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EnglishWhat Free Tools and Benefits Do Massachusetts Bar Association Members Receive?
Updated
Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA) members get several tools at no additional cost, according to the association's website: free unlimited access to the Decisis legal research database, a free Smokeball Bill trust and billing software subscription (stated as valued at $588 per user per year), the weekly eJournal newsletter, MBA On Demand programming, the My Bar Access networking platform, and the "Be-Anywhere Benefits" package. These benefits apply to MBA members; the site does not state that they are available to non-members.
Free legal research: Decisis
The MBA describes Decisis as "the comprehensive and reliable legal research database you've been looking for," and states it is free for MBA members, with unlimited use. The site also points members to training sessions and a "learn more" page.
- What you get: Free, unlimited access to an online legal research library.
- How to start: Use the Decisis link on the MBA site to learn more or join a training session.
- Why it matters: Legal research platforms are typically a recurring cost for solo and small-firm attorneys, so this is one of the more concrete dollar-value benefits listed.
Free trust accounting and billing software: Smokeball Bill
Smokeball Bill is described as trust and billing software for law firms that helps you "manage trust accounting compliantly, bill easily, and get paid faster." The MBA states members have free access to Smokeball Bill subscriptions, valued at $588 per user per year.
- What you get: A free subscription to Smokeball Bill for trust accounting and billing.
- Stated value: $588 per user, per year.
- How to start: Follow the Smokeball Bill link on the MBA site to learn more.
Note that the site describes the software as helping with compliant trust accounting — it does not claim the software itself makes you compliant, and compliance obligations remain yours.
Networking and collaboration: My Bar Access
My Bar Access is the MBA's "proprietary social networking tool" that lets members "collaborate online with thousands of members." If your goal is referrals, practice-area questions, or connecting with attorneys across Massachusetts, this is the member benefit aimed at that.
News and on-demand learning
- eJournal: The MBA's weekly newsletter, covering upcoming MBA events, members in the news, and more.
- MBA On Demand: Listed among the association's resources for accessing programming on your own schedule.
Be-Anywhere Benefits
The MBA markets a set of "Be-Anywhere Benefits," stating that many of its tools and services "can be accessed wherever you are, whenever you have time." This is a framing of remote access to the benefits above rather than a separate product.
Other programs and resources on the site
The homepage also highlights non-tool benefits and initiatives, which may matter depending on your interests:
| Item | What it is |
|---|---|
| 2026 Health Law Conference | Annual conference of the MBA Health Law Section, in person at the Massachusetts Bar Association |
| 35th Annual Family Law Conference | Listed as SOLD OUT at the time of the site content; held at Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster |
| MBA Innocence and Conviction Integrity Initiatives | Resources for volunteering with the MBA's Innocence Initiative, prosecutorial Conviction Integrity Programs, and a "Timeline of Progress" |
| Volunteer with the MBA | Community service programs such as Dial-A-Lawyer and Mock Trial |
| Chief Justice Ralph Gants Fund | Supports initiatives for access to justice, racial equity, and criminal justice reform |
How to decide whether these benefits matter to you
- If you pay for legal research: The free Decisis access is the benefit most likely to replace an existing expense.
- If you handle client funds and billing: The free Smokeball Bill subscription is the benefit with a stated dollar value ($588 per user per year).
- If you want peers and referrals: My Bar Access and the section conferences are the relevant benefits.
- If you want CLE-style content on your schedule: eJournal plus MBA On Demand cover that.
The site does not publish pricing for MBA membership itself, so check the membership page for current dues before comparing cost against the listed benefits.