The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA)

What The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) does

The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) is a nonprofit professional membership organization founded in 1933 and headquartered at 880 North Orange Avenue in Orlando, Florida, serving attorneys, judges, paralegals, law students, and the general public across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties within the Ninth Judicial Circuit. Its core mission is to convene the regional legal community through 24 substantive law committees, two specialized sections (Young Lawyers, Paralegal), continuing legal education programming, networking events, and access-to-justice services delivered via its two wholly-owned subsidiaries — the Legal Aid Society of the OCBA and the OCBA Foundation.

OCBA's operational platform runs on commercial association-management technology rather than proprietary software: YourMembership powers member management, event registration, and the storefront; Balloteer provides secret-ballot online elections; Zoom supports virtual mediation and events; and Skedda handles meeting-space bookings. Service offerings are diverse and include the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (the only Florida Bar- and ABA-approved LRIS in Central Florida, channeling 8,000+ client referrals annually to a 100+ attorney panel), Court Access Cards ($80) for expedited courthouse entry, over 70 annual CLE seminars, The Briefs magazine, a Career Center, free citizen dispute and family law mediation, a court-approved Foreclosure Mediation Program ($250/case), and a Self Help Center partnership with the Orange County Clerk of Courts offering $1/minute virtual attorney consultations.

Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring subscription (membership dues across eight tiers from $35 to $435), transaction fees (event tickets, foreclosure mediation, meeting rentals), usage-based pricing (CLE seminars, virtual consultations), advertising and sponsorships (The Briefs magazine, events), and one-time fees (Court Access Cards). The organization is governed by an elected Executive Council and President (currently Lisa Gong Guerrero for 2025-2026), with a small paid staff of approximately 11-50 supplemented by thousands of volunteers.

Name

The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA)

Legal name

Orange County Bar Association

Website

https://orangecountybar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) is a 1933-founded nonprofit professional membership organization in Orlando, Florida, serving 3,400+ attorneys and the public through CLE programming, lawyer referrals, mediation, and access-to-justice programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Law School Continuing Legal Education (CLE) & Executive Programs (EDAHAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services (BPAGAEAM)

Keywords

• Legal professional association
• Lawyer referral services
• Continuing legal education
• Bar association membership
• Legal mediation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Orlando

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $35 (law students) to $185 (regular members). First year regular membership discounted to $130. Government attorneys pay $125, $0 for first year. This is the primary revenue stream supporting OCBA operations.
2. Court Access Cards: $80 per card for attorneys and legal support staff to access the Orange County Courthouse efficiently
3. Lawyer Referral & Information Service: Panel members pay dues to participate; provides client referrals to attorneys
4. CLE Seminars and Programs: Continuing legal education seminars, both free and paid, offered throughout the year. Over 100 live seminars hosted annually plus downloadable CLE products.
5. Meeting Space Rentals: Rental of OCBA meeting facilities to attorneys, law firms, and organizations for depositions, mediations, seminars, and client meetings
6. Advertising & Sponsorship: Revenue from advertisements in The Briefs magazine (reaches 3,500+ legal professionals), event sponsorships, and mailing list sales
7. Gala and Social Events: Ticket sales for signature events including the biennial Bollywood-themed Gala ($200-$250 per ticket), social events, and golf tournaments
8. Foreclosure Mediation: $250 fee from homeowners to participate in the court-approved foreclosure mediation program
9. Attorney Consultations at Self Help Center: $1 per minute for virtual attorney consultations through the Clerk's Self Help Center partnership

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Orange County Bar Association is a nonprofit professional membership organization that serves attorneys and the public in Central Florida. It operates the only Florida Bar and ABA approved Lawyer Referral & Information Service in Central Florida, runs Continuing Legal Education seminars, sells Court Access Cards for courthouse entry, publishes The Briefs magazine, and offers mediation programs (citizen dispute, family law, and foreclosure). It supports the Legal Aid Society of OCBA and the OCBA Foundation, administers 24 substantive law committees, and provides member services including networking luncheons, career center, meeting space rentals, and professional sections for young lawyers and paralegals.

Product overview

The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) operates as a professional membership organization offering a comprehensive suite of legal community services rather than a technology product platform. The primary offerings include the Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS) for connecting clients with attorneys, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs with live and downloadable seminars, The Briefs Magazine (monthly publication), and Court Access Cards for courthouse entry. Additional services encompass career center resources, mediation programs (citizen dispute, family law, and foreclosure), Clerk's Self Help Center partnership, meeting space rental, and support for the Legal Aid Society and OCBA Foundation. The association also facilitates 24 substantive law committees and special sections for young lawyers and paralegals. The membership-based structure provides networking, professional development, and community service opportunities to over 3,400 attorneys and legal professionals in Central Florida.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lawyer Referral & Information Service (LRIS)
• Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminars
• Court Access Card
• The Briefs Magazine
• Career Center
• Citizen Dispute & Family Law Mediation
• Foreclosure Mediation Program
• Clerk's Self Help Center Partnership
• Meeting Space Rental
• OCBA Membership
• OCBA Store
• Young Lawyers Section (YLS)
• Paralegal Section

