Alabama State Bar Section Membership Application (PDF) is available for download.

Section members are lawyers interested in administrative proceedings at the federal and state level. Members include government attorneys as well as private practitioners. The section presents a program during the annual meeting of the state bar and has been active in the implementation of the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. The section also sponsors the Eugene W. Carter Medallion, an award given annually to a former public servant for excellence in balancing the rights of individuals against the interests of government. Annual membership dues are $20.

The Appellate Practice Section was created on March 14, 2003, for the purpose of fostering communication among lawyers and judges on matters pertaining to appellate practice. The section hopes to improve the quality of appellate practice in the state of Alabama. The Section will also act as a resource group for the Alabama appellate courts and the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to assist in rules evaluations and amendments, pro bono appointments, appellate mediation, and other programs. The Section is currently seeking to attract members from private practice, both civil and criminal, plaintiff and defense, government attorneys and appellate judges. Annual dues are $20.00.

The primary function of the Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section is to facilitate communication among its members concerning bankruptcy and commercial law matters and legal decisions, with a view toward promoting consistent application of these laws in the various districts and circuits of Alabama. The section has four standing committees: bankruptcy practice; commercial practice; CLE/annual meeting; and communications/newsletter. Additional committees are appointed on an ad hoc basis. The section sponsors CLE programs and law school writing competition, and is also involved in promoting legislation needed in the commercial law practice. The annual dues for section membership are $20.

In July 2000, the Corporate Counsel section merged with the Business Law section, which was until 1998, the Corporation, Business & Banking section. Merger of these sections is in line with current business and legal practices. The section serves
(1) members of the Alabama State Bar who provide legal services to corporate clients , either as in-house corporate attorneys or as attorneys in private practice who regularly advise clients; and
(2) attorneys in private practice who represent clients in a variety of business legal matters.
In addition, the section works with the Alabama Law Institute in a regular review of the corporate laws of Alabama and recommendation for revision of same from time to time as appropriate. The annual dues are $20.00.

This section is concerned with business litigation, including antitrust, trade regulation, interference with business relations, defamation of business, employment relations. An annual seminar is usually held, entitled "Antitrust and Business Torts." Meetings are also held during the annual meeting of the state bar. Section dues are $20.

Attorneys who might be interested in joining this section include those who have an interest in radio, television, cable, newspaper, magazine/book publications, public utility or common carrier issues (including cellular telephone service), and related subjects such as defamation, privacy and public access law. Not only attorneys who represent businesses of this nature, but also attorneys representing municipalities on these issues would likely be interested in this section. Annual dues are $15.

The Criminal Justice Section was created on March 1, 2002. It has been designed to include all participants in the criminal justice system including prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys as voting members, and law enforcement, correctional officers or other criminal justice professionals as non-voting associate members. There is also a Law Student membership category. The mission statement of the section is as follows: to serve as a non-partisan, policy advisory group that seeks to improve the quality of legal service available to the people of Alabama through the Alabama criminal justice system. The section has established five goals: (1) to maintain fairness, integrity and quality in the Alabama criminal justice system (2) to be a preeminent voice on criminal justice matters in Alabama (3) to educate the public about the criminal justice system (4) to enhance the professional growth of Section members and those involved in the criminal justice system (5) to increase the diversity, balance and strength of the section's membership and leadership. Annual dues will be established at a later date, but the section is accepting membership applications at this time.

This section, created in 1995, is open to attorneys who serve the needs of a variety of clients (individuals, corporations and municipalities) in the rapidly developing field of disabilities law. Joining the section will give members an opportunity to network with attorneys of similar interests and attend professional educational seminars, as well as forum to exchange ideas and information. Annual dues are $20.

Elder Law Section is the newest section of the Alabama State Bar. Formed in early 1997, this section's mission is to develop, promote and enhance the quality of legal services for the elderly in Alabama. By joining this section, attorneys have an opportunity to identify a network of practicing professionals interested in serving the needs of the elderly, and to create a forum for communication and timely dissemination and exchange of updates and changes in substantive law, policy interpretations of administrative agencies and areas of special interest. Dues are $25.00 per year.

Services and activities of the Environmental Law Section are professional improvement in the field of reporting to members of developments in the field, and communication with other lawyers practicing in the environmental law area. Annual dues are $20.

