Governance & Membership
Membership
Dues, Forms and Information
Attorneys may obtain a Certificate of Good Standing to file with the Secretary of State by contacting Debra Jenkins, 405-416-7042 or 405-416-7000.
Attorneys who need to certify good standing of disciplinary history for other purposes, such as employment or court admissions, contact the Office of General Counsel at 405-416-7007.
In the event your OBA Membership card is lost or stolen a replacement may be ordered by sending payment of $10 payable to the OBA to the Membership Department at PO Box 53036, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. If you would like your photo on your new card, please email a JPEG (*.jpg) file to the membership department. This process takes only a couple of days.
Please contact the Membership Department if you have any other questions.
Membership Department
1901 N Lincoln Blvd
PO Box 53036
Oklahoma City, OK 73152
Phone: 405-416-7080
Fax: 405-416-7001
Can I Resign My Membership? Pursuant to 5 O.S. 2011, ch. 1, app. 1 art. II §3 (2011 Supp.) Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association, “Any member may resign his membership in the Association by filing with the Executive Director a written resignation, whereupon he shall automatically cease to be a member and shall not thereafter be entitled to the privileges and advantages of membership in the Association. The Executive Director shall publicize the fact of resignation and shall cause a record thereof to be made in the records of the Association and of the Clerk of the Supreme Court.”
See Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Assoc. Art. II §3 and Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings for information regarding resignation pending discipline.
How do I resign my membership? To ensure authenticity, send a written resignation request by mail or facsimile to the OBA Executive Director. After approval of resignation is received from the General Counsel, a letter acknowledging your resignation will be mailed to you and to the Clerk of the Supreme Court.
What if I change my mind and want to return as a member? You can be reinstated by following the procedure as set out in Rule 11 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings. (Although Rule 11 references suspended members and disciplinary matters, the procedure for reinstatement to active membership is the same.)
Send resignation request to:
John Morris Williams
Executive Director
Oklahoma Bar Association
P.O. Box 53036
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036
OR
Fax 405-416-7001
How do I reinstate my membership after suspension for Nonpayment of Dues?
- Contact the Membership Dept. at 405-416-7080 to find out the amount of money you need in order to reinstate.
- Complete the reinstatement form
- Return the reinstatement form and a cashier’s check, money order or credit card number to:
Oklahoma Bar Association
Membership Department
P.O. Box 53036
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036
How do I reinstate my membership after suspension for failure to comply with MCLE requirements?
- Contact the MCLE Dept. at 405-416-7009 to find out:
- How much credit you need to be compliant (unless you are eligible to report an exemption);
- How much money you need to pay in order to reinstate; and
- Request that you be sent a copy of the Annual Report of Compliance and the Reinstatement Affidavit (forms not available on the website).
- Earn any required credit.
- Complete and return to the MCLE Dept. the following:
- The Annual Report of Compliance showing the required credits or one of the exemptions;
- The Reinstatement Affidavit (see para. 1.c. above); and
- Cashier’s check or money order.
Oklahoma Bar Association
MCLE Department
P.O. Box 53036
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036
Membership Status and Categories
It is correct that there does exist a statute (5 O.S. §18) that speaks to such a membership category. Following the passage of that statute, suit was filed and the Oklahoma Supreme Court issued a directive to the Oklahoma Bar Association clarifying that the Oklahoma Bar Association does not have an “Inactive Membership Status.” The Oklahoma Supreme Court denied the application to assume original jurisdiction in the lawsuit. However, the Court susa sponte issued an order on November, 5, 1990.
Pursuant to the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association the Oklahoma Bar Association is an arm of the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that it has sole jurisdiction over the admission, discipline and licensure of lawyers in the State of Oklahoma. See: State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Ass'n v. Holden, 1995 OK 25, ¶18, 895 P.2d 707; State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Ass'n v. Farrant, 1994 OK 13, ¶8, 867 P.2d 1279; Tweedy v. Oklahoma Bar Ass'n, 1981 OK 12, ¶ 4, 624 P.2d 1049. Based upon these opinions, it is believed that the Oklahoma Supreme Court has sole and exclusive jurisdiction of all matters relating to the practice of law in Oklahoma. As an arm of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, the Oklahoma Bar Association is bound to follow the Orders of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and considers the Order of November 5, 1990, controlling on the subject of member classifications.
A special task force of the OBA studied our membership categories several years ago and recommended that the OBA not petition the Oklahoma Supreme Court for a change in the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association. At the present time, it is the position of the Oklahoma Bar Association that there is not an inactive membership category.
The Oklahoma Legislature has passed and the governor has signed the repeal of the Registration of Out-of-State Attorneys Act, 5 O.S. Supp. (2004) §1.1-1.19. The act has been replaced by the Oklahoma Supreme Court with the amendment of Article II, Section 5 of the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association.
