With nearly 4,000 Members & Associates, the Society is the peak professional body representing South Australia’s legal profession.
Several membership categories cater for the different stages of your career and as a Society Member you will receive invaluable support and access to a wide range of benefits and resources.

Our Membership Options

Become a Legal Practitioner Member

Key benefits include:

  • Quality publications to keep you well informed about changes in legislation and key issues affecting the profession (The Bulletin, InBrief, What's On, In the News, Advocacy Notes, Risk Watch, Member & Practitioner Alerts and special interest newsletters);
  • Professional advice and support throughout your career;
  • A free standard CPD session each year, discounted rates for CPD and invitations to free Member only events;
  • Invitations to social & networking events to allow you to connect with others in the profession;
  • Access to wellbeing & resilience services and resources (for you and your family);
  • Professional Standard Scheme – Practitioner Members (including Barrister Members) who participate in the Scheme can benefit by having their occupational liability capped to an amount of $1.5M or $10M depending on the number of practitioners in the law practice and the annual fee income of the law practice (and to the extent that liability can be capped under the Act). For more details, please click here.
  • The opportunity for referrals via the Society’s See a Lawyer service;
  • The opportunity to join one of the Society’s Committees and be involved in the development of submissions for positive outcomes for the legal profession;
  • A range of discounts from the Frequent Values membership program and preferred suppliers.
 

Please note: A natural person who is admitted and enrolled as a solicitor and/or barrister and/or legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory of Australia (a legal practitioner) may be admitted as a Member (Admitted Member) of the Society.

Membership Application (Online) Membership Application (PDF)

 

Become a Pre-Admission Member

Key benefits include:

  • Quality publications to keep you well informed about changes in legislation and key issues affecting the profession (The Bulletin, InBrief, What's On, In the News, Advocacy Notes, Risk Watch, Member & Practitioner Alerts and special interest newsletters)
  • Professional advice and support throughout your career;
  • A free standard CPD session each year, discounted rates for CPD and invitations to free Member only events;
  • Invitations to social & networking events (including Young Lawyer Committee events) to allow you to connect with others in the profession;
  • Access to wellbeing & resilience services and resources (for you and your family);
  • Access to Robe & Wig Hire;
  • A range of discounts from the Frequent Values membership program and preferred suppliers.


Please note: The Society in its discretion may admit as a Member (Pre-Admission Member) any person who satisfies the Society that he or she has fulfilled such academic and other training required for admission as a legal practitioner. Pre-Admission Members are not entitled to vote at any election or at any meeting of Members nor to stand for election as a Member of the Council or Officer of the Society or nominate, or endorse other Members to stand for election as a Member of the Council.

Pre-Admission Member Application (PDF)

 

Become an Associate

Key benefits include:

  • Quality publications to keep you well informed about changes in legislation and key issues affecting the profession
    • The Bulletin
    • InBrief
    • What's On
    • In the News
    • Advocacy Notes
  • A range of discounts from the Frequent Values membership program and preferred suppliers.

 
Please note: The Society may in its discretion grant Associate status to any of the following who reside in South Australia:

  • A member of the academic staff of a School, Faculty or Department of Law of any University in South Australia
  • Persons employed in a law practice or a Government department or instrumentality that is involved in the practice of law as follows: In a managerial capacity / serving articles of clerkship / a specialist law clerk / in a personal administrative or secretarial capacity / a conveyancer / an employee of a law practice (role not listed).
  • Persons holding a Bachelor of Laws from a South Australian based University but have not sought admission and do not intend to undertake a Practical Legal Training course.

Associate Application (PDF)

 

Become an Associate (Student)

Key benefits include:

  • Quality publications to keep you well informed about changes in legislation and key issues affecting the profession (The Bulletin, InBrief, What's On, In the News, Advocacy Notes)
  • Professional advice and support throughout your career;
  • A free standard CPD session each year, discounted rates for CPD and invitations to free Member only events;
  • Invitations to social & networking events (including Young Lawyer Committee events) to allow you to connect with others in the profession;
  • Access to the Young Lawyer Support Group;
  • Access to Robe & Wig Hire.

 
Please note: The Society may in its discretion grant Associate status (Student) to any of the following who reside in South Australia:

  • Students currently enrolled or eligible to enrol in a practical legal training program or persons who have successfully completed a practical legal training program during the current membership year
  • Undergraduate law students currently enrolled at any university law school or law school graduates who have completed their studies during the relevant membership year
  • Students undertaking the TAFE Certificate IV in Legal Studies (or equivalent).

