The NH Bar Association serves 3 constituencies:
The New Hampshire Bar Association serves the legal community by:
The New Hampshire Bar Association serves the court system by:
The New Hampshire Bar Association serves the public through:
The New Hampshire Bar Association (NHBA) is a non-profit 501(c)(6), court-mandated organization. As a unified bar, all attorneys licensed to practice in the state and NH judges must belong to the NHBA and pay annual dues.
| 1873 | Association incorporated as “The Bar Association of the State of New Hampshire” as a philanthropic club of like minded attorneys. |
| 1917 | Agnes Winifred “Winnie” McLaughlin becomes the first woman admitted to the Bar. |
| 1967 | Association petitions Legislature to amend acts of incorporation to change name to “New Hampshire Bar Association. |
| 1968 | New Hampshire Supreme Court unifies bar for a three-year trial period. |
| 1968-1972 | Record keeping of attorney records shifts from the NH Supreme Court to the NH Bar Association. |
| 1972 | New Hampshire Supreme Court decrees unification “be continued without limitation of time, under the court’s continuing jurisdiction.” |
| 1972 | First professional staff are hired as the Bar shifts from a volunteer to professionally run organization. |
| 1978 | The Pro Bono Referral Program is created through a grant request from the Legal Service Corporation. |
| 1983 | The Pro Bono Referral Program becomes affiliated with the NH Bar Association. |
| 1993 | The NH Supreme Court mandates Rule 53, mandatory attorney Continuing Legal Education credits and the NH Bar Association is tasked with facilitating the Rule. |
| 2003 | Out of state bar waive-in begun to extend reciprocity to certain out of state attorneys. |
| 2009 | The NH Bar Association Foundation in integrated into the NH Bar Association bringing the association full circle. The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the NHBA. |
The NHBA purposes and structure are outlined in detailed in our Constitution and Bylaws. In fulfilling its stated purposes, the Bar’s programs and activities are designed to serve the needs and interests of the membership, the public and the administration of justice.
The NHBA conducts two membership meetings each year—a Midyear Membership Meeting in January, February or March and the Annual Meeting in June. The “Bar year” runs from July 1 through June 30; the Fiscal Year is June 1 – May 31. In addition, the NHBA•CLE department presents over 70 continuing legal education programs each year at various venues and in various formats around the state.
As a member service, the NHBA publishes the New Hampshire Bar News, a monthly newspaper featuring important information from the New Hampshire Court System as well as articles on current legal issues and news about Association services and activities.
An elected Board of Governors meets monthly to govern the Association. The Board is also responsible for adoption of a budget prior to the start of each fiscal year (June 1-May 31). The budget is developed by the Finance Committee, which is composed of Association members and chaired by the President-Elect.
The Board of Governors is composed of:
The officers serve one-year terms; the county governors serve two-year terms and the governors-at-large serve three-year terms.
Active members from around the state vote for officers and governors-at-large, with active members in each county electing their county representative. Nominations are made by March 1; voting takes place between April 1 and April 15.
No member of the Board receives compensation for services rendered in connection with the performance of Board duties.
Admission to the New Hampshire Bar Association is administered by the New Hampshire Supreme Court.