters by reacting predictably against presidential actions. On widely agreed issues such as border security and immigration, the ABA aligns with a minority viewpoint, disregarding mainstream opinion. Instead of fostering meaningful debate on pressing national issues, the ABA misses opportunities for broader relevance.
Moreover, the ABA’s influence on law school accreditation and bar admission is waning. Texas and Florida’s Supreme Courts recently stopped requiring ABA accreditation for law schools, echoed by similar moves in Alabama and Ohio. The Federal Trade Commission criticized the ABA for anticompetitive accreditation practices, citing increased legal education costs and restricted lawyer supply.
My own dissatisfaction with the ABA stems from its divergence from my litigation practice needs. Recent ABA publications focus on peripheral topics irrelevant to me, while its litigation section provides resources readily available from specialized groups without political encumbrances.
Additionally, the influx of unwanted promotional emails from the ABA has ceased after ending my membership. This cleansing of my inbox underscores the lack of sufficient value to justify the membership cost. ABA membership now encompasses less than 15% of practicing attorneys. Similar professional organizations like the American Medical Association also see limited membership, signifying their capture by a narrow professional segment.
Despite claims of representing all practitioners, the ABA’s diminishing influence is evident. As the organization loses relevance with lawyers and the public, its future appears uncertain.
Don Daugherty is senior counsel for litigation for the Defense of Freedom Institute.