Effective for the Bar fiscal year starting June 1, 2006, active member dues will increase by $15 (6 percent for the highest dues category) to $265. For members in their first five years of practice, the dues will increase to $215. The New Hampshire Supreme Court has announced that the Court fees for Attorney Discipline and the Public Protection Fund will not change.

The increase in active member dues is the first in three years. Part of the increase will fund enhanced member services, including greater resources devoted to the New Lawyers Committee for leadership development and outreach acquisitions for the Law Practice Management library; member surveys and member ID cards to be distributed later this year. Approximately $5 of the increase will offset the cost of the additional space acquired through the Bar Center’s move to 2 Pillsbury Street. All of the new space is devoted to meeting, seminar, library and other member uses.

In planning for the increased space, the Board acknowledged that a gradual increase of $5 per year may be required for the next several years.

In lieu of a dues increase for inactive member categories, the Board of Governors has decided to eliminate the free mailing of the Bar Journal to inactive members. The publication will be available at a reduced subscription rate to these members and the entire issue of each Bar Journal will be available online to all members at no cost.

Also of note, section dues will increase from $30 to $40 per section. As a result of increased activity by many of the Bar’s sections, the Section Coordinator position is now full-time and straining to meet the growing demand for services, including administration of numerous e-mail discussion lists.

Look for more information on the NHBA budget in future issues of the Bar News.