State Bar Registration Dues

[trekker]

As someone who moves around often enough (and paying dues in multiple jurisdictions) and who has read through too many licensing requirements, I would agree with the remarks that you should err on the cautious side especially if you ever think you may want to return to active practice in your home state or your new home state. You may have to take the bar exam again and there may be only one thing I dread more than the upcoming Phase III testing and that is sitting in an overcrowded room with newbie attorneys taking the bar exam again. Reciprocity is not nearly as clear as one would think. And going inactive is not always an option as some states give you a limited time to adjust your status back to active.

[funkyodar]

My state has no respect for ALJs, lol. They dont get the judge discount on dues and still have to do all cle. in fact, in our bar directory that comes out every year, a trial judge or even part time municipal judge will have alisting like this:

Honorable John Blackrobe
24th District
XXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX

While ALJs say:

John Doe
Administrative Law Judge, SSA
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX

I mean, damn, what would it hurt to throw then an "honorable" bone?

Similarly though, our bar gives reduced dues to "public sector attorneys." Like 1/2 off for assistant prosecutors, law clerks, legal aid lawyers, DHS lawyers and the like. Us ODAR attorney advisers? Nope, not listed in the controlling bylaw, but i am "welcome to bring it up at next years bar convention."

[southerner]

State jurisdictions vary widely. I see no disadvantage to maintaining bar membership after one becomes a judge, but that is a personal decision. Should one want to return to practice, even part-time, after finishing judicial service, it would be easier to keep current the bar membership.

That said, I am fortunate that in Louisiana federal administrative law judges are subsumed into the definition of federal judges and magistrates that are exempted from dues, disciplinary assessments, and CLE and we do have Hon. as our honorific w/o specifying what judgeship we hold.

[deltajudge]

8-)I am a member of the Mississippi Bar. For years i was considered in inactive status and had reduced inactive dues. The administration issued a directive saying sitting ALJs did not have to have an active bar license, so a lot of ALJs let their licenses lapse, I never did. Then years later OPM dropped their bombshell about "active law licenses." Immediate chaos. In the meantime, the State of Mississippi passed legislation granting "judicial" to ALJs, which for all practical practical purposes, our license was "active." We could vote in bar elections and receive all publications, and not pay dues or assessments. Was that good enough for OPM? Well no. When I got on the senior judge register, I had to jump through all kinds of hoops with letters from the state bar and OPM going back and forth, phone calls just to straighten out whether judicial status mean an active law license before I was finally approved. Not long after, removed my name from the register, after 30 years and this episode, I was fed up with the government. I understand after all the hullabaloo, it was finally straightened out.

[trekker]

How many posters belong to the DC bar? I do (admitted by exam) and have maintained that membership over the years. It is a huge bar (probably more members of the bar than permanent residents). The cost has always been reasonable which is why I maintain membership in it. I still don't think one should resign his/her membership in a jurisdiction where they may one day return but it is a reasonable price and has reciprocity with a number of other jurisdictions.

[imiram1372]

Statman - I am pretty sure you are correct about NY. I am licensed in NY and I specifically called and actually got a very helpful lady. She said US ALJs are exempt. I also read the regs and rules just to be sure. Out of an abundance of caution, I consulted with another ALJ who was also licensed to practice in NY and we both concluded that we are exempt. We still have to pay dues but we do not need to complete the CLE requirements. Although in the end it did not and does not matter for my purposes as I am also licensed to practice law in NJ. The State Bar of NJ does NOT exempt anybody. Even if you are the Chief Judge of the NJ Supreme Court or are a Federal District Court Judge or a State Court Judge, you still need to pay your dues AND complete your CLE requirements. Since most of the CLE credits for NJ transfer to NY I feel like it does not matter for me anyway.

[philliesfan]

For those of you licensed in Pennsylvania, you still have to pay the annual license fee. However, ALJs are exempt from the CLE requirements. Fax the CLE Board a copy of your Affidavit of Appointment with a cover letter requesting exemption. I did it right after I was sworn in on a Monday and received a letter granting the exemption by Friday.