Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association

What Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association does

The Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association (TPCBA) is a private nonprofit professional bar association founded on December 22, 1852, when Pierce County was created by the Oregon Territory Legislature, and reorganized under its current name in the late 1950s. It is headquartered at 945 Fawcett Avenue, Suite C, Tacoma, Washington, and is led by Executive Director Kit Kasner with a 4-6 person staff. The organization serves approximately 1,400 member attorneys and legal professionals in Pierce County across private practice, public service, judiciary, government, academia, and in-house roles, and additionally serves the general public through its Lawyer Referral Service and Wills Panel for Seniors.

TPCBA operates a portfolio of core programs: a Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) that connects Pierce County residents with member attorneys for a $40 non-refundable consultation across 14+ practice areas; a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program delivering 75+ hours annually through monthly sessions and the annual Bar Convention; a bi-monthly Pierce County Lawyer Magazine; three substantive sections (Family Law, Criminal Law, New & Young Lawyers); and 20 active committees covering convention planning, legislative liaison, judicial qualifications, community service, diversity/equity/inclusion, and more. The annual calendar features the Bar Convention, Golf Tournament, Lincoln Day Banquet, swearing-in ceremonies, and Law Week community education events.

The business model combines recurring membership dues (free for newly admitted lawyers and law students, with section add-on fees such as $20/year for Family Law), transaction fees from the LRS and Wills Panel (flat-rate estate planning at $100-$200 per document), event registration and tiered sponsorship revenue ($150-$2,500 per sponsorship; convention registration $435-$485), and recurring website and magazine advertising. Marketing channels include the tpcba.com website, email newsletter, social media (Instagram @tacomanewlawyers), and in-person events. The organization has no disclosed AI capabilities and no public revenue or funding disclosures.

Name

Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association

Legal name

Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association

Website

https://tpcba.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1852

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association is a nonprofit professional bar association in Tacoma, Washington serving approximately 1,400 member attorneys and the public through a Lawyer Referral Service, Continuing Legal Education programs, practice sections, events, and the Pierce County Lawyer Magazine.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues from attorneys and legal professionals in Pierce County. First year free for newly admitted lawyers; law student membership free. Additional section fees apply (e.g., $20/year for Family Law Section).
2. Lawyer Referral Service Fees: $40 non-refundable consultation fee for initial attorney referral. Wills for Seniors program offers flat-rate legal services ($200 for Simple Will, $100 for DPOA/Health Care Directive each). Attorney rates charged separately by referred attorneys.
3. Event Registration and Sponsorships: Revenue from annual Bar Convention ($435-$485 registration), CLE exhibitor sponsorships ($300-$550), Golf Tournament sponsorships ($150-$500), Lincoln Day Banquet sponsorships ($2,500 joint social), and various event-based sponsorships.
4. Advertising and Website Ads: Magazine ads, website advertising, and homepage sponsor logos generating recurring monthly revenue. Website ad pricing based on logo placement size requirements (approximately 400px wide x 175px tall).
5. Professional Services: Courthouse identification badge fees, legal assistant application/renewal fees, and Pierce County Lawyer Magazine ad rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association (TPCBA) is a nonprofit professional membership organization that serves attorneys and legal professionals in Pierce County, Washington. It provides a Lawyer Referral Service connecting the public with attorneys, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programming, networking events, member publications, and an affordable Wills Panel for seniors aged 62 and older.

Product overview

The Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association (TPCBA) operates as a membership-based professional organization, not a technology company. It offers an integrated suite of member services centered around its Lawyer Referral Service (LRS), Bar Association Membership, and Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programs. The organization supports legal professionals through sections (New & Young Lawyers, Family Law, Criminal Law), publications (Pierce County Lawyer Magazine), events (Annual Bar Convention, Golf Tournament, Lincoln Day Banquet), a job board, and the Wills Panel for Seniors flat-rate estate planning program. A TPCBA Store handles sponsorships, magazine ads, and website advertising. These offerings work together to serve both the legal community and public access to legal services in Pierce County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) Connects Pierce County residents with experienced attorneys across 14+ practice areas through a coordinated phone-based intake; offers 30-minute initial consultations for a $40 non-refundable fee, operating Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm.
• Bar Association Membership Annual membership program for Pierce County attorneys, judges, and legal professionals providing networking, Lawyer Referral Program participation, courthouse identification badges, section access, and member benefits. First-year membership is free for newly admitted lawyers.
• Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programs Delivers over 75 hours of CLE annually covering Family Law, Tort Law, Ethics, Criminal Law, Guardianship Law, and other specialty topics; sections are required to produce half-day CLEs.
• Annual Bar Convention Three-day annual convention featuring 8.75 CLE credits, networking events, social activities, costume contest, and professional development; $435 for members (early registration) or $485 for non-members.
• Wills Panel for Seniors Flat-rate estate planning services for Pierce County residents aged 62 and older, including Simple Will ($200), Durable Power of Attorney ($100), Health Care Directive ($100), Community Property Agreement ($100), with house calls available in Pierce County ($100 per visit).
• Legal Career Center / Job Board Online employment resource connecting legal professionals with career opportunities in the Pierce County legal market.
• Pierce County Lawyer Magazine Bi-monthly member publication providing legal articles, association news, member spotlights, and advertising opportunities for legal professionals in Pierce County.
• Law Student Membership Free annual membership for law students enrolled in ABA or Washington State Bar accredited law schools (September through August calendar), with eligibility to serve on the New & Young Lawyers Section and receive reduced CLE fees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free first year membership for newly admitted lawyers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 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

