State Bar Associations: Directory of All 50 States
A bar association is a professional organization of lawyers. This directory links the official site of every state bar plus the District of Columbia and the American Bar Association, and explains the key distinction between mandatory and voluntary bars.
What Does a State Bar Association Do?
A state bar association is the professional body for lawyers in a given state. Depending on how the state is organized, it may do two quite different jobs. In many states the bar is an integrated (or mandatory) bar that operates as an arm of the state's highest court and helps regulate the profession — administering admission, collecting dues, and supporting attorney discipline. In others, the bar is a purely voluntary membership association, and licensing and discipline are handled directly by the state courts. Nearly all bar associations, mandatory or voluntary, also provide continuing legal education, publish a journal, run lawyer-referral services, and offer public resources.
Mandatory vs Voluntary State Bars
The core difference is whether a lawyer must join the bar to practice. In a mandatory (integrated) bar state, every attorney licensed in the state is required to be a member, and the bar is tied to the court system that regulates the profession. In a voluntary bar state, membership is optional; a lawyer can practice without joining, and the state supreme court or a separate attorney-regulation office handles licensing and discipline. Both models are common, and the label in the directory below reflects each state's long-established classification.
State Bar Directory (A–Z)
Select a bar association for its official website. The badge on each card notes whether the bar is mandatory or voluntary.
National
State & District Bars
Alabama's integrated (mandatory) bar — every attorney licensed in the state must be a member — providing licensing-related services, CLE, and public resources.
Alaska's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed to practice in the state must be a member.
Arizona's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
A voluntary bar association serving Arkansas's legal profession; membership is optional, and the Arkansas Supreme Court regulates attorney licensing.
California's integrated (mandatory) bar; every licensed attorney must be a member, and the State Bar administers admissions and discipline.
A voluntary bar association for Colorado's legal profession; membership is optional, and attorney licensing is handled through the Colorado Supreme Court.
A voluntary bar association serving Connecticut's legal profession; membership is not required to practice law in the state.
A voluntary bar association for Delaware's legal profession; membership is optional, and admissions are overseen by the Delaware Supreme Court.
Florida's integrated (mandatory) bar, operating as an arm of the Florida Supreme Court; every licensed attorney must be a member.
Georgia's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
Hawaii's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
Idaho's integrated (mandatory) bar, operating under the Idaho Supreme Court; membership is required to practice law.
A voluntary bar association serving Illinois's legal profession; membership is optional, and attorney registration and discipline run through the Illinois Supreme Court.
A voluntary bar association for Indiana's legal profession; membership is not required to practice law in the state.
A voluntary bar association serving Iowa's legal profession; membership is optional, and licensing is handled through the Iowa court system.
A voluntary bar association for Kansas's legal profession; membership is not required to practice law in the state.
Kentucky's integrated (mandatory) bar, operating under the Kentucky Supreme Court; membership is required to practice law.
Louisiana's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
A voluntary bar association serving Maine's legal profession; membership is optional, and attorney regulation is handled by the state's Board of Overseers of the Bar.
A voluntary bar association for Maryland's legal profession; membership is not required to practice law in the state.
A voluntary bar association serving Massachusetts's legal profession; membership is optional, and attorney registration runs through the state's Board of Bar Overseers.
Michigan's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
A voluntary bar association for Minnesota's legal profession; membership is optional, and attorney licensing runs through the Minnesota court system.
Mississippi's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
Missouri's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
Montana's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
Nebraska's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
Nevada's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
New Hampshire's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
A voluntary bar association for New Jersey's legal profession; membership is not required to practice law in the state.
New Mexico's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
A voluntary bar association serving New York's legal profession; membership is optional, and attorney admission and discipline run through the state's Appellate Division courts.
North Carolina's integrated (mandatory) regulatory bar; every licensed attorney must be a member (the separate NC Bar Association is a voluntary organization).
North Dakota's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
A voluntary bar association for Ohio's legal profession; membership is optional, and attorney registration runs through the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Oklahoma's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
Oregon's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
A voluntary bar association serving Pennsylvania's legal profession; membership is not required to practice law in the state.
Rhode Island's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
South Carolina's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
South Dakota's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
A voluntary bar association for Tennessee's legal profession; membership is optional, and attorney registration runs through the state's Board of Professional Responsibility.
Texas's integrated (mandatory) bar, operating under the Supreme Court of Texas; every licensed attorney must be a member.
Utah's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
A voluntary bar association for Vermont's legal profession; membership is optional, and attorney licensing runs through the Vermont Judiciary.
Virginia's integrated (mandatory) regulatory bar, an agency of the Supreme Court of Virginia; every licensed attorney must be a member.
Washington's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
West Virginia's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
Wisconsin's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney licensed in the state must be a member.
Wyoming's integrated (mandatory) bar; membership is required to practice law in the state.
The District of Columbia's integrated (mandatory) bar; every attorney admitted in DC must be a member.
How to Verify a Lawyer's License
To confirm that an attorney is licensed and in good standing, use the official attorney-lookup tool for the state where they practice. In mandatory-bar states, that lookup is usually run by the state bar itself; in voluntary-bar states, it is typically maintained by the state supreme court or a separate attorney-regulation office rather than the membership association. Either way, the official directory will show whether a lawyer's license is active and whether there is a public record of discipline. Start from the bar's official website linked above, and look for a "find a lawyer," "attorney lookup," or "verify a license" feature.
Bar Journals and Publications
Most state bars publish a journal or magazine covering developments in that state's law, practice guidance, and news of the profession. These are a useful, authoritative window into what practitioners in a state are actually reading. For an overview of these publications, see our guide to state bar journals, and for the national picture visit the American Bar Association. You can also return to the Legal Journal homepage to browse our other research guides.
This directory is general information, not legal advice, and is not an endorsement of any association or attorney. Membership status and licensing rules are set by each state.