Oregon State Bar

The Oregon State Bar (OSB) is a public corporation and instrumentality of the Oregon Judicial Department in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession. The public corporation is part of the Oregon Judicial Department. Lawyers are required to join the OSB in order to practice law in Oregon, unless an exception applies. OSB is charged with administering lawyer admissions and discipline, pursuant to rules proposed by bar association and approved by the Oregon Supreme Court. It also administers the Legal Services Program which funds legal aid in Oregon and provides accountability by maintaining standards and guidelines for legal aid providers. OSB is governed by a 19 person Board of Governors — 15 of the board's members are lawyers, and four are public members.