ABOUT THE DBA

DESERT BAR ASSOCIATION

OUR HISTORY

The Desert Bar Association of Riverside County filed its Articles of Incorporation in the State of California on Thursday, July 12, 1951 and is sixty-six years old as of the website’s launch date in 2017.  The DBA is an IRS 501c6 non-profit entity and received its Franchise Tax Board State Tax Exemption letter on July 18, 1951 and its IRS tax exemption letter in 1970. 

MISSION STATEMENT

The Desert Bar Association is established to maintain the honor and integrity of the profession of the law, to increase its usefulness in promoting the due administration of justice, to cultivate social activities among its members and to support and administer programs and activities consonant with such goals.

Collegial Camaraderie

The Desert Bar Association also organizes frequent social events, which are much more than simple cocktail parties or dinners. Bringing practicing and retired attorneys and judges together with law students and other professionals involved with the practice of law strengthens our community in several key ways. Obviously, stronger personal connections within our community create more opportunities over the course of your career. Building relationships with law students offers a connection to the future leaders of our community and a chance to help shape the future they will build. In the immediate picture, establishing better relations with your colleagues can help you in many aspects of your practice, like when you need a consultation on a point outside your expertise, when you have a case where you need to collaborate, or when you need to sit across the negotiating table from each other. Most importantly, we are a fun legal community, evidenced by one of the most unique annual events in the country – our Bird Awards and Distinguished Judges Night, which gives the legal community an opportunity to roast itself and create parodies that raise important issues within the local legal community in a way that is entertaining and thought-provoking, showcasing some of the best talent within our legal community, along with those who just have a passion for having fun.

Years as the Desert Bar Association

Board Trustees from diverse legal specialties

Members including local bench officers and affiliate organizations

Building a Healthy & Ethical Legal Community

As attorneys and judges, we all want to see the legal system evolve in positive directions, so that it effectively provides justice and equity in all areas of practice, on a macro level. On a micro level, building that system begins with building a healthy and ethical community among local lawyers and judges. The Desert Bar Association contributes to building such a community by providing opportunities for legal professionals within the Desert Judicial District to interact outside the conference rooms and courtrooms, to learn together and socialize.

Enjoyable Education

We’ve all had to sit through some educational events that were painfully boring, which is why the Desert Bar Association strives to plan events that our members will actually enjoy.  From luncheons with keynote speakers like the Chief Justice of California or a U.S. Supreme Court Update luncheon presented by Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, to judicial panels and critical ethics updates, DBA members get to enjoy an interactive experience, often over a nice meal, and take part in lively discussions covering topics about which we’re all passionate.

Keeping You Current

As a member of the Desert Bar Association, you’ll gain access to helpful resources, like our Items of Interest section, where you will find information about things going on within the Coachella Valley which might be of interest to you. Whatever issues are likely to impact your practice, membership in the Desert Bar Association gives you valuable tools to help keep you abreast of all the latest developments.

Join Us

Our Members are

Movers & Shakers

Creating a successful career path in the field of law takes more than hard work and strong ethics. It also takes the support and respect of an active community of colleagues. Becoming a member of the Desert Bar Association is the first step in surrounding yourself with that community, strengthening your practice, and achieving the level of success you desire.