The Family Law Section of the Alabama State Bar was established in 1984. It publishes a newsletter for the benefit of family law practitioners. It also has a legislation subcommittee whose function is to consider state and federal legislation in the area of family law and the law of domestic relations, and to suggest needed reforms. The section has a legal education subsection which presents programs for the members. Annual dues are $50. NEW!!!! Family Law Section Web Site

This section is open to members of the plaintiffs and defense bar who are interested or involved in the ever-broadening interface between law and health care, including but not limited to various state and federal issues such as Medicare fraud and abuse, payment problems, merger and acquisition of health care entities, antitrust, fiscal management, peer review, provider malpractice, individual rights and Supreme Court actions. Dues are $15 per year.

The section seeks to enhance (1) the understanding of Intellectual Property principals and information (2) the means by which Intellectual Property can be protected (3) the understanding of state, federal and international law relative to Intellectual Property and (4) the understanding of the rights of individuals and businesses relative to Intellectual Property. In addition the section conducts programs on areas of Intellectual Property practice, and is building a state, federal and global network of Intellectual Property professionals to improve the delivery of legal services to the clients of its members. Membership dues are $20 per year.

To view the IP's online newsletter or Presentation and Seminar Handout Materials, click here.

Acknowledging that the globalization of the world economy has become a reality, the section held its organizational meeting in January 1996. The mission statement of this section is 'to enhance understanding of public and private international law principals that undergrid the world economy-including international trade and transactions, international law and treaties, and immigration and nationality law-to educate the membership by conducting programs and to build a state and global network of international legal professionals, thereby improving the delivery of legal services to our clients.' The initial annual dues in the bylaws are $30. NEW!!!! International Law Section Web Site

This section includes lawyers from throughout the state whose practice involves work in the areas of labor law, fair employment law, employee benefits law and occupational safety and health law. In addition to providing a forum for the exchange of information and ideas, the section sponsors an annual, two-day labor law seminar and, with the labor law sections of various other state bars, co-sponsors an annual multi-state labor and employment law seminar. Dues are $30 for lawyers with five or more years of practice and $10 for lawyers with less that five years of practice.

The Litigation Section seeks to (1) provide a forum where all trial attorneys may meet and discuss common problems; (2) provide an extensive educational program to improve the competency of the trial bar; and (3) improve the efficiency, uniformity and economy of litigation and work to curb abuses of the judicial process. Annual dues are $15.

The Oil, Gas and Mineral Law Section was established in 1976 and consists of an oil and gas division and a hard minerals division. The primary purpose of the section is to keep its members apprised of the developments in the law, and this is accomplished by cosponsoring with ABICLE an annual seminar on oil, gas and mineral law, as well as sponsoring a "mini-seminar" at the section meeting during the annual meeting of the state bar. Currently, the section is preparing a handbook on oil, gas and mineral law in Alabama. Annual dues are $15.

This section cooperates with and assists the Cumberland Institute for Continuing Legal Education in preparing and presenting programs relating to real property, trust and probate matters for members of the Alabama State Bar. The section also, in cooperation with the Cumberland School of Law, publishes a periodic newsletter reviewing recent court decisions dealing with real property, trust and probate matters and reports other matters of current interest relating to these topics. An annual seminar is held in conjuction with the annual meeting of the state bar. Annual dues are $10.

Membership in this section is primarily composed of tax practitioners. The section gives special emphasis to Alabama tax matters and has been involved in changing Alabama law and assisting the Department of Revenue in writing tax regulations. A program is held each year during the annual meeting of the state bar. Section dues are $30.

The Women's Section was created to meet the needs of all female members of the Alabama State Bar. The purposes of the section are to provide its members with opportunities to network and communicate, to enhance their level of bar participation, and to promote the advancement of women in the legal profession. Section membership is open to any ASB member, male or female. Annual dues are $20. Visit the Women's Section Online. >>>

The Workers' Compensation Law Section seeks to raise the awareness and understanding of the bar community with regard to workers' compensation legal matters. Annual dues are $30.

The Young Lawyers Section of the Alabama State Bar is composed of all lawyers who are 36 years of age and under or who have been admitted to the bar for three years or less. The section conducts various seminars throughout the year for lawyers and other professionals. It also sponsors service projects designed to aid the public in their understanding of the law and assist in solving legal problems. There are no dues since persons who are members of the Alabama State Bar and fulfill the age or admission requirements automatically are members. Visit the Young Lawyers Section Online >>>