Clearwater Bar Association

What Clearwater Bar Association does

The Clearwater Bar Association (CBA) is a nonprofit voluntary bar association founded in 1930 in Clearwater, Florida, serving over 1,000 members across the legal profession in north Pinellas County and the greater Tampa Bay region. It is governed by an elected Board of Directors and operated by a small professional staff led by Executive Director/CEO Teresa Conte and Operations Manager Michele Rupenski. The association's core mission is to support attorneys through professional networking, leadership development, CLE programming, and community-impact activities, while connecting the general public to qualified legal counsel through its Lawyer Referral Service.

The CBA's product surface includes the telephone-based Lawyer Referral Service ($50 per 30-minute consultation, covering 30+ areas of law), the bimonthly Res Ipsa Loquitur newsletter (28 pages, ~1,000 circulation), eight practice-area Sections (Bankruptcy, Civil Trial, Elder Law, Family Law, Labor & Employment, Probate & Real Property, Solo & Small Firm, Collaborative Law), a Young Lawyers Division for attorneys under 36 or with under five years in practice, a Pro Bono Program partnered with Bay Area Legal Services' Volunteer Lawyers Program – Northwest Office, and the Clearwater Bar Foundation as its charitable arm. Membership is tiered: regular attorneys at $295/year, attorneys in practice less than 2 years and state attorneys/public defenders at $195/year, paralegals at $175/year, non-attorney collaborative law members at $120/year, with paralegal/law student, lifetime, and honorary tiers offered free. The Bar Year runs July through June, with auto-renewal billing in place since March 2022.

The underlying technology is exclusively third-party: the CBA runs on YourMembership.com association management software for member database, event registration, online renewals, email marketing, career center, and member portal (with Facebook and LinkedIn social login). The organization has no proprietary technology products, no API surface, no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, and no patents or trademarks. Revenue is generated through membership dues, Lawyer Referral Service fees, CLE and event fees, event sponsorships, and Res Ipsa newsletter advertising. Corporate and law firm sponsors — including Bank of Tampa (Platinum), LEAP Legal Software, FindLaw, Thomson Reuters/LexisNexis, LawPay, Older Lundy Koch & Martino, and 20+ others — fund events and programs in exchange for recognition and access to the CBA's membership audience.

Name

Clearwater Bar Association

Legal name

Clearwater Bar Association

Website

https://clearwaterbar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Clearwater Bar Association is a nonprofit voluntary bar association founded in 1930 in Clearwater, Florida, serving over 1,000 attorneys and legal professionals in north Pinellas County through membership dues, CLE programming, a Lawyer Referral Service, practice-area sections, and community pro bono initiatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Clearwater

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues form the primary revenue stream. Regular attorneys pay $295/year, attorneys in practice less than 2 years pay $195/year, state attorneys and public defenders pay $195/year, paralegals pay $175/year, non-attorney collaborative law members pay $120/year, and paralegal/law students and lifetime/honorary members receive free membership. The Bar Year runs July 1 through June 30.
2. Lawyer Referral Service: The Lawyer Referral Service connects members of the public with qualified attorneys in Pinellas County. Callers pay a non-refundable $50 fee for an up to 30-minute consultation. The service is operated as a public service by the CBA and runs Monday–Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. First-year Lawyer Referral Service membership is offered free to new CBA members.
3. Event Sponsorships and Advertising: The CBA sells event sponsorships (Annual Sponsorship, Bench & Bar Conference, Oyster Roast, Golf Classic, Joint Bar CLE Events, Special Annual Events) and advertising space in its bimonthly newsletter Res Ipsa Loquitur (circulation ~1,000). Advertising rate cards include display ad sizes from one-sixth page to full page/inside/back cover placements.
4. CLE and Event Fees: Revenue is generated from Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs and paid events such as the annual Holiday Party, Oyster Roast, and Golf Classic. Members receive 6 free CLE hours annually ($400 value), and discounted rates on CLE lunches.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Clearwater Bar Association (CBA) is a nonprofit professional membership organization serving over 1,000 attorneys and legal professionals in Pinellas County, Florida, founded in 1930. It provides member benefits including networking events, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programming, practice-area sections, the Young Lawyers Division, and a bimonthly newsletter (Res Ipsa Loquitur), as well as a public-facing Lawyer Referral Service that connects residents to vetted attorneys across 30+ areas of law.

