President’s Message: Why the FBA?

Bar associations across the board have seen their membership numbers dip these past two years during the COVID pandemic, and the FBA has not been immune from this trend. Successful retention and growth of our membership is key to the future of the organization. It is only through robust membership that we’re able to deliver our mission of strengthening the federal legal system and administration of justice.

It’s time for each of us to remind our federal practice community why the FBA is so important to local practice and the U.S. courts. Help us reach out to potential new members and re-engage those who you have not seen at chapter events recently, and share why the FBA is the bar association for them. The following are just some of the reasons.

We are the premier bar association that serves federal practitioners and the federal judiciary. There is no other national bar association that focuses exclusively on the needs of the federal courts and federal practice community.

For federal practitioners, both public and private, the FBA allows you to develop strong relationships with the judges in your district. The FBA has roughly 100 local chapters across the country. All our active chapters have two things in common: great programming and a strong working relationship with the federal judges in their districts. It’s the collegiality between the bench and the bar that makes this organization so special. You truly are part of the “federal family” when you’re part of the FBA.

The FBA brings value to federal practitioners in other ways too:

1) Relationships: We’re in the relationship business. When you get involved at the FBA at a national level, you develop a network of relationships with attorneys from other jurisdictions. These are attorneys who know the local rules in their district courts, the judges in those courts, and the custom and practice. It’s great to be able to pick up the phone and ask questions when you have a case in another federal jurisdiction.

2) Business generation/networking. Again, we’re a relationship business and develop strong relationships through the vast FBA network. When I was in private practice, I had cases referred to me from FBA members from out of state. Now that I’m in house, I work with attorneys that I have known through the FBA.

3) Really great CLEs/conferences (not your “average” CLEs). As an example, at our Annual Meeting & Convention in Miami in September 2021, I attended a CLE titled “Interrogating Saddam Hussein.” It was fascinating. The speaker was George Piro, special agent in charge of the FBI Miami Division, who shared his experience of being selected to be the team leader to interrogate Saddam Hussein after Hussein’s capture in 2003. Special Agent Piro had been with the FBI for five years when he was selected for this job. He shared with us the strategy that he employed during his nine months in Baghdad to get Hussein to trust and talk to him after his capture. It was a fascinating story and a CLE that I will not forget.

Another phenomenal CLE/seminar that the FBA holds is the annual Indian Law Conference (currently in its 47th year). It’s the single largest conference on Indian law in the country and draws attorneys, law professors, judges, and representatives from various government agencies. It’s an incredible event that over the years has covered everything from tribal sovereignty, jurisdiction, and governance to gaming, water, healthcare, and land claims (among many other topics).

These are just two examples of the many valuable CLEs that the FBA puts together for members.

For our judiciary, the reason the FBA is so important is because of the advocacy work that we do on the Hill for our judiciary. We are nonpartisan in our policies and relationships with lawmakers, and we work hard to maintain this nonpartisanship. The FBA’s nonpartisanship and emphasis on issues addressing federal jurisprudence and legal practice contribute to the association’s respect and credibility in the halls of Congress and throughout Washington, D.C.

The FBA provides honorary membership to active, senior, and retired judges of the federal bench. The honorary membership is with the national organization as well as the judge’s local FBA chapter and the Judiciary Division. Honorary members have full rights and privileges of membership but are exempt from paying dues. We invite all active, senior, and retired judges of the federal bench to accept their honorary membership by completing a quick form at www.fedbar.org/honorary.

About the Author

Anh Le Kremer is the current President of the FBA and former business litigator at Stinson, LLP. She is currently the chief operating officer and general counsel for Nystrom & Associates, a behavioral health organization headquartered in Minnesota.

About the FBA

Founded in 1920, the Federal Bar Association is dedicated to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence and to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of all attorneys involved in federal law. Our more than 16,000 members run the gamut of federal practice: attorneys practicing in small to large legal firms, attorneys in corporations and federal agencies, and members of the judiciary. The FBA is the catalyst for communication between the bar and the bench, as well as the private and public sectors. Visit us at fedbar.org to learn more.