WBA
The Wichita Bar Association is a 1915-founded, Kansas non-profit professional membership association serving roughly 1,300 attorneys and judges in Sedgwick County, Kansas, with tiered annual dues, CLE programming, the Bar-o-Meter publication, a co-located law library, and pipeline initiatives like Grow Your Own Lawyer.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1915
- HeadquartersWichita, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What WBA does
The Wichita Bar Association (WBA) is a Kansas non-profit professional membership association founded in 1915 that serves attorneys and judges in Sedgwick County (Wichita metropolitan area), with approximately 1,300 members and a 1,400+ circulation Bar-o-Meter monthly publication. It is governed by an elected Board of Governors, with Kristen Wheeler installed as President for the 2026-2027 term, and operated by a lean staff of three (Executive Director Virdena Gilkey, Membership and Office Administrator Lupita Reyes, and Senior Law Librarian John Lewallen). Its mission is to promote professionalism, learning, and respect for the law and administration of justice.
The organization operates primarily through its website (wichitabar.org), which is powered by YourMembership.com association management software providing member directories, event registration, CLE enrollment, and a hosted Career Center (careers.wichitabar.org). Core services include Continuing Legal Education seminars delivered live, online, and via video replay; the Bar-o-Meter newsletter (with a $25 member subscription); the Find a Lawyer public referral service; conference room rentals at the Sedgwick County Law Center; mentoring and pipeline programs (Grow Your Own Lawyer since 1996, Summer Intern Program); the Sedgwick County Law Library (co-located at 225 N. Market, Suite 210); the Lee Woodard Technology Center (dedicated November 23, 2022); and the Judge Gregory L. Waller Public Interest Legal Fellowship. The Wichita Bar Foundation is a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) charitable affiliate.
Revenue is generated from tiered annual membership dues ($150 for 1st-2nd year attorneys, $225 for 3rd-4th year attorneys, $300 for 5+ year attorneys, $150 for out-of-area associate members; student and life members pay zero), CLE registration and handbook sales, Bar-o-Meter display advertising and subscriptions, conference room rentals, and event sponsorships (e.g., Judges' Day Golf, Bar Show). Distribution is community-led: members are acquired via referral from existing members, monthly luncheons (October through April), CLE programming, and the website. The GTM motion also monetizes a layer of vendor referral partnerships (LawPay, Principal Financial Group, Summit Employment Professionals, Shred-it, The Bar Plan).
WBA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WBA
- Legal name
- Wichita Bar Association
- Website
- https://wichitabar.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1915
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Wichita Bar Association is a 1915-founded, Kansas non-profit professional membership association serving roughly 1,300 attorneys and judges in Sedgwick County, Kansas, with tiered annual dues, CLE programming, the Bar-o-Meter publication, a co-located law library, and pipeline initiatives like Grow Your Own Lawyer.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WBA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Legal Professional Association / Bar Association Services
- NAICS
- Professional Organizations (813920)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Law School Continuing Legal Education (CLE) & Executive Programs (EDAHAIAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning (EDAAAOAC)
Keywords
Where WBA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wichita
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WBA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: Annual membership dues collected from attorneys and judges based on years since bar admission. Primary revenue source supporting association operations.
- Bar-o-Meter Advertising: Monthly publication with circulation of over 1,400 members and legal community professionals. Revenue generated from display advertising sales.
- Conference Room Rental: Rental of Sedgwick County Law Center conference rooms to WBA members (free) and external organizations for meetings and events at various rates.
- CLE Seminar Fees: Continuing Legal Education seminars offered to members and non-members with registration fees. Handbooks available for purchase.
- Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities for Judges' Day Golf Tournaments, Bar Show Program, and other WBA events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | 1st-2nd Year Attorneys: $150/year |
| Subscription | Annual | 3rd-4th Year Attorneys: $225/year |
| Subscription | Annual | 5+ Year Attorneys: $300/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Members: $150/year |
| Subscription | Annual | Student Members: No Dues |
| Subscription | Annual | Life Members: No Dues |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
WBA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Wichita Bar Association (WBA) is a professional membership organization serving attorneys and judges in Sedgwick County, Kansas since 1915. It sells annual membership subscriptions with tiered dues, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars, a monthly publication (Bar-o-Meter), conference room rentals at the Sedgwick County Law Center, a public Find a Lawyer referral service, and operates the Sedgwick County Law Library. The organization also runs diversity pipeline programs (Grow Your Own Lawyer, Summer Intern Program) and the Judge Gregory L. Waller Public Interest Legal Fellowship.
Product overview
The Wichita Bar Association (WBA) is a professional membership organization serving the legal community since 1915. It offers a portfolio of services including the Bar-o-Meter monthly publication, Continuing Legal Education seminars, Find a Lawyer referral service, conference facilities, mentoring programs, and career center. The organization also operates the Sedgwick County Law Library and runs educational programs including the Grow Your Own Lawyer pipeline program and Summer Intern Program. Its charitable arm, the Wichita Bar Foundation (501(c)(3)), supports legal education initiatives. The WBA recently established the Judge Gregory L. Waller Public Interest Legal Fellowship to diversify the legal profession. Conference room facilities and CLE seminars are core member services, with the Bar-o-Meter serving as the primary communications publication.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bar-o-Meter: Official monthly publication of the Wichita Bar Association with circulation of over 1,400 members
- Wichita Bar Foundation
- Young Lawyers Section (YLS)
- Wichita Women Attorneys Association
- Wichita Bar Senior Lawyers Section
Products and services
- WBA Annual Membership
- Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminars
- Bar-o-Meter Monthly Publication
- Find a Lawyer Referral Service
- Conference Room Rental
- Judge Gregory L. Waller Public Interest Legal Fellowship
- Grow Your Own Lawyer Program
- Summer Intern Program
- WBA Career Center
- Mentoring Program Program that pairs experienced attorneys with other attorneys seeking to develop professional skills, knowledge, and connections, aimed at helping attorneys attain a high level of professionalism and competence.
- Sedgwick County Law Library Law library with over 900 titles plus CD holdings and specialized materials, providing services for judges, attorneys, and the general public. Includes a Self-Help Center with printable legal forms and the Lee Woodard Technology Center.
- Speakers Bureau Liaison service between Wichita communities and WBA attorney members providing free speakers on all areas of law. Includes a Schools program connecting attorneys with classrooms for Law Day and Constitution Day.
- Wichita Bar Foundation (501(c)(3) Charitable Arm) Charitable arm of the WBA holding 501(c)(3) status. Accepts tax-deductible donations and memorial contributions to support educational and charitable programs promoting legal education, the legal profession, and appreciation of the Rule of Law.
Companies that use WBA
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
WBA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
WBA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Wichita Bar FoundationcoreThe Wichita Bar Foundation is the charitable arm of the WBA with 501(c)(3) status. Supports educational and charitable programs promoting legal education, advancement of the legal profession, and appreciation of the Rule of Law. Accepts tax-deductible donations and memorial contributions.
- Sedgwick County Law LibrarycoreCo-located with WBA at 225 N. Market, Suite 210. Serves judges, attorneys, and general public with over 900 titles plus CD holdings. Includes Self-Help Center with printable legal forms and Lee Woodard Technology Center.
- Wichita Women Attorneys AssociationminorNot-for-profit association promoting interests of women in the legal profession. Provides resources, opportunities, and support. Membership open to men and women. Meets monthly September through June.
- Young Lawyers SectioncoreSection of WBA focused on assisting new attorneys. Eligibility: members 35 or younger, or within first five years of practice. Meets second Thursday monthly (September-May) for after-work social hour.
- Wichita Bar Senior Lawyers SectionminorSection for WBA members 55 years of age or older. Meets socially with calendar updates for meeting information.
- Wichita Area Chapter of Legal AdministratorsminorFounded in 1981, became first Kansas chapter of The International Association of Legal Administrators in 1987. Addresses issues and problems within the legal field.
