|
Join the team
Associate Membership of the New Zealand Law Society
About the New Zealand Law Society | Who can be an associate member? | How to apply | Cost | Benefits
About the New Zealand Law Society
The New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) is a professional body for practising lawyers in New Zealand. It represents them at national level. All practising lawyers belong to the NZLS and to a district law society in the area in which they practise.
The NZLS promotes the interests of the legal profession and the interests of the public in relation to legal matters. It also promotes and encourages proper conduct among its members. The NZLS has a comprehensive range of committees and groups dealing with the regulation and discipline of the profession, with all aspects of the practice of law and with matters of legal and public interest.
Who can be an associate member?
Associate membership is designed for people who already have close links to the legal profession. It does not carry any entitlement to practise and would not confer any benefit in terms of an immigration application.
The NZLS Rules say:
"Subject to the provisions of the Society's Rules any person whether or not resident in New Zealand claiming a significant association with the legal profession through being or having been a member of the judiciary or through responsible employment or engagement (including as a legal executive) in the practice of a barrister or a solicitor or of both or in commerce, in government or public service or by the Council of Legal Education or as a lecturer in law at a recognised tertiary institute or by any legal professional association or body, shall be eligible to become an associate member of the NZLS."
This means that if you are:
- a retired lawyer
- an experienced legal executive, legal office manager or the like employed in any field of law
- a lawyer without the need for a practising certificate
- a New Zealand lawyer practising overseas
- an overseas lawyer
- a present or former member of the judiciary in New Zealand or elsewhere
- a lecturer in law
- anybody else claiming a significant association with the legal profession
…you may be eligible for appointment as an associate member.
Lawyers who have been suspended or struck off the Roll are ineligible.
How to apply
There are two routes to associate membership. Full members of the New Zealand Institute of Legal Executives can use a fast track route through the Institute (contact NZILE, PO Box 24-173, Royal Oa, Auckland, email enquiries@nzile.org.nz).
For those who are not NZILE members, nominations for appointment as an associate member are made by practising members of the NZLS on a prescribed form. The information supplied by the nominee is verified by statutory declaration. A copy of the nomination form can be obtained by e-mailing a request to inquiries@lawyers.org.nz.
Present and former members of the judiciary do not need to be nominated.
Except in the cases of present and former members of the judiciary and any applicant who has ceased to be a practising member of the Society during the previous three years and who had immediately prior to that been a practising member for a minimum period of five continuous years, the NZLS requires the names and addresses of two referees, one of whom shall be the employer or a person associated with the nominee in employment.
The NZLS Board must be satisfied that the nominee is eligible according to the Rules and has an association with the legal profession of a significance likely to promote its interests and those of the public in relation to legal matters.
The Board will retain an absolute discretion over appointments and need not give reasons for failing to appoint any nominee.
What is the cost?
There is an annual fee of $78.75 (inclusive of GST) for the year commencing on 1 February. Associate members appointed during the year pay $19.69 for each full unexpired quarter year. While the Rules provide for an entrance fee, none has been fixed by the Board. There is an optional certificate of membership, issued annually, at a cost of $11.25 (inclusive of GST).
Full members of NZILE who are seeking associate membership through the Institute should obtain fee details from that organisation.
Benefits
Participation
Associate membership allows people who have given service to or who have been closely connected with the legal profession to participate in its work. It brings into the NZLS those who have been strong supporters of it and associated with it over many years.
Associate members are not eligible for appointment or election as NZLS officers or Council or Board members, but are eligible for appointment to such special committees as the Board may decide.
Communication and information
Associate members are sent copies of LawTalk, the NZLS's fortnightly publication. LawTalk contains news of Law Society activities and information of direct benefit to members and associate members. It also covers other activities of interest and is a principal advertising vehicle for the profession. It is already received by all practising members of the NZLS.
Continuing education
Major continuing education programmes are an important part of the work of the NZLS. Each year dozens of seminars on a wide range of topics are presented at venues throughout the country. These seminars, together with specialist workshops, are often of interest to people who may not be practising lawyers. As an associate member, you will be kept directly informed of the programmes being presented by the NZLS.
Status, privileges and service
The NZLS Rules specifically provide that associate members may designate their membership in such a manner as the Board may from time to time determine. In particular, associate members will be permitted to use the expression "Assoc. NZLS" after their names.
An optional membership certificate is available.
Associate members will also be entitled to such privileges and services from the NZLS as are developed from time to time.
Note: Associate membership of the NZLS does not give any right to membership or class of membership of any district law society without specific provision being made by the district law society.
|