Integration3 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Connelly Law OfficesflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Program Sponsor and Saturday CLE Track Sponsor. Active supporter of TPCBA annual events and professional development initiatives.
• Rush, Hannula, Harkins & Kyler, LLPflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Social & Welcoming Reception Sponsor. Long-standing member firm supporting bar association community events.
• Gordon, Thomas, Honeywell, LLPflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Hospitality Room Sponsor. Major law firm supporting association programming.
• McKinley Irvin, PLLCflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Selfie Wall Sponsor. Regional family law firm supporting bar events.
• Evergreen Personal Injury CounselcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Social Hour I Sponsor and Sunday CLE Track Sponsor. Personal injury consortium supporting CLE programming.
• Washington Arbitration & Mediation Services (WAMS)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Costume Contest Sponsor. ADR service provider supporting bar association events.
• JAMS (Mediation Arbitration and ADR Services)coreTechnology or Integration · 18 September 2026Convention Exhibitor offering alternative dispute resolution services. Advertiser on TPCBA website homepage.
• Small Snell Weiss & Comfort, PScoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Flash Drives Sponsor. Regional law firm supporting bar association technology initiatives.
• Hosannah Law Group, PLLCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Friday CLE Track Sponsor. Supports continuing legal education programming.
• Entente LawcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Friday Dinner Sponsor and Scholarship Fund Donor. Supports member scholarship programs.
• Hay & Swann, PLLCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Saturday Breakfast Sponsor. Supports networking events.
• Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess PLLCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Lunch Sponsor. Supports member events.
• House of CannabisminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Lunch Sponsor. Supporting bar convention meals.
• Stadium ThriftwayminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Lunch Sponsor. Local business supporting bar events.
• Ladenburg Law Injury Attorneys, Inc., PScoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Golf Tournament Sponsor. Supports annual golf event.
• Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLCcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Saturday Night Dinner Sponsor. Major personal injury firm supporting flagship dinner event.
• Puget Law GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Social Hour II Sponsor. Supports networking activities.
• Davies Pearson, PCminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Social Hour III Sponsor. Supports networking events.
• Entwistle Real Estate TeamminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 September 2026Bar Convention Scholarship Fund Donor and Scholarship Sponsors. Supports member financial assistance.
• Washington State Bar AssociationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level bar association providing ethics guidance, resources, and professional standards. TPCBA links to WSBA for Legal Ethics, Law Office Management Assistance Program (LOMAP), and Ethics Line services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• King County Bar Association: Direct county-level peer in neighboring Seattle/King County; runs an analogous member service model including LRS, CLE, sections, and pro bono programs serving the Seattle-area legal community.
• Snohomish County Bar Association: Adjacent Washington county bar association with the same fundamental structure — voluntary membership, LRS-style referral, CLE programs, and local sections — for attorneys practicing in Snohomish County.
• Thurston County Bar Association: Another Washington county bar association covering Thurston County (Olympia region) with similar member service, LRS, and CLE offerings; a closely comparable peer in scale and structure.

Emerging players

• National Bar Association: National voluntary bar association predominantly serving Black attorneys and allied legal professionals; runs conferences, CLE, and sections analogous to TPCBA's programming but with a defined demographic focus.
• Federal Bar Association: National voluntary bar focused on federal practitioners with CLE, sections, and annual conferences; comparable in mission and member-benefit structure but segmenting on federal-practice attorneys rather than geography.

Broad incumbents

• Oregon State Bar: Mandatory statewide integrated bar in Oregon; a sibling professional membership organization that combines regulatory, CLE, LRS, and publication functions for Oregon attorneys, comparable in scope though larger than TPCBA.
• American Bar Association: National voluntary bar association providing CLE, sections, publishing, and member benefits to attorneys nationwide; a broad incumbent with overlapping membership rather than direct local competition.
• Washington State Bar Association: Statewide mandatory bar association cited as a TPCBA strategic partner; provides ethics guidance, LOMAP, and resources to Pierce County members, operating at a broader geographic and regulatory scope than the county association.
• California Lawyers Association: Voluntary statewide California bar association offering sections, CLE, networking, and publications analogous to TPCBA but at statewide scale; useful comp for understanding how a county association's model generalizes.

Others

• LawPay / MyCase (Affinity Networks): Adjacent ecosystem participant offering bar-affinity payment processing and practice management tools often co-marketed with bar associations; included to reflect how bar associations increasingly partner with legal-tech vendors for member benefits.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/tacomanewlawyers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tacoma-pierce-county-bar-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles29 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 Tacoma-Pierce County Bar Association