Anyone who is a women’s bar leader is already convinced of the value of a women’s bar association, so sometimes it is hard to understand why someone wouldn’t want to be a member. But you really do need to be able to answer the question “why join?” with a list. One member’s great benefit may be another’s “so what?”
It’s important, at least annually, to review the benefits of membership. Ask your friends for their ideas. Think of lawyers in every area of practice. What about unemployed lawyers or lawyers at home? How about very well established lawyers? What about members of the judiciary? What are the benefits of membership for each of them? Reviewing member benefits will also give you on an opportunity to note gaps in your services or unmet needs of your members. Here are links to articles to help think about membership benefits in broader terms:
Membership–Reaching Across the Generations
The Path to Y: Inviting and Including the Next Generation of Members
Membership–What Your Members Need Now
Once you’ve identified every possible member benefit, categorize them, illustrate them with specific examples and write them up in a way that is accessible to potential members, your membership outreach committee, and your board.
Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
Colorado Women’s Bar Association
Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys
Iowa Organization of Women Attorneys
Kansas Women Attorneys Association
Association for Women Attorneys – New Orleans
New Hampshire Women’s Bar Association
North Carolina Association of Women Attorneys
Rhode Island Women’s Bar Association
Association for Women Lawyers (Wisconsin)
Women Lawyers Association of Michigan
How about doing a brief video to make the listing of membership benefits more dynamic? Here’s an example from Florida Association for Women Lawyers.