Leveraging the collective buying power of 10,000 members, the Bar brings you incredible discounts on high quality products and services, from meeting space to insurance. Contact the Bar Center with questions regarding any of the following benefits and services at 619.231.0781 or bar@sdcba.org.

The San Diego County Bar Association’s expanded services package can be worth thirty to forty times the cost of a year’s membership. Chief among the many benefits are:

Ahern Insurance Brokerage (AIB) and the San Diego County Bar Association (SDCBA) have enjoyed a working relationship that dates back to 2004, when the agency became the Endorsed Insurance Broker for Professional Liability Insurance coverage with XL Insurance Company an Admitted Carrier rated “A“ (Excellent) by A.M. Best.

Some highlights of this exclusive SDCBA program include:

• Risk Management Premium Credit available if the firm attends or has the following:
  
  
• Attending SDCBA MCLE Seminar
• Full-time Firm Legal Administrator
• Certified Legal Specialist
• $50,000 Defense Expense Outside the Limits of Liability
• Free retirement and disability ERP options (subject to policy conditions)
• Payment of up to $35,000 for the Defense of Disciplinary Actions (does not erode limit)

For more information on AIB’s Professional Liability insurance please contact Ellen Ahern at (858) 514-7103 or email her at eahern@aherninsurance.com for more information.  

Or click here to complete an online application.

Business Insurance
AIB now provides SDCBA members Workers’ Compensation / General Liability coverage through The Hartford Insurance Company
(click on the links below to complete an online application):

• General Liability / Property / Workers' Compensation

For more information on The Hartford programs please contact Summer Gorsica at
(858) 514-7116 or email her at sgorsica@aherninsurance.com for more information.

Employee Benefits
Through their employee benefits division, Ahern | ELT Insurance Services, LLC
(Ahern | ELT), the following lines of coverage are available:

• Medical
• Disability
• Life and Retirement Plans

For more information on AIB’s employee benefits lines of coverage please contact
Edward B. Lee at (858) 514-7126 or email him at elee@aherneltinsurance.com.

For a more detailed review of their services click here to visit AIB’s website.

Discounts



LexisNexis - The Bar has partnered with LexisNexis to offer special packages and pricing exclusively for attorneys in solo or small law firms, providing access to the LexisNexis Total Research System. Members will find comprehensive news, business and public records information, authoritative analytical materials as well as annotated cases and codes, and take advantage of research capabilities using Lexis Search Advisor, Case Summaries, LexisNexis Headnotes, and the exclusive Shepard's Citations Service. Call (866) 836-8116 to subscribe to LexisNexis Total Research System or visit www.lexisnexis.com/partners/barassociations/cobrand/sandiego/.

As a special offer from our member benefit provider, LexisNexis, SDCBA members may register for a complimentary LexisNexis Analyzer report on the party of your choice. With LexisNexis Analyzer, you can:

• Profile the judge or arbitrator handling your case.
• Learn about opposing counsel
• Get information on expert witnesses
• Research companies to assist with client development

ATTRACTIONS
Your membership gets you special discounts on admission to Universal Studios, the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Click here for more information.

FREE WEBSITE CONSULTATION


Javelin Web and Media – San Diego County Bar Association members are entitled to receive a free 30 minute website consultation (a $60 value). This consultation will include a review of members’ existing websites, and recommendations for improving your presence on the Internet. For more information, visit www.javelinweb.com/sdcba/ or call Javelin Web and Media at (619) 235-6000.

RENTAL CARS 

Avis - Get the best rental car rates available on SuperValue Daily and Weekly rates through Avis.  The Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number for SDCBA members is D757571.
Call Avis directly at 1-800-331-1600 when making your reservation and reference the AWD number.

Professional Tools


CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION




Members have access to over 300 hours of quality continuing legal education programming presented each year. Programs, covering a broad spectrum of legal issues and developing areas of the law, include speakers at the top of their fields from across the state. The Bar receives national programming, including American Bar Association seminars, broadcast live via satellite to the Bar Center. New for 2005 is the addition of online CLE to the Bar's Web site, www.sdcba.org. This cutting-edge benefit includes hundreds of hours of CLE accessible anywhere, anytime.

SECTIONS / COMMITTEES
The San Diego County Bar Association includes a variety of sections and committees for its members. Sections educate and inform members on substantive areas of the law and provide forums for the discussion of common problems and issues, which affect their particular practice area. Committees are the backbone of all SDCBA services, providing leadership opportunities to legal professionals while giving guidance and support to Bar programs and community service efforts.

PUBLICATIONS
To enhance communication and awareness among members and the public, the Bar produces three award-winning publications. The bimonthly San Diego Lawyer is the legal community's premier source for insight, information, news and entertainment. San Diego Lawyer has a circulation of over 10,000 attorneys, judges, legal professionals and business leaders throughout San Diego County. The Bar publishes the monthly Bar Report, mailed to each member. Bar Report includes the latest calendar listings, announcements, SDCBA/CLE programming (live and satellite) and special event notices. The San Diego Lawyer Directory, the County's most authoritative listing of attorneys available, is published each year. Members receive a copy of the directory free as a benefit of membership. Legal Ethics Quarterly, an electronic newsletter written by members of the Legal Ethics Committee, summarizes and topically indexes issues and holdings of ethics-related cases.

MENTORING PROGRAM
For new lawyers, the mentoring program puts you in contact with experienced colleagues who are ready to share their own experiences and answer questions you may have. Lawyers who have been in practice for a number of years have the opportunity to inspire the legal community’s next generation. Call the Bar Center at (619) 231-0781 for more information or to volunteer as a mentor.

ETHICS HOTLINE
The San Diego County Bar Association staffs a free hotline for members with questions regarding legal ethics. Reach the hotline at (619) 231-0781. The Bar also maintains an online library of legal ethics opinions dating back almost 40 years at www.sdcba.org.

MAILING LIST
Members may purchase access to the SDCBA membership list (approximately 8,000 lawyers) and the directory mailing list (over 12,000 lawyers) at reduced rates. For information and a quote, call the Bar Center at (619) 231-0781.

Other Services


CLIENT RELATIONS PROGRAM
The Bar's Client Relations Program works to assist lawyers and clients resolve differences before disputes reach the State Bar level. Call the SDCBA for information at (619) 231-0781.

FEE ARBITRATION
The SDCBA administers a Fee Arbitration Program for the settlement of lawyer/client fee disputes. Call the Bar Center at (619) 231-0781.

Panel fees are free for members. For more information regarding the PCC Program, please call (619) 702-6199.

BRIDGING THE GAP PROGRAM

The “Bridging the Gap” program orients newly admitted lawyers to the practice of law in San Diego County. Presentations by judges and experienced attorneys include review of the structure and procedures of superior and federal courts, and an overview of Bar programs and services.

LAWYER REFERRAL AND INFORMATION SERVICE

The Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) of the San Diego County Bar Association links potential clients with qualified attorneys in their area of the county. Each year, LRIS refers over 30,000 callers in need of legal assistance. It is an effective way to build a practice and a great place to refer clients outside of your practice area. Members receive a significant discount on LRIS panel fees. Call the Bar’s LRIS at (619) 231-8585.

SPORTS LEAGUES
The Sports Committee works to organize Bar leagues and tournaments for San Diego legal professionals. Sports include basketball, touch football, golf, softball, racquetball and tennis. All members are invited to participate. Contact the Bar Center at (619) 231-0781 for details.