The Greenville County Bar Association has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s. In the 1960's, attorneys met at roster meetings and enjoyed a very cordial working relationship.
In the 1970's, the Bar had grown in size and organized into an Executive Committee to promote the practice of law in Greenville County. In the 1980's, Connie Regan was hired as the first executive secretary. Connie served for 11 years. In the early 1990's, the Bar Association organized as a 501c6 corporation and hired its second executive secretary, Nancy Griffeth, to handle the day-to-day functions of the association. In 2005, the bar hired its current Executive Coordinator, Melinda Davidson. The Bar elects four officers each year: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. These attorneys and numerous committee chairs volunteer their time to this organization.
The primary purpose of the Greenville County Bar Association is to promote the common business and professional interests of lawyers practicing in Greenville County.
The GCBA publishes a newsletter, the G-Bar News. GCBA also sponsors Law Week in May of each year with many opportunities for community service and fellowship to improve the public's perception of lawyers. GCBA organizes at least one continuing legal education seminar each year in February to provide lawyers in the upstate with an opportunity to stay up to date on current issues in the law and to earn CLE credits. The GCBA sponsors four to five social events each year usually including a Family Night at the Zoo, a Judges' Reception, and a Christmas Party to provide a purely social setting for lawyers to get better acquainted outside the courtroom. The GCBA also sponsors four or five luncheons during the year with speakers on current issues.
Membership dues are $100. All socials and programs are paid for by each member attending to cover costs but are often heavily subsidized. The GCBA currently has more than 1300 members. Membership is optional and open to attorneys who are licensed to practice law in South Carolina or those who are licensed in other states but practice in Greenville County.
In 2015, the Greenville County Bar Association commissioned Dr. Judith Bainbridge to write a book on the history of Greenville's legal community. More information about this book can be found HERE.
