A Sept. 4 New York Law Journal article titled “NY Bar Associations Look to Sell, Rent Their Buildings as Membership Declines or Stagnates” raised several concerns regarding the continued relevance of bar associations. The article noted that these once dominant legal organizations are facing membership stagnation due to various demographic trends, including “a millennial generation that prefers virtual communities, law firms that don’t want to provide financial support and lawyers who are questioning the value of belonging.”

Outlined in the piece are some of the ways bar associations are exploring to reduce costs and find new revenue sources. But there are also ongoing efforts to find creative ways to retain and expand membership and maintain relevance in an evolving profession that exists in a world in which the fundamental ways people interact are themselves changing.