The purposes of the Hartford County Bar Association are:

To advance jurisprudence

• To facilitate the administration of justice
• To assist in the improvement of the judicial system of the state of Connecticut and the nation
• To uphold and improve the professional and educational standards of the legal profession
• To assist in employing the abilities of the legal profession for the general good of the public
• To encourage cordial relations among the members of the Bar
• And to cooperate with other Bar Associations of the State of Connecticut and the nation.

 

Vision Statement:

Drawing strength from its long tradition, the Hartford County Bar Association is a vital and united organization joined in dedicated and relevant service to its members and the community.

Hartford County Bar Association
179 Allyn St., Suite 210

Hartford, CT 06103

Phone: (860) 525-8106

Fax: (860) 293-1345
Email: hcba@hartfordbar.org

The Hartford County Bar Association Celebrates 225 Years

  

          The Hartford County Bar Association’s origins can be traced to November 14, 1783, when thirty-two men adopted a governing code of practice and fees entitled “Regulations of the Barr.”  The illustrious signers who founded the Association included Oliver Ellsworth, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Enoch Perkins, John Trumbull, and Ephraim Root.  

          The earliest known president of the Association is Charles Enoch Perkins. Perkins served as president for thirty-one years, from 1886 to 1917. In the early years, the Association focused on the quality and quantity of attorneys practicing in Hartford County. One of the Association’s main functions was to pass on the admission of attorneys into practice.  Another was to honor those deceased members who had served in the legal community. Early Association minutes are replete with eloquent memorial resolutions. 

          In early December, 1928, a Committee on Reorganization of the Bar was appointed. Its purpose was to recommend measures for making the Bar Association more active. The Committee was composed of six prestigious members: States Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn, Joseph F. Berry, Richard H. Deming, Solomon Elsner, Robert P. Butler and S. Russell Mink. The Committee’s efforts produced a newly drafted Constitution with accompanying By-laws. These documents were unanimously adopted on January 1, 1932. Hugh M. Alcorn was elected the first president under the new scheme. The Constitution and By-laws enacted during this time have remained as the framework for the Association’s operation through the present time. 

          Today, The Hartford County Bar Association is a voluntary not-for-profit association of lawyers and judges in Hartford County, dedicated to promoting public service and advancing the principles of law and justice. Its more than 2200 members actively participate in numerous committees and programs designed to benefit practicing attorneys and the public. This year the Hartford County Bar Association proudly celebrates 225 years of service to its members and the community. 

Kathryn Calibey 

HCBA President