City Bar Revamps Membership Model to Include Free CLE

Acknowledging shifts in the legal profession and technology, whereby lawyers can access Continuing Legal Education (CLE) in more places and online, the New York City Bar Association has announced an overhaul of its CLE programming for members, bolstering its ability to serve the needs of members of the legal profession.

Beginning in September, members in the following categories will be able to attend most CLE programs without charge as part of their City Bar membership:

• Recent law graduates (not yet admitted)
• Newly admitted lawyers (admitted 2016-2018)
• In-house/corporate counsel
• Government sector, academia and non-profit lawyers
• Judges and their staff

The City Bar’s renowned Bridge-the-Gap program, which allows attendees to earn all 16 required credits in two days, will also be free of charge for members who are recent law graduates or attorneys admitted less than two years. 

Additionally, the City Bar will offer all members unlimited access to all CLEs four hours or less for a flat annual rate of $499 ($399 for solo practitioners). The package will include live programs, live webcasts and immediate access to hundreds of hours of on-demand programs, led by prominent experts in the field. In addition, the City Bar will continue to present a number of CLEs free for all members, including in areas related to public-interest, professional development and diversity and inclusion. 

This revamped CLE structure is designed to provide an atmosphere in which lawyers can expand their networks while attending affordable, quality programming and fulfilling their credit requirements. Many law firms offer CLE internally and to in-house lawyers, and while convenient in the short-term, the connections made through expanding one’s professional circles are lost. Through this new CLE structure, the legal community will have the space to connect with one another.

“You cannot put a price on the encounters you’ll have by stepping out of your office and into our building,” said City Bar Executive Director Bret Parker. “I can tell you from experience that by getting into the routine of coming here for CLE programs and other events, members will make lasting connections to further their careers and enhance the interests of their employers.”

Parker added, “We think the quality of our programming, the leaders in the profession who organize and speak at our programs, the networking opportunities at our convenient central location, and all the other benefits that come with membership and engagement at the City Bar are strong draws.”

The City Bar remains committed to creating a more diverse, productive, and collegial environment for members of all backgrounds to gather and strengthen working alliances.

Find more information on the City Bar’s CLE programming here and information on membership here.

View all upcoming City Bar programs here.

About the Association
The New York City Bar Association, since its founding in 1870, has been dedicated to maintaining the high ethical standards of the legal profession, promoting reform of the law and access to justice, and providing service to the profession and the public. The Association, through its 24,000 members, continues to work for political, legal and social reform, while implementing innovative means to help the disadvantaged. Protecting the public’s welfare remains one of the Association’s highest priorities. www.nycbar.org