State Bar of Arizona

What State Bar of Arizona does

The State Bar of Arizona is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(6) corporation and mandatory membership organization for attorneys, created by legislative act in 1933 and operating under the sole oversight of the Arizona Supreme Court pursuant to Rule 32. It regulates approximately 18,500-24,000 attorneys statewide and is governed by a 29-member Board of Governors (primarily elected lawyers plus four appointed public members). The Bar is headquartered in Phoenix with a Southern Regional Office in Tucson, and employs approximately 100 staff.

The organization delivers a broad portfolio of services spanning regulatory, educational, and public-facing functions. Core regulatory offerings include attorney licensing, MCLE compliance tracking, the lawyer discipline system, ethics opinions and an ethics hotline, and the Client Protection Fund. Member-facing products include the Member Directory and Board-Certified Specialist Search, Arizona Attorney Magazine (an award-winning monthly publication), AZCLE continuing legal education programs and publications, the Career Center job board, the Expert Witness Directory, the Member Assistance Program (wellness), and integrated third-party practice tools (vLex Fastcase legal research and Smokeball trust accounting/billing software). Public-facing services include the Public Service Center, Video Law Library, free legal clinics, fee arbitration, and consumer complaint processes.

The Bar's business model is funded through mandatory annual membership fees, CLE program and conference fees (including AZCLE Publications, CLE by the Sea, CLE Abroad, and Workers' Compensation conferences), and ancillary service fees such as Arizona Attorney Magazine advertising, online classifieds, and legal marketplace listings. It reaches members through its website, newsletters (Bar Track, Daily 5, eLegal), the magazine, social media, and 12 affiliated affinity bar associations; the public is reached through monthly free legal clinics, phone banks broadcast via partnerships with ABC15 Arizona and KGUN 9 News, and community outreach. There is no public API, no mobile app, and no disclosed AI/ML capabilities. The current CEO is Joel F. England.

Name

State Bar of Arizona

Legal name

State Bar of Arizona

Website

https://azbar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The State Bar of Arizona is a private 501(c)(6) nonprofit and mandatory membership organization, founded in 1933, that regulates approximately 18,500-24,000 attorneys statewide under Arizona Supreme Court supervision, delivering licensing, discipline, MCLE compliance, ethics guidance, CLE programs, member benefits, and free legal clinics to both attorneys and the Arizona public.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association / Bar Association Services

NAICS

Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Judicial Oversight, Sentencing & Parole Boards (BPAIAFAK)

Keywords

• Attorney regulatory services
• Continuing legal education
• Legal ethics guidance
• Lawyer licensing
• Access to justice

Headquarters

HQ city

Phoenix

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Mandatory annual membership fees from approximately 18,500-24,000 attorneys licensed to practice in Arizona. The Bar also offers hardship fee waivers for members experiencing financial difficulties.
2. CLE Program Fees: Continuing legal education programs and publications including AZCLE Publications, CLE by the Sea, CLE Abroad, and Workers' Compensation conferences generate revenue.
3. Service Fees: Fees for various services including advertising in Arizona Attorney Magazine, online classified ads, legal marketplace listings, and expert witness directory listings.
4. Self-Generated Revenue: The organization's activities are funded through membership fees, service fees and other self-generated revenue. It operates as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The State Bar of Arizona is a mandatory membership organization that regulates approximately 18,500-24,000 attorneys licensed to practice law in Arizona. It provides attorney licensing and compliance oversight, mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE), ethics opinions and a hotline, lawyer discipline, member benefits (discounted legal research, practice management software, career services), and public access-to-justice services including free legal clinics and a public service center.