Out-of-state attorneys still need to register with the OBA, submit letters of good standing and pay the non-refundable application fee. The out-of-state counsel no longer needs to register with the Oklahoma Tax Commission and is no longer limited in the number of admissions he/she can seek.
UPDATE: As of July 2, 2009, the rules were amended to include a section on attorneys granted special permission to practice in the state of Oklahoma. The full text of the amended rule is available here.
Retired classification is available to active members in good standing who are 70 years of age or older prior to January 2 of the current dues year and are no longer in the practice of law in any jurisdiction. (Article II, Section 2 (d) of the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association, 5 O.S. 2011, Ch.1, App. 1)
How do I apply for Retired membership? Complete the Application for Retired Status, or send a signed letter to the Executive Director stating that you are no longer engaged in the practice of law in any jurisdiction and that you desire to be reclassified as a “Retired Member.”
Retired members shall be relieved from paying dues. Retired members may purchase a subscription to the Oklahoma Bar Journal or join sections by paying the annual section dues.
Written requests should be mailed to:
Pursuant to Supreme Court Order 2017 OK 94, no additional members shall be added to the “Senior Member” classification after January 1, 2018.
To make application for a Special Temporary Permit contact the Board of Bar Examiners at 405-416-7022.
(This generally applies only to those working for a corporation or law school.)
Oklahoma Statutes Citationized
Title 5. Attorneys and the State Bar
Chapter 1 -Attorneys and Counselors
Appendix1 - Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Association
Article Article II
Section Art II Sec 5 - Out-of-State Attorneys and Attorneys Granted a Special Temporary Permit To Practice
E. The requirements set forth below shall apply to all attorneys granted a special temporary permit to practice:
1. An attorney granted a special temporary permit to practice shall pay an administrative fee to the Oklahoma Bar Association of $350.00 regardless of the duration of the permit. An annual fee in the amount of $350.00 shall be collected on or before the anniversary of the permit. A late fee of $100.00 shall be collected in the event the fee is paid within 30 days of the due date. In the event that the fee is not paid within 30 days of the due date, the special temporary permit shall be deemed cancelled and can only be renewed upon making application to the Board of Bar Examiners and the payment of a new application fee. The annual permit shall only be renewed upon affirmation that the conditions for which the special temporary permit was issued still exist. An attorney granted a special temporary permit to practice shall not appear on the roll of attorneys and shall not be considered a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. However, an attorney granted a special temporary permit shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the Oklahoma Supreme Court for purposes of attorney discipline and other orders revoking, suspending or modifying the special permit to practice law.
2. Attorneys granted a special temporary permit to practice prior to the promulgation of this rule shall be deemed to have a renewal date of January 2, 2010.
3.All attorneys granted a special temporary permit to practice shall comply with the requirements of the Rules for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education with the exception that the annual reporting period shall be the anniversary date of the issuance of the special temporary permit to practice.
Pursuant to the Rules Creating and Controlling the Oklahoma Bar Assoc., 5 O.S. ch. 1, app.1 art. II §2 (2011 Supp.) an Associate Member is a member in good standing, who has been deemed unable to engage in the practice of law by reason of illness, infirmity or other disability. An associate member shall not engage in the practice of law or be required to pay dues during such period.
Who can apply for Associate Membership?
A member in good standing, or someone on behalf of a member in good standing, can provide documentation and file a statement with the Executive Director that he/she is unable to engage in the practice of law due to illness, infirmity, or other disability.
How do I apply for Associate Membership?
- Complete the Application for associate membership;
- Send a request in writing to the OBA Executive Director requesting associate membership;
- Provide a statement from your treating physician to the OBA Executive Director indicating you “are unable to practice law due to _____”.
Can I be restored to Active Membership?
Yes you can return to active membership.
How do I return to Active Membership?
Follow procedure as set out in 5 O.S. ch 1app. 1-A (2011 Supp.) Rule 11.1 through 11.8 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings. (Although Rule 11.1 through 11.8 references suspended members and disciplinary matters, the procedure for returning to active membership is the same.)
If you have been classified as an associate member for two (2) consecutive years OR LESS, you may be reinstated as provided in Rule 11.8 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings and by providing the documentation requested below to the OBA Executive Director.
- Completed Affidavit for Change of Classification;
- Written request to return to active membership sent to the OBA Executive Director;
- Provide a statement to the OBA Executive Director from your treating physician indicating you “are able to practice law” and no longer suffer from your previous condition.
Send your written request, application and physician’s statement to:
John Morris Williams
Executive Director
Oklahoma Bar Association
P.O. Box 53036
Oklahoma City, OK 73152-3036
OR by Fax: 405-416-7001
OR by email: johnw@okbar.org and copy debbieb@okbar.org
If you have been classified as an associate member for more than two (2) consecutive years OR MORE, you may be reinstated as provided in Rule 11.1 through 11.7 of the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings.