President’s Message

by Tameka Wren on March 24, 2013

It is a pleasure and an honor to serve as the President of the Magic City Bar Association. The theme for 2013 is “Engaging the Community and Revitalizing Our Membership.” To meet these objectives we have reengaged our community outreach and continuing legal education committees.

As many of you know, this year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement and presents a special opportunity to recognize African-American legal figures that played pivotal role in the movement. As you are well aware, the civic and legal struggles in Birmingham were an important catalyst for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

African-American lawyers in Birmingham such as Arthur Shores, who earned the title of Alabama’s “Drum Major For Justice” and the “Dean of Black Attorney in the State of Alabama., and attorneys from the N.A.A.C.P. Legal Defense Fund such as the Hon. Thurgood Marshall and the Hon. Constance Motley, worked tirelessly to remove barriers to equal rights and justice. This year’s banquet will honor those daring African-American legal figures.

This year we will also seek to recognize and acknowledge our founders, stakeholders and past presidents. The founders and stakeholders of the MCBA include the Honorable U. W. Clemon, Alabama’s first African-American federal judge, the Hon. Demetrius Newton, the Hon. Eric Fancher, Mr. Robert Jones, W. L. Williams, Jr., and the Honorable J. Richmond Pearson, Alabama’s first black circuit court judge, to name a few.

The MCBA was founded in 1984 primarily in response to a need to promote the professional advancement of African-American attorneys at a time when the Birmingham Bar Association was not responsive to needs of minority attorneys, and to foster improvements in the economic, civil and political conditions of all citizens, regardless of color or background. The MCBA continues promote and facilitate the professional advancement of minority attorneys and provides a forum for discussing and addressing a wide variety of community issues and concerns.

To date, the MCBA Foundation has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarship assistance to students attending Birmingham School of Law, Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, Jones School of Law, Miles Law School, and the University of Alabama School of Law. 

I ask you to renew your membership and continue the legacy of the Magic City Bar Association. Today, the Magic City Bar remains a force to be reckoned with, but we need your support. If you have not been active, please consider doing so.

Many thanks,

Tameka

2013 Magic City Bar Association President

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Cocktail Reception sponsored by The Summit Club

by ddebrosse on May 21, 2012

May 23, 2012, Cocktail Reception sponsored by The Summit Club was a great success. Many thanks to Jayme Rotch of The Summit Club!

President’s message

by Rodney Barganier on April 30, 2012

Greetings:

 Welcome to the Magic City Bar Association’s web page.  The Magic City Bar Association (“MCBA”) represents the interests of Black attorneys and Judges within the Birmingham-metro area. Today, our association is comprised of attorneys, Judges, law school professors, governmental officials and public officials.

 Since 1984, the MCBA has continued to advance the needs of African-American attorneys within the Birmingham-Bessemer area.  Many of the Association’s founders and Past Presidents have become Judges which is a credit to the Association.  The MCBA continues to develop young attorneys and law students throughout the State.  Additionally, the MCBA serves as a catalyst to the Birmingham-metro area while getting involved in many events which affect the community as a whole.     

 The MCBA will host or co-host many events throughout the year. On October 4, 2012, the MCBA will continue the tradition of our Annual Scholarship Banquet.  We’re expecting this event to be greatly attended.   If you have not joined the Magic City Bar, we’d ask that you take a minute and fill out an application and submit to us.  We’d love to have you as a member and involved in the many tasks and projects which this Association is involved. 

 We look forward to hearing from you.

 With best regards,  

Rodney F. Barganier

President 2012

(205) 733-1595

rbarganier@lawpc.com

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November 2009 International Month

by MCBA on September 8, 2009

MCBA’s International Month November 2009

International Affairs Chair – Judge Eugene R. Verin

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Scholarship Benefit

by MCBA on September 8, 2009

Scholarship Benefit

Scholarship Benefit Chair – Shayana Davis

Board/Membership Meeting and Annual CLE

by MCBA on September 8, 2009

Board and Membership Meeting and Election of Officers, 11:30 A.M.

Note: Officers will be elected at 11:30 A.M. All members interested in running for office may contact Derrick Mills at dmills@mrblaw.com

Nominating Committee Chair – Derrick Mills

Continuing Legal Education, 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.

Chair – Lynneice O. Washington

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

by MCBA on September 7, 2009

LaVeeda Morgan Battle Chair

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

by MCBA on August 30, 2009

verinGreetings :

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