Associate Membership & Application

In l987, the Board of Governors of the Colorado Bar Association established the Associate membership category. Several local bar associations offer Associate memberships including: Adams, Arapahoe, Aurora, Boulder, Continental Divide, Delta, Denver, Douglas/Elbert, 1st Judicial, and Weld County Bar Associations. In 1997, the Board of Governors approved the following administrative guidelines for obtaining associate membership in the CBA.

DEFINITION

An Associate Member of the Colorado Bar Association (CBA) is defined as a non-lawyer whose primary occupation is directly involved in assisting attorneys on a regular basis in the delivery of legal services. Associate Members include Paralegals; Legal Assistants; Law Office Administrators; Law Librarians, Legal Secretaries; Court Personnel, Law Clerk,  and Bar Association Staff. All Associate Members are required to have an attorney member sponsor their annual renewal and certify that the non-lawyer is directly involved in assisting attorneys on a regular basis. Associate members enjoy all CBA rights and privileges, except the right to vote or to hold office. Associate Members will pay dues as fixed by the Board of Governors.

GUIDELINES

Qualifications

An associate member is a qualifying individual who has never been licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction. An attorney member of the CBA must sponsor all Associate Memberships.

Rights and Privileges*

Associate Members are entitled to use the benefit programs provided by CBA endorsed vendors and discount providers. Associate members will have the right to belong to Sections, but will not share the right to vote or hold office.

Associate Members are not eligible for Dues Assistance and will pay dues as fixed by the Board of Governors.

Associate Members are permitted to identify their CBA membership on office correspondence including letterhead, business cards, and resumes. It must read as follows: Associate Member – (Paralegal or Legal Assistant; Law Office Administrator or Legal Secretary; Court Personnel or Bar Association Staff). In the event that Associate Members misrepresent themselves as attorneys, their memberships will immediately be revoked for a period of one (1) year. The Associate Member may reapply for consideration. There will be no membership refunds.

Current Dues Structure For Associate Members:

2011-12 Application for Associate Membership

An Associate Member of the CBA is defined as a non-lawyer who, under the supervision of a practicing attorney, is directly involved in assisting that attorney and/or other attorneys on a day-to-day basis in the delivery of legal services. Associate Members include Paralegals, Legal Assistants, Law Office Administrators, Legal Secretaries, Court Personnel and Bar Association Staff. All Associate Members are required to have one of their supervising attorneys who must also be a current CBA member, sponsor their annual renewal. Associate members have the right to belong to sections, committees, or forum committees but may not vote or hold office. Associate members pay dues as fixed by the Board of Governors.

If you do not fall into any of these categories, please contact the Membership Services Department at (303) 860-1115 or (800) 332-6736 for a different application. Several of the affiliated local bar associations also offer associate membership; more information is available through the Membership Services Department.

Please return this application with payment to:

CBA Membership Services
1900 Grant Street, Suite 900 
Denver, CO 80203-4336

Or use your credit card & fax the application to: (303) 861-5274 

CBA/DBA dues are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. CBA/DBA dues may be deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses. $20.00 of the CBA dues is for a subscription to The Colorado Lawyer that is part of the membership and cannot be billed separately. 

*Membership in the Colorado Bar Association is not conditioned on health status of any individual, including an employee of an employer or a dependent of an employee. Furthermore, health insurance coverage offered through the Colorado Bar Association is available to all members regardless of any health status-related factor. Health insurance coverage is only available to member of the Colorado Bar Association.