More than a Vendor. More Than a Bar Association

At first glance, the Columbus Bar Association might look like what many assume a bar association to be: CLE provider, networking host, resource provider, and benefits administrator.

But that description misses the point.

The CBA is not simply a vendor of services to attorneys. It is a convener, a connector, and a catalyst for a stronger legal profession in Central Ohio.

Yes, the CBA delivers high-quality CLE — on emerging topics like AI and open-source intelligence, on courtroom practice, on professional development. Yes, it provides tools like ColumbusLawyers.com to help attorneys elevate their visibility and serve the public more effectively. Yes, it negotiates member benefits, hosts events, and supports practice groups.

But those are vehicles — not the destination. The CBA’s real value lives in shared spaces.

It lives in a room where a young lawyer meets a judge for the first time and gains confidence in their ability to practice. It lives in a practice group meeting where experienced attorneys openly discuss risk and issues so others can avoid missteps. It lives in a wellness event where colleagues reconnect as people — not just faces or names on a computer screen. It lives in conversations that reinforce professionalism, integrity, and mutual respect in a profession that can often feel isolating.

In an era where technology allows us to engineer convenience and avoid friction, the CBA chooses something harder — and more meaningful. It creates intentional community.

It strengthens the rule of law by strengthening the lawyers who uphold it and supports the judiciary while supporting the practitioners who appear before it. It builds credibility in the public eye by elevating standards inside the profession.

Membership is not a transaction. It is participation in a professional ecosystem. The CBA is where relationships are built, reputations are shaped, and leadership is cultivated. It’s more than a vendor and even a bar association. We are a community that helps set the standard by sharing a commitment to elevate the profession.

Message us and we will get you connected to support our amazing community.

Jill Snitcher, Esq.

Columbus Bar Association Executive Director