Product overview

The State Bar of Arizona is a mandatory membership organization that operates under Arizona Supreme Court supervision to serve and protect the public regarding legal services and access to justice. It is not a traditional SaaS product but rather a membership organization offering a portfolio of services including: the Arizona Attorney Magazine (award-winning monthly publication), AZCLE Publications (continuing legal education), Free Legal Clinics and Phone Banks (access to justice initiative), Member Directory (attorney search tool), Board-Certified Specialist Search, Video Law Library, vLex Fastcase legal research, Smokeball trust accounting software, Ethics Hotline, Career Center job board, Expert Witness Directory, Client Protection Fund, Fee Arbitration, Practice 2.0 practice management, Online Subpoenas, MCLE Tracking, Bar Leadership Institute, and Member Assistance Program wellness resources. The organization regulates approximately 18,500-24,000 attorneys and provides education, development programs, and consumer protection services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Arizona Attorney Magazine Award-winning monthly publication of the State Bar of Arizona providing in-depth substantive legal content, topical articles, and columns including Eye on Ethics, Civil Practice Pointers, and The Last Word. Includes 12 print issues per year with advertising guides for legal professionals and law firms.
• AZCLE Publications Continuing Legal Education (CLE) publications providing educational resources for Arizona legal professionals to maintain licensure and meet MCLE professional competency requirements.
• Free Legal Clinics and Phone Banks Monthly free legal clinics providing one-on-one consultations with volunteer attorneys on topics including family law, immigration, estate planning, employment, and bankruptcy. Live phone banks broadcast via ABC15 Arizona connect consumers statewide with attorneys.
• Member Directory Official search tool for locating Arizona attorneys, allowing searches by name, legal need, location, certification, jurisdiction, language, and firm. Includes Lawyer, Legal Paraprofessional, and Alternative Business Structure search options for consumers and legal professionals.
• Video Law Library Video-based educational content library providing legal information and resources for the public through the State Bar's Public Service Center.
• vLex Fastcase Legal Research Legal research platform provided as a member benefit offering attorneys access to legal research databases and case law through the State Bar's partnership with vLex.
• Smokeball Trust Accounting and Billing Software Free trust accounting and billing software offered as a member benefit for practice management, provided through the State Bar's partnership with Smokeball.
• Ethics Hotline Phone hotline providing ethics guidance and advice to attorneys on professional conduct questions through the State Bar's ethics resources.
• Career Center Online job board for legal professionals providing career advancement and recruitment services for attorneys and law firms.
• Expert Witness Directory Directory connecting attorneys with expert witnesses across various fields of expertise, with paid listing opportunities for experts.
• Client Protection Fund Fund established to protect clients of State Bar members, administered by appointed trustees as a separate trust for client reimbursement in cases of attorney misconduct.
• Fee Arbitration Service for resolving fee disputes between attorneys and clients through arbitration administered by the State Bar of Arizona.
• Practice 2.0 Practice management advice and resources for attorneys to improve and modernize their law practice operations, including a Trust Account Hotline and Economics of Law Practice support.
• Online Subpoenas Online subpoena management system for attorneys to handle subpoenas electronically through the State Bar.
• Bar Leadership Institute Leadership development program for attorneys to build bar leadership skills and community involvement.
• MCLE Tracking Mandatory Continuing Legal Education tracking system to help attorneys monitor and report their continuing education compliance and licensure requirements.
• Member Assistance Program Wellness resource program providing support services for members' mental health and professional well-being, including partnerships with AZLPWP.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,160 community members connected with volunteer attorneys in 2023 through Free Legal Clinics and Phone Banks
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and historical.

• ABC15 ArizonacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 September 2024ABC15 Arizona broadcasts the monthly phone banks, reaching statewide audiences with free legal advice from volunteer attorneys. This partnership extends the reach of access to justice initiatives to consumers who may not otherwise seek legal assistance.
• KGUN 9 NewscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership with KGUN 9 News in Southern Arizona expands access to justice initiatives statewide, providing legal information to viewers through television broadcasts.
• Arizona State University School of Public AffairsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with ASU's School of Public Affairs to conduct a perception survey on the discipline process. Survey sent to nearly 25,000 members to understand perceptions of bias in the disciplinary system.
• AZLPWP (Arizona Lawyers for Lawyers Wellness Program)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with AZLPWP to support legal professional mental health and well-being, providing resources for member wellness.
• DNA-People's Legal SystemhistoricalStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with DNA-People's Legal System to help create the Navajo Nation Bar Association and regulate legal practice in Navajo Nation Courts.
• vLex FastcasecoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides integrated legal research tools to members through vLex Fastcase partnership, offering discounted or free access to legal research databases.
• SmokeballcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides free trust accounting and billing software to attorneys through Smokeball partnership, supporting practice management needs.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• National Association of Bar Executives: Industry association representing bar association executives and providing publications, awards (which Arizona Attorney Magazine has won), and professional development for bar leadership. Indirect peer as ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
• Federation of State Medical Boards: National organization that supports state medical and osteopathic licensing boards with discipline, data, and policy services. Analogous professional-regulator organizational model applying to physicians rather than attorneys, useful as a structural benchmark.

Direct peers

• Florida Bar: Another large mandatory integrated state bar with roughly 110,000+ members, providing equivalent attorney licensing, discipline, CLE, and public service programs. Closely comparable governance structure under Florida Supreme Court supervision.
• State Bar of Texas: Mandatory integrated state bar with over 100,000 members performing the same regulatory and member-services functions as the State Bar of Arizona. Strong comparable for CLE programs, access-to-justice initiatives, and member benefits.
• New York State Bar Association: One of the largest voluntary state bar associations with extensive CLE, publications, and member services. Though voluntary rather than mandatory, it offers a comparable product portfolio and target audience of state-licensed attorneys.
• State Bar of California: The largest mandatory state bar in the U.S. with over 250,000 members, performing nearly identical regulatory, admissions, discipline, and member-service functions for California attorneys. Most direct comparable for organizational structure and revenue model.

Regional players

• State Bar of New Mexico: Mandatory integrated state bar for New Mexico attorneys, providing regulatory and member services. Most directly comparable by membership scale and Southwest regional profile, serving a similarly sized legal community.
• Chicago Bar Association: Major voluntary metropolitan bar association with extensive CLE programming, member services, and access-to-justice initiatives. Comparable organizational scope and product mix though operating as a voluntary rather than mandatory bar.
• State Bar of Nevada: Mandatory state bar serving Nevada attorneys with a comparable integrated structure, though smaller in membership scale. Directly comparable regional peer given geographic proximity to Arizona and similar Western state legal market dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• American Bar Association: The national voluntary bar association providing CLE, publications, ethics opinions, and accreditation functions. Overlaps with State Bar of Arizona's professional development and ethics guidance offerings, though operating at national rather than state level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/azstatebar
• Facebookfacebook.com/statebaraz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/state-bar-of-arizona

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about State Bar of Arizona