Membership

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.  Membership benefits include:

    • Quality publications to keep you well informed about changes in legislation and key issues affecting the profession
    • (publications include the Society’s monthly Bulletin journal, weekly InBrief and What’s On e-newsletters and the daily ‘in the news’ email); 
    • 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;
    • 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;
    • Access to wellbeing & resilience services (for you and your family);
    • Professional advice and support throughout your career;
    • The opportunity for new clients via the Society’s See a Lawyer service;
    • A range of discounts from the Frequent Values membership program and preferred suppliers;
    • Community engagement opportunities from activities such as the Mock Trial Competition, Speakers Bureau and Law Society Legal Advisory Service.
    • The option to cap your occupational liability via the Professional Standards Scheme.

 

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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.

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:

    The Voice of the profession

    Representation:  The Society is a member of the Law Council of Australia that makes representations on national and international legal issues. 

    Media:      The Society provides media comment on behalf of the legal profession on issues such as legislation, law reform, the rule of law, and community education. 

    Committees:     Many members volunteer their time to participate in one of the Society’s 30-plus committees that focus on different areas of law.
    Networking

    Events:  Several special interest, social and sporting events are hosted by the Society each year and they provide the perfect opportunity for members to mingle and build their professional network.  
    Information

    Publications:  Members are the first to know about the latest developments in the profession with exclusive access to a range of Society publications, including the monthly Bulletin journal, weekly InBrief e-newsletter and regular email alerts. The annual Law Society Diary and Directory and the Law Calendar are other great sources of information. 

    Members-Only:  Sections of our website are only available to members who can access regularly updated legal and professional resources, member privileges and current projects.

    Continuing Professional Development

    Seminars and Conferences:  The Society presents CPD seminars and conferences throughout the year that enable members to meet their Mandatory CPD requirements (click here). Special member pricing applies on Society events and members are also encouraged to use their annual Free CPD Voucher in the Member Services Handbook.

    Track your CPD activity: Members can both view and record their own CPD activity via the MCPD Compliance tab on their Law Society profile to assist members manage their MCPD requirements. Members CPD record will follow them even if they change employers.
     
    Members - Don’t forget to use your annual Free CPD Voucher in the Guide to Member Services handbook.
    Careers in Law

    Locum Register:   The Society maintains a register of admitted legal practitioners seeking employment or offering locum services.

    Employment Notices:  Employment opportunities are advertised in InBrief and the Bulletin.

    Supporting the Community

    Referral Database: The Society offers a legal referral service for members of the community who are seeking a practitioner in a particular area of law. Member firms can register to be included on this database.

    Advisory Service:      The Legal Advisory Service is available Monday and Wednesday, 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 Guarantee 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

    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.