- LawPayminorPreferred credit card processing company for WBA members. Provides attorneys with secure way to accept online credit card payments. WBA receives referral partnership benefit.
- Principal Financial GroupminorInsurance provider offering up to 30% discounts on individual disability income insurance for WBA members.
- Summit Employment ProfessionalsminorWBA's recommended staffing provider offering substantial discounts to WBA members for staffing needs.
- Shred-itminorDocument destruction company providing discounts to WBA members upon identification.
- YourMembership.comcoreAssociation management software provider powering the WBA website. Provides membership management, event registration, email marketing, and career center functionality.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
WBA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Kansas Bar Association: The integrated (mandatory) statewide bar association for Kansas. WBA members must already be KBA members, making KBA the higher-tier incumbent with regulatory authority, statewide CLE programming, and advocacy services that sit above WBA's voluntary local offering.
- American Bar Association: The largest national voluntary professional association for U.S. lawyers. Operates as a broad incumbent offering membership, CLE, publications, and advocacy at a national scale, with a directly comparable business model but vastly larger geographic and membership footprint than WBA.
Regional players
- Missouri Bar: Mandatory statewide bar association for Missouri lawyers. Operates a similar membership dues, CLE, and member-services model serving a neighboring state's legal market without direct geographic overlap with WBA.
- State Bar of Texas: Mandatory statewide bar association for Texas lawyers and the largest state bar by membership. Operates a comparable CLE, member services, and section-based programming model, but in a different U.S. region without direct overlap with WBA's market.
- Oklahoma Bar Association: Mandatory statewide bar association for Oklahoma lawyers. Similar membership, CLE, and member-benefit partnership model operating in a neighboring state with comparable market size and legal market dynamics to Kansas.
- State Bar of Michigan: Statewide bar association for Michigan lawyers. Operates the same fundamental voluntary/integrated bar membership, CLE, and member-service model as WBA but in a different U.S. region with no geographic overlap.
Direct peers
- National Bar Association: National professional association predominantly for African-American attorneys and the minority legal community. Directly comparable in providing membership services, CLE programming, and pipeline/diversity initiatives, but operating nationally and with a different demographic focus.
- Johnson County Bar Association: County-level voluntary bar association serving the suburban Kansas City metropolitan area in Kansas. Closest direct geographic peer to WBA in terms of size, voluntary membership model, target market of local attorneys, and CLE/networking service offering within Kansas.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WBA social profiles
Digital presenceWBA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
WBA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WBA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
WBA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WBA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WBA
What does WBA do?
The Wichita Bar Association (WBA) is a professional membership organization serving attorneys and judges in Sedgwick County, Kansas since 1915. It sells annual membership subscriptions with tiered dues, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars, a monthly publication (Bar-o-Meter), conference room rentals at the Sedgwick County Law Center, a public Find a Lawyer referral service, and operates the Sedgwick County Law Library. The organization also runs diversity pipeline programs (Grow Your Own Lawyer, Summer Intern Program) and the Judge Gregory L. Waller Public Interest Legal Fellowship.
Is WBA a public or private company?
WBA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was WBA founded?
WBA was founded in 1915. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is WBA based?
WBA is headquartered in Wichita, United States, in the North America region.
How does WBA make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are bar-o-Meter Advertising, conference Room Rental, CLE Seminar Fees and sponsorships.
Who are WBA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Kansas Bar Association and American Bar Association. Regional players are Missouri Bar, State Bar of Texas, Oklahoma Bar Association and State Bar of Michigan. Direct peers are National Bar Association and Johnson County Bar Association.
Does WBA have an API?
No public API is recorded for WBA.
What industry is WBA in?
WBA's product category is Legal Professional Association / Bar Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAIAH, Law School Continuing Legal Education (CLE) & Executive Programs, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAC, Apprenticeships, Pre-Apprenticeships & Work-Based Learning. Its NAICS code is 813920 and its SIC code is 8600.