Hispanic National Bar Association

To serve as the national voice for the concerns and opinions of Hispanics in the community generally, and in the legal profession in particular.

To preserve the recruitment and retention of Hispanics in law schools and provide them with financial assistance.

To develop mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of information among Hispanics involved in all segments of the legal profession.

To conduct conventions and seminars in order to provide continuing legal education for attorneys and foster the exchange of ideas and information among its members.

To provide testimony before Congress, state legislatures and executive agencies on issues of concern to Hispanics.

To work with other bar associations, governmental agencies and community groups to achieve greater involvement in and understanding of the American legal system by the national Hispanic community.

The Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA) is the incorporated, nonprofit, national association of Hispanic attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students committed to promoting the goals and objectives of the Association. The HNBA has been the principal force behind the increased representation of Hispanics in all sectors of the legal profession, and has served as the legal voice for Hispanics for 20 years.

Founded in California in 1972 as the La Raza National Lawyers Association, the group drew members primarily from the west and southwestern parts of the country. The early years focused on internal organization, legal education (through the Council on Legal Education Opportunity), judicial selection, and civil rights issues. In 1980, its name was changed to the Hispanic National Bar Association to reflect the increasingly broad-based national membership.

Since 1975, HNBA has conducted annual national conventions with educational seminars and social functions that have attracted thousands of Hispanics and others in the legal profession, as well as prominent speakers and guests from all sectors of American social, political, and economic life.

Through convention sponsorship, our related 501(c)(3) charitable arm, the Hispanic National Bar Fund, Inc., has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships each year to deserving law students and has contributed significantly to the development of our nation's future leaders.