“Dept of Commerce mtg: gov’t recog of huge legal “trade” may lead USTR to push-back on “trade barriers” erected by local bars”
This was a tweet sent yesterday supposedly by the ACC General Counsel. I asked for more details as I can’t find any reference to this on google. But ACC did not respond to requests for more information. The idea alone is not a surprise to me. I’ve being writing about the strong possibilities that jurisdiction barriers are coming down soon and more lawyers will be competing in a more open market. But that’s not why I’m posting today.
I’m curious. How relevant are local state bars anyway?
I’m a member of the Florida Bar. It is less and less relevant to my world. I don’t know who is responsible for that, them or me?
As I see my income and activities come from working with Federal Laws and converging international laws (like IP), the Florida Bar and Florida law has become less and less relevant to my practice. When I read the Bar Journal and the Florida Bar News, I don’t see anything relevant to my world. It seems we live in different worlds. It is not a criticism but an observation.
Yes, we’re in the same physical location, Florida, but I have more in common with OBA members be they from London, Singapore or Sao Paolo. Regardless of how or why this came about, I can’t say I feel represented in or by the Florida Bar. But like taxes for services I don’t experience directly, I pay my dues – on time and without complaint. I don’t regret it, as I’m sure they do many good things for Florida lawyers.
Would a national bar exam and national bar membership be a better alternative? I doubt it. A national bar will probably feel more alienating than The Florida Bar does for me. Maybe the answer is I should be more active in the Florida Bar so I and others like me are represented. Or maybe I can start my own bar in another jurisdiction. 😉
Huummm…..
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