Washington Bar Association

The Washington Bar Association provides comprehensive professional development and advocacy services for Black lawyers and judges in Washington, DC and the surrounding metropolitan area. Founded in 1925 as one of the first African American bar associations in the nation, the WBA continues to advance the legal profession through multiple specialized divisions and programs. The organization serves over a thousand diverse legal professionals working across the full spectrum of the legal industry—from private law firms and federal government agencies to the judiciary, academia, and corporate legal departments. The WBA enhances professional skills through networking events, speaker series, and continuing legal education programs tailored to attorneys at different career stages. The Young Lawyer Division supports approximately 200 early-career attorneys with professional development opportunities, while the Law Students Division connects aspiring lawyers with established professionals and judges throughout the region. The Judicial Council Division, established in 1999, addresses the interests of judicial officers and focuses on local legal issues. Beyond professional development, the WBA actively engages in legal and legislative advocacy, judicial evaluation, and community outreach to advance social justice and racial equality in Washington, DC and beyond. The WBA Educational Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate, provides distinguished scholarships to law students and supports programs addressing social and racial justice issues.