For the first time in its 107-year history, the Butler County Bar Association has a home.

The grand opening of the association's first office, at 201 S. Main St., was held Wednesday in conjunction with the quarterly meeting.

Attorney Pam Walters, association president, said all 146 members are welcome to use the office, which includes two suites and a private meeting room, as their "space away from home."

Walters, for example, has an office in Saxonburg. If she has to be at the courthouse in the morning, then later in the afternoon, she could use the space to do office work or research.

Attorneys may also rent a room to take depositions, and continuing legal education classes will be held there. Attorneys are required to get 12 continuing educationalcredits a year to continue practicing law.

In the past, the bar association met or held classes at restaurants, hotels and meeting rooms as needed.

It is unclear why the association never before had its own office.

"We figured it was now or never,"Walters said.

The new space, which is leased, also gives the association its first opportunity to display a map of the county from 1858, which was donated by attorney Clark Painter in the 1960s.

In addition to the office, which is remodeled from its former use as a furniture store, the bar association added a person to its staff. Lynn Sasala is the bar association's first executive director.

Sasala, who is part-time, will plan the continuing educational classes and oversee a legal referral program that is in the works. The referral program will match consumers in need of an attorney with an association member who practices the area of law the consumer needs.

To join the bar association, attorneys must either live or practice in the county.