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1961Since 1961, OCBA has maintained an unmatched partnership with the Legal Aid Society, its sister organization. OCBA membership requires support of LAS through pro bono cases, financial contribution ($350), or community projects. Legal Aid provides civil legal services to low-income residents, the working poor, children, and disadvantaged groups.
• Black Women Lawyers Association of Central FloridaminorOthersLocal voluntary bar association included in OCBA's network of affiliated bar organizations. President: Ashley Felix.
• Central Florida Association for Women LawyersminorOthersLocal voluntary bar association. President: Christina Russo Walters.
• Central Florida Family Law InnminorOthersLocal voluntary bar association. President: Josh Martell.
• Federal Bar Association - Orlando ChapterminorOthersLocal chapter of Federal Bar Association. President: Benjamin Elliot.
• George C. Young American Inn of CourtminorOthersProfessional bar organization. President: Mary Ann Etzler.
• Greater Orlando Asian American Bar AssociationminorOthersLocal voluntary bar association. President: XiXi Li.
• Hispanic Bar Association of Central FloridaminorOthersLocal voluntary bar association. President: Ginger Miranda.
• Paul C. Perkins Bar AssociationminorOthersLocal voluntary bar association. President: Annie Blanc.
• Central Florida Association Criminal Defense LawyersminorOthersLocal voluntary bar association. President: David Varet.
• Central Florida Trial LawyersminorOthersLocal voluntary bar association. President: Corretta Anthony Smith.
• Maccabee Bar Association of Central FloridaminorOthersLocal voluntary bar association. President: Alan Schwartzseid.
• Orange County Clerk of CourtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for the Self Help Center, named in honor of the late Lydia Gardner. OCBA provides attorney referrals for the center which offers limited legal guidance and low-cost consultations to citizens without lawyers.
• Ninth Judicial Circuit CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiennial Bench Bar Conference brings together attorneys and judges. OCBA provides Courthouse Access Cards for efficient court access.
• The Florida BarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCBA's Lawyer Referral Service is the only Florida Bar approved and ABA approved LRIS in Central Florida. OCBA leadership includes members of The Florida Bar Board of Governors.
• Valencia CollegeminorOthersOCBA promotes Valencia College's Paralegal Studies program and offers pro bono opportunities with Legal Aid Society for paralegal students.
• The Florida Bar - Paralegal SectionminorOthersOCBA Paralegal Section links to Florida Bar Registered Paralegal Program information for certification.
• Orange County Public SchoolsminorOthersOCBA Foundation participates in Justice Teaching Program and Orange County Public Schools AVID program. OCBA members visit schools to teach about government and democracy.
• OCBA FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCBA Foundation focuses on community education about the legal system. The Foundation administers scholarships, internship stipends, and grant programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Clio: Legal practice management software vendor that OCBA designates as a preferred vendor for members. Relevant as an ecosystem participant and as a representative example of the digital tooling that competes with bar association programming for member engagement and CLE delivery.

Broad incumbents

• American Bar Association: National voluntary bar association with overlapping CLE accreditation, professional awards, and policy advocacy. Operates at national scale and provides the ABA approval that distinguishes OCBA's LRIS.
• The Florida Bar: Statewide mandatory bar for all Florida-licensed attorneys. Overlaps with OCBA on CLE accreditation, lawyer discipline, and statewide practice standards, but operates at a much broader geographic scope and does not deliver local member services like LRIS or local mediation.

Direct peers

• Hillsborough County Bar Association: County-level voluntary bar association serving the Tampa Bay area. Operates a lawyer referral service, CLE programming, and member events in a similar model to OCBA but in a different Florida geography.
• Jacksonville Bar Association: Voluntary bar association serving Duval County and Northeast Florida. Comparable county-level peer offering CLE, lawyer referral, and member programming in a distinct Florida region.
• Palm Beach County Bar Association: Voluntary bar for Palm Beach County, Florida attorneys. Mirrors OCBA's structure around CLE, member events, and lawyer referral, serving a comparable but geographically distinct legal community.
• Broward County Bar Association: Voluntary bar association for Broward County attorneys providing CLE, networking, and member services. Directly comparable in mission and product set to OCBA, serving an adjacent South Florida jurisdiction.
• Miami-Dade Bar Association: Another large Florida voluntary county bar association offering CLE, lawyer referral, and member programs to attorneys in Miami-Dade County. Closest structural analog to OCBA in scale and service mix, but operating in a larger, distinct market.

Regional players

• Lee County Bar Association: Smaller voluntary county bar in Southwest Florida offering CLE and member programming. Less direct overlap than other county bars due to scale and geographic distance, but structurally comparable.

Emerging players

• Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County: Independent legal aid organization in a different Florida market. Comparable to OCBA's Legal Aid Society subsidiary in mission (free civil legal services for low-income residents) but operates as a standalone rather than as a bar-affiliated program.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/OCBA_FL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjFH8R4LmnhSIy0jkgnKGJQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/orangecountybar
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/orange-county-bar-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/ocba_fl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles25 records

Subsidiaries2 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 The Orange County Bar Association (OCBA)