Associate (Student) Application (Online) Associate (Student) Application (PDF)

 

Become an Associate (Affiliate)

Benefits:

  • Quality publications to keep you well informed about changes in legislation and key issues affecting the profession:
    • Bulletin (the Society’s flagship journal sent monthly via email)
    • InBrief (the Society’s weekly e-newsletter)

Please note: The Society may in its discretion grant Associate status (Affiliate) to any of the following who reside in South Australia:

  • Qualified Accountants who are Members of either the Institute of Charted Accountants in Australia or CPA Australia
  • Bank employees holding formal banking, finance or other suitable qualifications
  • Medical practitioners holding a bachelor of medicine or equivalent or higher
  • Elected local council councillors

Associate (Affiliate) Application (PDF)

 

Become a Company Member

Join your Incorporated Legal Practice to the Professional Standards Scheme

Benefit:

  • Professional Standards Scheme – Company Members who participate in the Scheme can benefit by having their occupational liability capped to an amount of $1.5M or $10M depending on the number of practitioners in the law practice and the annual fee income of the law practice (and to the extent that liability can be capped under the Act). For more details, please click here.


Please note: A Company Member is defined by the Rules of the Society as an incorporated legal practice which is entitled to practise law in South Australia and where each of whose legal practitioner directors (South Australian and Interstate) are Admitted Members of the Law Society of South Australia.

Company Membership Application (PDF)

 

Parental Leave Membership

The Society offers a membership category for Admitted Members going on Parental Leave for three to 24 months (this membership category commenced on 1 July 2021). Parental Leave Membership is complimentary for the period of leave. Members' rights, privileges and benefits are not affected in any way. Members will continue to receive all information disseminated by the Society, can stand and vote in elections (if applicable to the Member's category of membership) and continue to receive one complimentary Standard CPD Session per year. Members in this category are also entitled to the concession rate for CPD offered by the Law Society for the period of Parental leave. Members must apply for Parental Leave Membership.

If you would like further information about Parental Leave Membership, please click here.
To apply for Parental Leave Membership, please click here.

For more information or to apply for a reduction in your MCPD obligations, please visit our MCPD webpage by clicking here.

Law Society Membership Loyalty Rewards

Platinum Membership

A Member becomes a Platinum Member after 30 years of consecutive membership from the date of the following renewal and receives the following additional benefits:

  • Attend any Law Society of South Australia Standard CPD Session* free of charge
  • Discounted pricing for other selected CPD & Members events

    • * A Standard CPD Session is defined as any Law Society CPD session of up to 1.5 hours duration held at the Society. Excludes all conferences, joint events with other organisations and webinars (except for country and metropolitan practitioners).

    Senior Membership

    Members who achieve 45 years membership with the Society become a Senior Member and receive the following additional benefits:

    • Free Law Society membership subscription each year
    • Invitation to attend the Society’s annual Senior & Honorary Members luncheon
    • Name displayed on the Senior Member honour board at the Society and in the Annual Report


    Member Services

    The Law Society offers a diverse range of services to its members, the legal profession and community of South Australia:

    Networking Events

    The Society hosts over 40 events a year, these events are catered for a range of special interests and committees. These events provide the perfect opportunity for members to mingle and build their professional network.  

    Some of our events include:

    • The Honourable Margaret Nyland AM Luncheon 
    • Legal Profession Dinner
    • Young Lawyers'  Young Professionals Gala
    • Public Sector & In-House CPD & Networking Events
    • Small Practice CPD & Networking Events
    • Young Lawyers' Ethics & Wellbeing Hypothetical


    Click here for to view the upcoming events

    Our Publications

    Members are the first to know about the latest developments in the profession with exclusive access to a range of Society publications.

    These include:

    • The Bulletin
    • InBrief
    • What's On
    • In the News
    • Advocacy Notes
    • Riskwatch
    • Member & Risk Alerts

    These publications are delivered to you through regular email alerts. The annual Law Society Diary and Directory and the Law Calendar are other great sources of information. 

    Click here to find the current and revious editions of Law Society Publications.

    *Please note sections of your website are only available to members who can access regularly updated legal and professional resources, member benefits and current projects.
    Continuing Professional Development

    The Society presents CPD seminars and conferences throughout the year that enable members to meet their Mandatory CPD requirements (for more information on mandatory CPD please click here). Society members are offered discounted pricing to events and are encouraged to use their free CPD Voucher in the Member Services Handbook.

