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I received another free copy of the ABA Journal today and I have to ask. What, if anything does the ABA Journal offer the solo or small firm? Oh sure, it offered stories about a $246 billion tobacco settlement. The D.C. Power Web. Battling Bribery Abroad. And the only interesting story, at least in my opinion, Fantasy Life, a look into Second Life.
I was also going through the “handy” little book titled ABA Sources I received in the mail the other day. There is a Solo/small firm lawyer section. However, missing from this area is any indication of a group health insurance for solos or small firms. And this is an organization that claims to provide needed services to its members. I can think of one service that I would venture to guess every solo or small firm could use. And that would be affordable health insurance. They do provide medical insurance. But, how much cheaper would it be if it was to a LARGE group like the ABA. Come on ABA, pull your head out.
There are how many solo or small firms in these United States? Why is it that Doctors can come up with a way to provide group health insurance to their members and the ABA can’t? At least here in Kansas the Doctors do.
Someone please explain to me why I should spend over $300.00 a year to belong to the American Bar Association when the very same “Association” can’t even provide affordable group health insurance to its members.
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My sentiments exactly.
It’s simple, Grant. The difference between the ABA and the AMA is that the AMA exists to protect it’s members in a financial as well as in a professional sense. The AMA limits the number of physicians licensed in the US, educates members, and provides a uniform forum within which they can practice. The ABA, however, is a trade group; it exists to let members pat themselves on the backs and tout their own skills. The AMA publishes journals designed to further educate it’s members, the ABA publishes magazines that pay the rent on a lovely glass tower in Chicago. The AMA is designed to help your neighborhood physician be a better doctor, but the ABA exists to keep the corporate attorney in the tall building employed. Where was the ABA during the fight against the new bankruptcy laws in 2005? Where is the ABA when solo practitioners are charged thousands of dollars each month for health insurance? Where is the ABA when it comes to negotiating malpractice insurance rates? Where is the ABA when New York State passes restrictive advertising rules that choke free speech and commerce?
I just let my membership go — it came up for renewal and I realised I get very little for my money. It was worth it when I was a law student, but now that I’m a lawyer (and paying full fees) I don’t see the point.
I quit the ABA years ago when I was an insurance defense lawyer because I could not stomach the political statements I was subsidizing, and it got too expensive (firm would not pay for it). I’ve been a solo for nearly 5 years and I now practice on the “other side”. I’ve looked at rejoining the ABA, but it’s still not worth the price. I can get a membership in my state trial lawyer’s group for less and get a lot more tangible benefit.