The Tompkins County Bar Association was incorporated in 1912 when a group of lawyers met to promote “the science of jurisprudence, the administration of justice, and to maintain the integrity, honor, courtesy and dignity of the profession of law.

Democratic in concept and operation, our association operates under traditional parliamentary procedure, with officers and directors elected by a majority vote of the membership. Policy decisions are made by the Board of Directors. Special committees are set up within the organizational framework to conduct research into essential fields of activity and to study pending legislation. The committees include, but are not limited to, Mentoring, Social, Membership, Legislative, Professional practices, Grievances, Judiciary, Auditing, Memorial and Continuing Education. A constitution and by-laws are continually being reviewed by the members of the Association. Originally, the Bar Association had the power to deny membership and censor and punish lawyers who, after a full hearing, had been found to have conducted themselves in an unbecoming manner. The current authority to censor or punish lawyers is left to the New York State Office of Court Administration.