McHenry County Bar Association celebrates 100 years

McHenry County’s lawyers appear to have shown their grit from the very beginning.

When the local bar association was established Feb. 15, 1915, a county history book from that time referred to the group as the “fighting bar of McHenry County.”

Tough and smart.

The book also noted its capacity for the legal profession, saying “McHenry County has an exceedingly strong bar,” and “no better trial lawyers can be found in the entire state.”

As the association celebrates 100 years, lawyers may be less known today for their fighting than they are for their community outreach.

A thriving pro bono program, in which lawyers donate their time and services to help the poor navigate the legal system, is a cornerstone of the association. The group also promotes lawyer-to-lawyer mentoring, an attorney referral service, and the annual Law Day celebration and award presentation.

“Over the past few years, the bar association has made a concerted effort to expand its community outreach,” President Jamie Wombacher said. “For example, we are offering a Wills for Veterans program where volunteer lawyers will provide veterans in need with a basic will.

“Another area that we are continuing to grow and expand is offering low-cost continuing legal education to our members,” Wombacher said. “The goal in offering a wide variety of [continuing legal education] is that our attorneys will continue to be well-informed and some of the best lawyers in the country.”

The bar association’s first president, in 1915, was Charles H. Donnelly. He led the bar association’s first members – of which there were 29.

When it first organized, the bar association members would have practiced in what today is known as the “Old Courthouse” on the Woodstock Square. That was the county’s third courthouse – the first was housed in McHenry in 1838. The second courthouse was a small, 33-feet-by-40-feet building in the middle of the Square.

The Old Courthouse was built in 1857 and was home to the county's legal proceedings until 1972, when the current McHenry County
Courthouse was built. The building has since expanded and also houses the McHenry County Jail and the sheriff's office.

Today, the McHenry County Bar Association has about 400 members. It conducts monthly trainings, seminars and social events, as well as collaborating on legislation.

As it’s been for the past century, a top priority of the organization is to give back to the community.

“The challenge has always been: Let’s help outside our profession,” past President Carlos Arévalo said. “... We want to expand and move on to other things. What I see the group doing is to continue to trailblaze ... while continuing to grow.”

• The McHenry County Historical Society contributed to this story.