"Because of the strength and dedication of its members, the Association continually renews its spirit and that of the community it serves."

The years following the Civil War were tumultuous ones for New York City, offering many opportunities to the dishonest. Unsavory politicians and errant members of the bench and bar were among those who took advantage of those troubled times. In December 1869, a letter was circulated among some of the city's lawyers addressing those improprieties. It called for the creation of a new bar association to "sustain the profession in its proper position in the community, and thereby enable it . . . to promote the interests of the public .... " More than 200 lawyers responded by signing a declaration of organization and in 1870 The Association of the Bar of the City of New York was born. The young organization quickly made its presence felt. Among its first activities was a campaign to defeat corrupt politicians and judges at the polls and to establish standards of conduct for those in the legal profession.

2005 marked the 135th anniversary of the Association and the same professional and ethical traditions of civic duty guide the Association's goals today. The Association continues to work at political, legal and social reform, and maintaining high ethical standards for the legal profession. The Association also continues to implement innovative means by which the disadvantaged may be helped. Much of this work is accomplished through the Association's more than 160 committees, each charged to consider a specific area of law or the profession.

The Association has grown to more than 23,000 members. To serve them, the Association strives to move ahead in many areas. The Library is the largest member-funded law library in the country, and provides members with a "gateway" to on-line services, including free use of LexisNexis and WestLaw, while continuing to provide more traditional library services. Our Small Law Firm center, Career Management program and other benefits are constantly evolving to serve members needs. Over 150 continuing legal education programs are presented annually.

The public good remains one of the Association's highest priorities. The Legal Referral Service, jointly sponsored by the Association and the New York County Lawyers' Association, provides an array of services directly aimed at serving the needs of the public. The City Bar Justice Center identifies the most pressing legal concerns of New York's neediest and uses novel approaches to address them, often involving community participation.

The Association of the Bar is located at 42 West 44th Street in Manhattan. The House of the Association is an elegant historic landmark building that was completed in 1896. With the modern technology and dynamic activities within its walls, the House and all it holds are emblematic of the Association's history, status and reputation in the legal profession: firmly rooted in sound traditions, but always pushing against perceived boundaries. Because of the strength and dedication of its members, the Association continually renews its spirit and that of the community it serves.