BAR MEMBERS AT a special membership meeting on June 4 approved the first increase in Bar dues in seven years, as well as a new procedure for adjusting dues amounts in the future.

The $50 dues increase for nearly all categories will be reflected in the invoices members will receive this month. The dues increase, along with a number of other bylaws changes and proposed constitutional amendments, were approved at the membership meeting in Manchester.

Bar leaders said this is only the second increase in Bar membership fees in 21 years. Although the Bar has grown significantly in those years, member dues account for only about 40 percent of the Bar’s revenues. Non-dues revenue sources, such as grants and CLE tuition, have risen significantly during that time, but these sources cannot fully compensate for increasing expenses and inflation.

The financial impact of the dues increase is offset somewhat by the Supreme Court’s announcement earlier this month (reported in the June 8 Bar News) that assessments for the Professional Conduct Committee have been lowered by $10 for all classes of attorneys.

Under another change approved June 4, the Board of Governors may adjust dues amounts within a specified range without a membership vote. Previously, dues amounts in each status category had been specified in the NHBA bylaws. Membership fees may now be changed by a three-fifths vote of the elected Board of Governors, limited to a 15 percent adjustment up or down. Bar President-Elect Peter E. Hutchins said the change will enable the Bar’s board to adjust dues by smaller amounts if needed, thus avoiding the "sticker shock" of infrequent increases. Hutchins said most bar associations and other organizations empower their governing boards to set dues amounts.

Other approved amendments to the bylaws preserve the discounted membership fee levels for newly admitted members (those in practice five years or less in any jurisdiction) and inactive retired members. Dues are waived for those in honorary categories (those in practice 50 years or more).

Wording in a number of bylaws was changed to expand the Board of Governors by adding a second governor from Hillsborough County. The state’s most populous county will now have two county governors, each representing a Superior Court division (North and South).

The membership meeting also approved amending Section 2, Article V of the Bar’s constitution to allow a governor-at-large or county governor to serve two full consecutive terms on the Board of Governors.

Other, mainly housekeeping amendments will have the following effects:

• Bylaws, Article VI, Section 5. New language allows a maximum of three governors-at-large to have principal offices in the same county. Previously, only two of the five governors-at-large could come from the same county. In explaining the need for the amendment, Bar leaders at the meeting said the old rule had proven occasionally to be an obstacle to service by interested and qualified Bar members. Related amendments to the Bar’s constitution also passed.
• Bylaws, Article X, Sections. Amendment broadens the timeframe when sections are required to hold one of the two required annual general membership meetings to between January 15 and March 15.

Bylaw amendments became effective by the vote of the membership. The NH Supreme Court must also approve the constitutional amendments.

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