The Chattanooga Bar Association has added six more reasons to the list of why an attorney should become a member of the organization. Each one falls under the category of free perks. While lawyers, judges and paralegals appreciate the opportunity through the Bar to work for the betterment of their professions, to take an active interest in government affairs, and to kindle feelings of respect, esteem, and good fellowship among their colleagues (paraphrased from www.chattbar.org), they are also grateful for the benefits.
From discounts on banking and financial services, to price cuts on home and office supplies, to deals on insurance, photography, Web site design, and more, the Bar offers a broad range of extras to its members. When combined, the benefits can represent substantial savings. For example, a new member of the Bar could start his day with a complimentary session at Fitness Together. He could then pick up his raised print business cards at Splendid Printing, have his photo taken at Alex McMahan Photography, stop at Legal Video Services to create a welcome video for his Web site, and then deliver the photograph and the video to Lodestar-Creative, which does Web site design and hosting. At each business, he would receive a discount for being a member of the Bar.
Once the attorney has worked up an appetite running errands, he could get 10 percent off any sandwich at Figgy’s on Chestnut. While eating, he could retrieve his complimentary copy of the Hamilton County Herald from his briefcase (see the disclaimer at the end of this article), and enjoy reading about his peers. While the above story is hypothetical, many attorneys in Chattanooga are taking advantage of the perks of Bar membership. Attorney Cynthia Hall of Franklin, Cooper & Marcus says the firm is purchasing two new copiers from MSA Digital, and is pleased with the competitive pricing.
“We’re saving enough mon-ey on the service contract over what we were paying to pay for the copiers in a few years,” she said. This money saving coup is partly what the Bar designed the benefits package to do, says Lynda Hood, executive director of the Bar. She says the Bar also wants to encourage attorneys to support Chattanooga-area businesses.
“If a firm wants to accept credit cards, BankCard Solutions waives all setup fees and offers association pricing on all electronic transactions. It’s a win-win for the firm and BankCard.” Hood regularly looks for new business that will offer Bar members one or more perks. In 2011, her efforts led to an additional six benefits, some with major companies. Here’s a rundown of each one:
Morgan Keegan
Perks are about saving money, and since Morgan Keegan is in the business of helping people make the best use of their money, it makes sense for the company to offer members of the Bar a complimentary financial review. Located on Manufacturer’s Boulevard and online at www.morgankeegan.com, Morgan Keegan is an investment firm offering investment banking, securities brokerage, and wealth and asset management. To make an appointment, members simply need to call Todd Tindall at 423-425-3112.
CWC
When outfitting an office, it’s important to choose the right desk chair. Just ask anyone who’s ever bought the wrong desk chair. To keep that from happening to local attorneys, the Bar has teamed up with office furniture dealership CWC to offer 40 percent off the Herman Miller Aeron Chair. Forty percent represents a few hundred dollars on the chair About.com called “a must for anyone who sits at a desk.” If that kitschy endorsement fails to impress, computer game and hardware review Web site Firing Squad took an Aeron for a spin and called it “so cool, you’ll be the envy of everyone sitting around you.” Perhaps more pertinently, the writer quipped, “It’s a thousand dollar chair ... (that) feels like a thousand dollar chair.” Other discounts on office furniture and supplies are available to Bar members as well. Director Mark Henley is taking calls at 423-402-1940.
Global Crossing
Charges for conference calls can add up, especially when dealing with the legal aspects of a knotty case or a complicated business matter. Global Crossing has stepped up to offer 3.1 cents per minute on toll-free conferencing. Better yet, the company doesn’t require a contract, setup fee, or monthly fee. Global Crossing is a global IP, Ethernet, data center, and video solutions provider. The company offers a range of data, voice, broadcast, and media services. To sign up, practicing attorneys need to visit www.mynpp.com, click on “Join Now”, select “Legal” from the dropdown menu, select “Chattanooga Bar Association” from the subsequent dropdown menu, and complete the registration form.
Staples Advantage
Staples Advantage needs no introduction. Neither does their catalog of over 30,000 office products and solutions. But what local law firms and practicing attorneys might not know is they can now get discounted prices on supplies and services through www.stapleslink.com. Staples will not place a minimum on any order, making this a deal from which solo practitioners and large law firms can benefit. To obtain the price reductions, lawyers need to register with www.mynpp.com.
Verizon Wireless
Famous for its “Can you hear me now?” commercials, Verizon Wireless has put together a sizeable package for members of the Chattanooga Bar. For starters, members who choose Verizon receive 22 percent off monthly access fees, employee discounts, and 18 percent off accessories. As with Global Crossing and Staples, this perk is available to Chattanooga attorneys through www.mynpp.com.
Lodestar-Creative
To remain competitive, many attorneys believe it’s important to have an online presence. To that end, Lodestar-Creative is offering local lawyers 15 percent off its print and Web site design services. The company will also slash 10 percent off the price it charges to host a Web site. The latter discount is available only for the first year of service.
In the light of these and the dozens of other benefits available to members of the Chattanooga Bar Association, the reasons for NOT becoming a member of the Bar are becoming increasingly less important.
Disclaimer: The Hamilton County Herald does not deliver newspapers directly to any attorney’s briefcase.