About Us – History

The Tallahassee Bar Association was founded in 1919. The first meeting took place at the Dutch Kitchen Restaurant. The TBA is now over 750 members strong and is represented by attorneys, judges, FSU Law Students, and state and local government agencies.  The business offices of the TBA are located in the Leon County Courthouse.

Our mission is to provide a means for the members of our association to establish a network of support and fellowship, as well as to provide a source of continuing education, and give back to the community that we live and work in by sponsoring community service projects.  Thus our mission statement:

Enhancing the Profession     Promoting Fellowship
Serving the Community

One of our membership requirements is a contribution to one of the board-approved service agencies of your choice that provides Pro Bono legal services to our community.  This TBA requirement also provides an avenue for you to meet the Supreme Court Aspirational Goal of providing pro bono services. The TBA Legal Aid Foundation has existed for over 40 years. The TBA is proud to be considered by the American Bar Association to have one of the oldest, continuing, mandatory pro bono programs in the country.

The TBA also offers a Lawyer Referral Service.  This Service provides our community with a link to the attorneys when it is not known which way to turn for help.  Over 500 people per month call the Service looking for guidance in finding an attorney to help them.

The Young Lawyers Section of the TBA is a division established to target the needs and networking opportunities for attorneys who have been practicing for less than 5 years or are less than 36 years of age.  The Young Lawyers Section also helps guide the liaison between all TBA members and the FSU College of Law Student Members.

A general membership meeting is held the first Tuesday of each month. Speakers and the business of the TBA are conducted at these meetings. Members and guests enjoy the camaraderie of  fellow attorneys and have the opportunity to network with Supreme Court, Circuit and County Judiciary, meet County, City, & State Public Officials and Florida State University College of Law Faculty & Students.

The monthly newsletter, the “Bar Bulletin” is delivered every month with updates on court rulings and important Tallahassee Bar Association matters and events.

Annually, a Pictorial Directory of the Membership is published including pictures, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses.

CLE Seminars and AudioTapes are offered throughout the year to provide ways to meet the Florida Bar continuing education requirement.

Community service, networking, and fellowship-oriented functions also include a Florida Bar Board of Governors Social Event Chili Cook-Off, Judges vs. Lawyers Sports Event, a Celebrity Waiters Dinner Fundraiser for the Legal Aid Foundation, National Law Week Activities including a free law day, speakers in our schools, and our annual Law Day Banquet recognizing the Justice Ervin Award nominee just to name a few!

For more information, contact:

Kathy Arrant, Executive Director
The Tallahassee Bar Association
P. O. Box 813
Tallahassee, FL 32302
222-3292; Fax 222-3864
E-mail:  arrantk@tallahasseebar.org
Website: www.tallahasseebar.org