History of the Columbus Bar Association

The birth of the Columbus Bar Association did not exactly occur during a golden age for the legal profession. Historical treatises indicate the American lawyers were held in high esteem prior to the Revolutionary War. Because many of the bar members remained loyal to the crown and left the country during the war, unskilled, uneducated, unscrupulous individuals were permitted to practice law. Other professions were also in a decline during this period.

By 1860 only 9 of 39 states had specific requirements for study in preparation for the bar. Certificates for bar admission were often awarded as favors or for fees with little examination of candidates' qualifications. In 1851, Indiana wrote into its Constitution that every voter with good moral character was entitled to practice law in any of the state courts.

Ohio was the only state west of the Alleghenies to retain any sort of educational prerequisites. Ohio only required that a candidate for the bar had "regularly and attentively studied law."

And while there were indeed many competent and dedicated legal scholars during this period, much of their time was no doubt spent fixing the mistakes and problems caused by the unqualified barristers.

So it was in the midst of this difficult time for the profession that 54 Columbus men met and adopted a constitution for the Franklin County Bar Association on April 20, 1869. The purpose of the organization, according to that constitution, was to "promote harmony, good feeling and close relationship among members of the bar; maintain professional honor and dignity; encourage the highest attainment in legal knowledge, and promote generally the professional interests of its members." This quest for excellence has formed a strong foundation for the current activities of the Columbus Bar Association.

On June 3, 1869, the association members met in the law office of local lawyer George McCracken and elected Judge J.W. Baldwin as the first president. Members were assessed dues of $5.00 annually, to be paid in semi-annual installments of $2.50. The county commissioners agreed to provide meeting space for the new organization in the county courthouse.

It wasn't until the 1870s that the profession saw the real advancement and spread of bar associations. Following the 1869 establishment of the Columbus bar, a bar association was established in Cincinnati in 1872, the Cleveland bar was formed in 1873, the Akron bar began in 1875 and Toledo established its association in 1878. The Ohio State Bar Association was born in 1880.

Over time, the association has grown not only to meet the needs of attorneys, but to serve judges, legal professionals, and the public, and to promote the effective administration of justice. There is little doubt that the future activities of the CBA will be in the spirit of the founders' concern for professional integrity and commitment to professional standards.