President’s Message For The Magic City Bar Association’s 25th Anniversary

Theme For The Year: Addressing Local Issues From A Global Point of View

Greetings :

It is indeed my pleasure to serve as the president of the Magic City Bar Association during its 25th year anniversary.

Twenty five years ago, a small group of African American lawyers recognized the need for a Birmingham organization to address legal issues in the community, regardless of race, creed or color. Those same lawyers also had a desire to assist in the promotion of the legal profession as a career to minorities. As a result, the Magic City Bar Association was born.

During the last 25 years, this organization has played a prominent role in attending to a variety of issues in this community. I remember so vividly in the early years when the Magic City Bar partnered with the Alabama Lawyers Association and presented Laymen’s Law Seminars throughout the community. We went to churches, schools and other community based groups to give lectures and perform skits to teach laws of interest to everyone. During those seminars, citizens learned so much about how to keep their families safe, solvent and subjected to equal justice. Since others had not provided the same kind of seminars to the community, citizens were thrilled to have us satisfy a previously unfulfilled need.

The Magic City Bar Association has always recognized the importance of role models to minorities interested in the legal profession. Through the years, members of this organization have consistently mentored young African American lawyers. The mentoring has served as a catalyst in building stellar careers for many. For years, this organization’s Scholarship Benefit has provided academic scholarships to students attending Miles, Cumberland and the University of Alabama Law Schools.

For a quarter century, MCBA has certainly been a viable force in addressing issues pertaining to the Birmingham area. However, we now recognize that some of those same issues extend beyond our borders. Therefore, this year we have decided to broaden our focus to the world at large. In keeping with one of the original purposes and objectives of this organization which was “ to promote the professional and social intercourse of the American Bar and International Bar “, the Magic City Bar Association has adopted as its 25th Anniversary Theme “Addressing Local Issues From A Global Point of View’’. All the issues addressed this year will enlighten and benefit Birmingham as well as the world at large.

Please review the Calendar of Events planned for this year and become actively involved in this historic organization. I invite you to email me at ahverin@yahoo.com to volunteer your service to committees for those events. With your help, we will experience an exciting 25th year.

Annetta H. Verin
President of the Magic City Bar Association