Membership: The LCA Associate Board is geared towards young professionals (including attorneys), artists and patrons who share a commitment to LCA and its mission. Membership offers an exclusive calendar of networking and educational events designed to help broaden members’ understanding of arts and entertainment law. The LCA Associate Board supports LCA and its Board of Directors by taking on key responsibilities in the areas of fundraising and development. The Associate Board believes the engagement of new attorneys, professionals and creative artists and entertainers will not only increase awareness of LCA’s programs and services, it will also provide LCA with direct and tangible benefits through its fundraising efforts. LAWYERS FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS In 1972, a group of young lawyers formed what they called the "Creative City Committee" to determine ways to work more closely with the life of the city. They targeted the artistic community, and created a pro bono art and law organization, Lawyers for the Creative Arts. Its mission: to provide legal assistance to artists and arts organizations financially unable to retain legal counsel. Under the leadership of its first president, James N. Alexander, and first full-time executive director, Thomas R. Leavens (both still actively involved with LCA), LCA soon boasted a $38,000 budget. Fifty-three volunteer attorneys processed 100 matters. Since that start, LCA has mushroomed, enlisting more than 1,800 lawyers to provide pro bono assistance to our thousands of clients. In addition to providing legal assistance, LCA now conducts workshops on not-for-profit incorporation and tax exemption, organizes seminars pertaining to music, publishing, film, copyright and other areas, and mentors young attorneys. In the past twelve months, LCA has provided service, in one form or another, to over 2,000 people and organizations in all areas of the arts.