    Ensure to track your CPD activity via the MCPD Compliance tab on their Law Society profile. To view our extensive options of CPD seminars and Conference please click here.

    *Please note Members CPD record will follow them even if they change employers.
     
    Careers in Law

    Found on the Society's website, the Career Centre is available to find and post new employment opportunities in the legal profession. Publications such as the Bulletin and Inbrief post employment opportunities for members to see easily and regularly. 

    The Society offers a Locum Service in which provides a register of members who are able to offer their services on a short term basis to assist you in your legal practice, for example to help clear a backlog or to take a holiday.

    Supporting the Community

    The Society offers a legal referral service for members of the community who are seeking legal advice in a particular area of law. Firm members are able to register to be included in this database. The database is available through either calling reception or via the website's See A Lawyer Service option.

    An Legal Advisory Service is also offered to the community on Monday's and Wednesdays from 5:30PM to 7:00PM.     Members who would like to become involved in the advisory service should contact Member & Community Services on 8229 0200 or mcs@lawsocietysa.asn.au.
    Supporting the Profession

    LawCare:  Throughout their lives, members may be affected by depression, stress, alcoholism, drug abuse, gambling addiction, matrimonial difficulties, a family crisis or work pressure. To assist at these times, members and their immediate family can access a confidential professional counselling service. The Society will pay up to the first $250 per year of the counsellor’s professional fees, where no rebate is available or a gap payment is required.

    Lawyers' Support Group:     In addition to providing help in specific areas of practice, members of the Lawyers’ Support Group can assist colleagues with professional, personal and professional standards/conduct problems, as well as business advice, legal cost matters and relationships with courts.

    Ethics and Practice Support:     The Ethics and Practice section assists practitioners with issues relating to the operation of their practice and provides support to those who are ill or unable to operate their practice. The section conducts training sessions on trust accounts and can also advise on professional conduct and ethical standards issues.

    Risk Management:     The Law Claims Section conducts education sessions on risk management, informing practitioners of issues surrounding the effective and legal conduct of their practice - and seeking to minimise the number and severity of claims on the PII Scheme and the Legal Practitioners' Fidelity Fund.
    Member Privileges

    The Member Privileges Program enables members to take advantage of discounts on a range of professional and personal products in the corporate, finance, health and wellbeing, and travel areas. 
    In addition, the  Frequent Values programme offers members discounted products, services, dining and leisure activities throughout Australia and New Zealand.
    Membership Categories & Pricing

     

     Membership Categories & Subscription Rates 2022 - 23
    Membership Type Join Date - 
    1 July - 30 Sept    		 Join Date - 
    1 Oct - 31 Dec    		 Join Date - 
    1 Jan- 31 Mar    		 Join Date - 
    1 April - 30 June
     Principle, Partner or Employee in Private Practice (Admitted more than 3 years)  $888.00
    		  $689.37 $444.01 $245.38
     Principle, Partner or Employee in Private Practice (Admitted less than 3 years)  $537.00  $416.88 $268.50 $148.38
     Barrister  $667.00  $517.83 $333.51 $184.33
     Bar Association Member  $596.00  $447.01 $298.00 $149.01
     Low Fee Earner 50*  $445.00  $345.45 $222.52 $122.94
     Low Fee Earner 20*  $178.00  $138.18 $89.00 $49.18
     Government, Corporate & Legal Service Commission  $362.00  $281.30 $181.10 $100.03
     Not Practicing (Admitted more than 3 years)  $216.00  $167.70 $108.01 $59.70
     Not Practicing (Admitted less than 3 years)  $99.00  $79.95 $49.51 $30.45
     Interstate (Admitted more than 3 years)  $245.00  $183.75 $122.51 $61.25
     Overseas (Admitted more than 3 years)  $268.00  $208.06  $134.00 $74.06
     Associate Status  $269.50 $202.13 $134.75 $67.38
     Associate Affiliate Status  $99  $74.25 $49.50 $24.75
     Associate Student Status  $ -  $ - 
    		  $ -   $ - 
     Australian Registered Foreign Lawyer  $362.00  $281.03 $181.01 $100.03
     Pre Admitted Member & Incorporated Legal Practice  $94.00  $70.50 $47.10  $23.50 

     $ -

    Further Enquiries

    For more information about Member benefits, please contact the Member Services Unit: mcs@lawsocietysa.asn.au.

    If you would like information on how to become a sponsor of the Society, please email your details to mcs@lawsocietysa.asn.au and we will send you our sponsorship package.