Founded in 1920 by a group of federal government
lawyers who recognized the need for furthering the professional
bonds among federal practitioners, the FBA works to advance the
science of jurisprudence and to promote the welfare, interests,
education and professional development of members of the federal
legal profession.
Through the years, the FBA has expanded
its scope to include lawyers practicing in the private sector.
In addition, the FBA has added to its agenda enhancing the professional
skills, promoting the sound administration of justice, and fostering
high standards of professional competence and ethical conduct
for all lawyers in federal practice. The organization serves as
a catalyst for communication between the public and private sectors,
as well as between the bench and bar.
Today, the FBA is the leading organization
working and acting on behalf of federal practitioners nationwide.
The FBA has more than 16,000 members, with more than 70 local
chapters and more than two dozen substantive law sections.
The Middle District of Pennsylvania Chapter
of the Federal Bar Association is the successor to the Central
Pennsylvania Chapter, having changed its name and charter in 1997
to more closely identify with the local federal court in which
its members practice. The chapter has a long history, but it emerged
in its present, most active form in 1992. From that time, the
chapter has grown from a handful of members to its present roster
of more than 230 members, making it the largest chapter in the
Third Circuit.