Product overview

The Clearwater Bar Association operates as a professional membership organization for attorneys in the Clearwater/Pinellas County area, offering a suite of services centered around member support, professional development, and community legal access. The core offerings include the Lawyer Referral Service (telephone-based attorney matching), the bimonthly Res Ipsa Loquitur newsletter, eight practice-area Sections for specialized networking and CLE, the Young Lawyers Division for attorneys under 36 or with less than five years experience, and a Pro Bono Program partnering with Bay Area Legal Services. Additional services include a Career Center job board, CLE programming, and the Clearwater Bar Foundation for charitable community outreach. The association is powered by YourMembership.com association management software for member Portal, event registration, and billing functions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) A telephone-based service connecting members of the public in Pinellas County with qualified CBA member attorneys. Operates Monday-Thursday 9:30 AM-4:30 PM. Callers pay a non-refundable $50 fee for an up to 30-minute consultation covering 30+ areas of law including family law, personal injury, criminal law, estate planning, real estate, and immigration.
• Res Ipsa Loquitur Newsletter The official bimonthly (six times per year) newsletter of the Clearwater Bar Association, a 28-page publication with a circulation of approximately 1,000 legal and business professionals in north Pinellas County and west Pasco County. Features articles on recent legal trends, commentaries by prominent legal professionals, and calendars of social events and CLE seminars. Advertising space is sold to law firms and corporate sponsors.
• Pro Bono Program Partnership with Bay Area Legal Services' Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP-NW), co-located at the CBA headquarters, providing pro bono legal assistance to residents at or below 125% of the federal poverty level. Attorneys may receive up to 5 hours of CLE credit for pro bono service.
• Practice Area Sections Eight specialized practice-area sections including Bankruptcy, Civil Trial, Elder Law, Family Law, Labor and Employment Law, Probate and Real Property, Solo and Small Firm, and Collaborative Law. Each section provides specialized education, networking, and pro bono opportunities for members in their respective practice areas.
• Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Division for lawyers under age 36 or those in practice five years or less, offering social events, community service projects, and professional development programming including Christmas in January, Back Pack Project, and the Great Debate. Includes a Stetson University College of Law Liaison on its board.
• Career Center Job board allowing members and the public to search for legal industry openings with filters for keywords, organization, category, position type, education requirement, and experience requirement.
• CLE Programming and Events Continuing Legal Education calendar and programs including monthly luncheons, the Annual Law Day Luncheon, Annual Bench & Bar Conference, Multi-Judge Roundtable Forum, and specialized CLE courses. Members receive 6 free CLE hours annually (a $400 value), with discounted rates on additional CLE lunches ($200 value).
• Clearwater Bar Foundation The charitable arm of the CBA, focused on promoting equal access to the judicial system through community outreach, education, and strategic financial investment. Supports programs including Enterprise Village, Finance Park, law student scholarships, and Gulfcoast Legal Services and Bay Area Legal Services pro bono efforts.
• CBA 100% Club Membership Recognition Special membership recognition category for firms or government agencies where every attorney or paralegal in the Clearwater/Pinellas office is a CBA member. Members receive listing in Res Ipsa Magazine, on the website, and recognition at luncheons and Law Day.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 members served; 6 free CLE hours per member ($400 value); $200 networking value; $150 first-year LRS membership free; 8 substantive law sections

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• YourMembership.comcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe CBA uses YourMembership.com's association management software platform to power its website, member database, event registrations, online renewals, email marketing, career center, and member portal. The software provides secure member login, social login (Facebook/LinkedIn), online community, member invoicing, and non-dues revenue features.
• Bay Area Legal Services – Volunteer Lawyers Program Northwest (VLP-NW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVLP-NW is co-located in the CBA building at 800 Drew Street, Clearwater. The program connects volunteer CBA attorneys with low-income community members (at or below 125% federal poverty level). Partner community organizations include Homeless Empowerment Project, Pinellas County Bayside Health Clinic, Metropolitan Ministries, Mattie Williams Neighborhood Family Center, and Clearwater Hispanic Outreach Center. VLP-NW is also an externship site for Stetson University College of Law.
• The Florida BarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CBA is affiliated with The Florida Bar and serves as a local voluntary bar association. It facilitates CLE reporting to Florida Bar, connects members with Florida Bar resources (Lawyers Assistance Program, Local Professionalism Panel), promotes Florida Bar programs and news, and supports Florida Bar Foundation initiatives.
• Clearwater Bar Foundation (CBF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Clearwater Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the CBA. CBF promotes equal access to the judicial system through community outreach, education, and strategic financial investment. Accomplishments include $47,000 to CBA Student Legal Intern Program (2007-2018), $16,000 to Enterprise Village, $15,000 to Finance Park, scholarships to law students, and support for Gulfcoast Legal Services and Bay Area Legal Services pro bono efforts.
• Sixth Judicial Circuit Court (Pasco & Pinellas County)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CBA maintains a close relationship with the Sixth Judicial Circuit, hosting judicial reception events, sharing administrative orders with members, facilitating the Lawyer Referral Service, and coordinating with the court's Local Professionalism Panel and Judicial Nominating Commission processes.
• Stetson University College of LawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStetson University College of Law is the primary law school in the region. The VLP-NW is an externship site for Stetson law students. The CBA's Young Lawyers Division includes a Stetson University College of Law Liaison (Jackson Howard) on its board.
• Annual Corporate Sponsors (Bank of Tampa, Team Borham, LEAP Legal Software, FindLaw, Vallit Advisors, Flagship Bank, LawPay, and 20+ others)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsors support CBA programs, events, and the Res Ipsa newsletter through financial contributions. In return, they receive logo placement on the website, recognition at events, and access to the CBA's legal professional audience. Sponsors include Bank of Tampa (Platinum), LEAP Legal Software, FindLaw, Thomson Reuters/LexisNexis, LawPay, South State Bank, and others.
• Annual Law Firm Sponsors (Robert Eckard & Associates, Persante Zuroweste, Johnson Pope, Trenam, Older Lundy Koch & Martino, Gassman, Baskin Eisel, and others)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm sponsors support CBA events and programs. These firms receive recognition at CBA events, in the Res Ipsa newsletter, and on the website. Sponsors include some of the largest and most prominent law firms in the Clearwater/Pinellas County area.
• Voluntary Bar Associations in the Tampa Bay RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CBA maintains relationships with other voluntary bar associations including the St. Petersburg Bar Association, West Pasco Bar Association, Hillsborough County Bar Association, East Pasco County Bar Association, Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association, Pinellas Mid-County Bar Association, FAWL (Florida Association of Women Lawyers) – Pinellas and Pasco chapters, and others. Joint events such as the CBA and WPBA Social are organized.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Orange County Bar Association: The Orange County Bar Association in Orlando is a Florida county-level voluntary bar with similar membership, CLE, and Lawyer Referral Service programming. It is a regional peer in the same state and category as CBA but serves the Central Florida market rather than the Tampa Bay area.
• Miami-Dade Bar Association: The Miami-Dade Bar Association (formerly Dade County Bar) is one of the largest voluntary county bars in Florida, offering CLE, sections, a Lawyer Referral Service, and pro bono programming. It is a regional peer operating the same membership association model in a different Florida geography.
• Jacksonville Bar Association: The Jacksonville Bar Association is a Northeast Florida voluntary county bar with CLE, sections, and member programming. It is a regional peer to CBA in the sense of operating the same voluntary bar association business model in a different Florida geography.

Direct peers

• West Pasco Bar Association: The West Pasco Bar Association serves attorneys in western Pasco County and maintains a reciprocal membership arrangement with CBA ($195/year reciprocal tier). It is a direct peer by virtue of overlapping service territory, joint social events, and similar programming model targeting solo and small firm practitioners.
• Pinellas County Trial Lawyers Association: A specialty trial lawyer association operating within the same Pinellas County geography as CBA. It is a direct peer in the sense that it competes for members and CLE dollars within the same plaintiff-side personal injury bar, though narrower in focus (litigation-only versus CBA's general practice).
• Hillsborough County Bar Association: The Hillsborough County Bar Association is a voluntary county bar serving Tampa-area attorneys with CLE, networking, sections, and a Lawyer Referral Service. It is the most direct comparable to CBA — adjacent Tampa Bay market with overlapping member pools and reciprocal membership arrangements, differing primarily in geography.
• St. Petersburg Bar Association: The St. Petersburg Bar Association is another Pinellas County-based voluntary bar serving attorneys in the southern part of the county. It directly competes with CBA for members within the same county and operates similar CLE, networking, and referral programming for a similar member base.

Broad incumbents

• American Bar Association: The ABA is the national voluntary bar association providing membership, CLE, publications, and sections to attorneys nationwide. It is a broad incumbent in the same professional membership category as CBA, but operates at national scale and serves as an optional, higher-priced alternative to local bar membership.
• The Florida Bar: The Florida Bar is the mandatory statewide bar association of which all CBA members are also required members. It is a broad incumbent — providing CLE reporting, Lawyer Assistance Programs, and professionalism panels that CBA leverages — but is not a competitor because membership is compulsory rather than voluntary.

Others

• Bay Area Legal Services: Bay Area Legal Services is a regional legal aid organization whose Volunteer Lawyers Program — Northwest Office is co-located in the CBA building at 800 Drew Street. It is an ecosystem partner rather than a competitor, enabling CBA's pro bono programming and CLE credit pathway.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clearwaterbar
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/clearwaterbar
• Facebookfacebook.com/ClearwaterBarAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clearwater-bar-association
• Instagraminstagram.com/cbalaw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Clearwater Bar Association