Bar Information
Dade County Bar Association
305-371-2220
123 NW First Avenue, Suite 214
Miami, Florida 33128
About Our Organization
The Dade County Bar Association (DCBA) is a local voluntary bar association with approximately 4,500 members. The association was founded in the early 1900's and incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1920.
In addition to services provided for members, the DCBA provides services that benefit the general public.
We operate on a fiscal year, beginning July 1 and ending June 30.
Browse through the links below to learn more about the DCBA.
History: A Time Line
1916: First hard evidence of Dade County Bar Association although the association probably was established earlier
1920: Incorporated DCBA as non-profit corporation in Circuit Court of Dade County
1928: Printed first Pictorial Roster
1939: Organized Legal Aid program
1940: Minutes reflect that Executive Committee was asked to recommend lawyers for judicial vacancies by the Circuit Court Commission.
1941: Appointed first DCBA member to Advisory Committee of the Florida State Bar Association
Authorized a Judicial Poll of the members of DCBA as to fitness for retention in office of Florida Supreme Court Justices
Honored Charles W. Zaring on 50th anniversary of admittance to the bar and commemorated the fact that he had been admitted to the bar before any other member of DCBA Adopted resolution urging Circuit Judges to hear all divorces in open court1942: First woman elected to the Board of Directors of DCBA but the Annual Installation Banquet was still "stag" Set up special non-dues paying category for members on active duty in the armed services
1943: Established first "Lawyers Reference Plan" and referral program for military personnel and general public
1946: There was no action on a recommendation that a "Junior Bar" section be authorized
1947: Approved publication of a bar journal. The journal concept was abandoned when the University of Miami School of Law began publishing the Miami Law Quarterly in late 1947.
A portion of DCBA member dues was paid to print and mail copies of the Quarterly to members.
Changed By-Laws to require a special General Membership Elections Meeting to elect all officers
1949: Junior Bar Section was in existence in June of 1949 but no specific date can be established
Legal Aid Society of the Dade County Bar Association was chartered
1950: Florida Bar asked DCBA to terminate its Grievance Committee
1952: Transferred Unauthorized Practice of Law obligations to The Florida Bar
Approved establishment of a Legal Aid Society at UM School of Law and coordinating it with DCBA's Legal Aid
1953: Approved establishment of Lawyer Referral Service in office of DCBA
1954: Opened Executive Office, hired Mrs. Johnnie M. Ridgely, Executive Director and hired full-time Lawyer Referral Service secretary
1957: Earned seat in American Bar Association House of Delegates
1959: Hired full-time Lawyer Referral Secretary
1960: Formed Relief Fund for Cuban lawyers
Established Judicial Trust Fund to provide filing fees and campaign funds for Circuit and County Court judicial candidates were rated at least 70% qualified on the DCBA Judicial Polls. (Fund was later terminated when it was found by the Secretary of State's office to violate election laws by co-mingling funds).
1965: Hosted American Bar Association Annual Meeting
Began fund raising campaign to build headquarters building, leased land and began construction
1966: Completed construction of four story office building in downtown Miami which now houses DCBA, Legal Aid, "Put Something Back" and various other pro bono projects
Won American Bar Association "Award of Excellence" for the most outstanding bar association in the United States for our "Valley Forge" project
1975: Purchased land on which our building is situated
1976: Established Appellate Filing Box in Dade County Courthouse
1978: Approved concept of DCBA Public Interest Law Bank, now Volunteer Lawyers and "Put Something Back"
1981: Established first formal pro bono program
1986: Established Judicial Campaign Practices Commission to hear complaints about judicial candidate misconduct.
1987: Consolidated Lawyer Referral Service with The Florida Bar statewide LRS
1989: Established "Criminal Justice Award" for most outstanding contributions to criminal justice
1991: Formed partnership with Chief Judge of Eleventh Circuit for "Put Something Back" program and consolidated all DCBA pro bono projects into "PSB"
1992: Co-Founded "Children First" pro bono program
Established legal information and assistance programs for victims of Hurricane Andrew
1995: Hosted American Bar Association Mid-Year Meeting activities
Established and funded "Children Whose Parents Have Died of Aids" program
1997: Established "David W. Dyer Professionalism Award"
Established joint funding program with the Dade Foundation to fund charitable activities of the association
Chaired fundraising committee for restoration of the historic lobby of the Dade County Courthouse and raised in excess of 350,000 in contributions from lawyers
Established "Teen Court" in cooperation with Dade School Board
1998: Co-sponsored activities for Miami meeting of national Legal Services Board of Directors
Supported revision of Article V of state constitution
Supported Miami-Dade County Ordinance to amend county code to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation
1999: After raising 4,000, participated in the dedication of the restoration of the lobby of the historic Dade County Courthouse
2000: Opposed Multi-Discipline & Ancillary Practice proposals which would allow non-lawyers to own law firms
Received The Florida Bar award for Most Outstanding Professionalism Committee in Florida
Changed eligibility for DCBA House of Delegates representative seat
2001: Participated in dedication of Thomas D. Barkdull Third District Cour of Appeals Building
Instrumental in having new family court building located at 175 N. W. First Avenue, named Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center and sponsored dedication
Established DCBA Website
Opposed proposed changes in lawyer regulation requiring Supreme Court and District Court judges to stand for election and imposing term limits on the Florida judiciary
2002: Endorsed electronic filing in Probate Division of Circuit Court
Appointed special committee to train bar and public on new voting machines
Established World Trade Center Fund
Established Judge Steven Levine Children's Scholarship Fund
Appointed special committee to study public financing of judicial elections
Ceased DCBA participation in Self-Help program
Co-Sponsored reception on Freedom Schooner Amistad
Sponsored Diversity Training for DCBA members
2003: Endorsed raises for Federal Judges Co-sponsored reception for Justice Raoul Cantero, III investiture to the Florida Supreme Court
Sponsored Judicial Retirement Luncheon for Circuit and County Court Judges
Co-sponsored Cable Tap TV program on County Court matters
2004: Re-established monthly General Membership Luncheon meetings
2004: Established and endowed the Alan R. Schwartz Judicial Excellence Award, the Mario P. Goderich Legal Ethics Award and the Robert L. Shevin Public Service Award
2005: Restoration of the Dade County Courthouse ceremonial courtroom 6-1 begins as DCBA laywers contribute over 300,000
2006: Mrs. Johnnie M. Ridgely, Executive Director from 1965-2006 passes away. Following the wishes of the family, the Board of Directors unamimously approve dedicating the DCBA boardroom in her honor.
For almost ninety years, the Association has been among bar association leaders in the country initiating new programs. We have opposed programs and legislation that were detrimental to lawyers, the bench and the public and fought hard for those things which were beneficial to the common good. At the same time, we have tried to broadly represent our varied membership and resist supporting one dimensional or single-issue groups and programs.
The Association has worked particularly hard to protect the independence of the judiciary and the legal profession and continue efforts to preserve the separation of powers of legislative bodies and our judicial system.
Two of our more worthwhile, ongoing accomplishments is the formation of the Legal Aid Society and establishment of a formal volunteer lawyer program for the poor which have become models of numerous associations in Florida and throughout the United States.