Legal Definitions - integrated bar

An integrated bar is a type of bar association in which membership is a legal requirement for practicing law. It is usually a statewide organization of lawyers in which membership is compulsory in order for a lawyer to have a law license. This means that all lawyers who want to practice law in that state must join the integrated bar.

For example, in California, the State Bar of California is an integrated bar. All lawyers who want to practice law in California must be members of the State Bar of California.

Integrated bars are different from voluntary bars, which are bar associations that lawyers do not need to join to practice law. They are also different from specialty bars, which are voluntary bar associations for lawyers with special interests, specific backgrounds, or common practices.