Law Society Membership Benefits

The Law Society is the proud voice of the South Australian legal profession and symbolises the highest standard of professionalism, integrity and excellence. As a Member, you will have full access to the Society's resources to help to ensure those standards are maintained.

Membership Services and Benefits

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

Advocacy and Lobbying

Lobbying for positive outcomes for the legal profession in SA

  • Vigorous advocacy on law reform, improved access to justice and the Rule of Law.
  • The benefits of regular contact with law and policy makers, key stakeholders and community groups and engagement with the media to lobby for and on behalf of the legal profession.
  • Influence over law-related policy and legislation through submissions to Parliament, the courts and other stakeholders.

Quality Publications

Informative and knowledgeable content 

  • Annual subscription to the Bulletin, the Society's flagship journal.
  • Subscriptions to our suite of information e-newsletters such as Advocacy Notes, Case/Law, InBrief, In The News, Education and Events, Riskwatch and Member and Risk Alerts keep you up to date with all the latest developments in the legal profession and justice system.
  • Access to a range of resources essential to practice.

Social and Networking Opportunities

Connecting you with the legal profession

  • Members belong to a network of over 4,500 legal practitioners and associates in South Australia.
  • The Society provides a variety of opportunities to attend legal and cross-industry networking events, of both a professional and social nature.

Professional Standards Scheme

Cap your Occupational Liability

  • Practitioner Members (including Barrister Members) and Company Members who participate in the Scheme can benefit by having their occupational liability capped.

Wellbeing and Resilience Services

Support for you and your family

  • Access to counselling and support services for legal practitioners, their staff and their families, including LawCare Counselling Service, Professional Advice Service, Young Lawyers Support Group and online resources.
  • A regular column in the Bulletin with tips for staying physically and mentally healthy.
  • Events designed to support wellbeing and resilience by encouraging practitioners to stay healthy and active.

Insightful and Beneficial CPD sessions

CPD by practitioners for practitioners

  • Over 120 seminars, conferences and workshops delivered each year both face-to-face and by webinar.
  • The Society offers Members and Associates the opportunity to attend one Law Society of South Australia Standard CPD Session* free of charge per financial year. To redeem this benefit, please email [email protected] advising of the session you wish to attend.
  • Members receive up to 30% off registration rates.
  • All revenue from CPD sessions is reinvested in Member services and keeps membership costs down.

*A Standard CPD Session is a CPD run solely by the Law Society of South Australia that is up to 1.5 hours long and has a maximum registration fee of $110.00 for Members admitted more than 3 years or $85.00 admitted less than 3 years. This is non-transferable and excludes all workshops and conferences.

Professional Advice and Practitioner Support

The Society has the resources to help, with a range of services for practitioners and benefits to support your practice

  • Access to the LawCare Counselling Service for assistance with social and psychological problems, or any problem that is interfering or could interfere with your work performance.
  • The Society's Small Practice Committee provides specific benefits and opportunities for sole practitioners and members of small firms to assist with establishing and maintaining a small practice.
  • Advice and support on your ethical dilemmas, your trust account, your practice certificates and your MCPD compliance.
  • The Society's Career Centre allows employers to advertise for their next team member and for jobseekers to find a role in the South Australian legal profession. Members and Gold Alliance Firm Members receive discounted rates when advertising positions.

Community Engagement

Engaging with the wider South Australian community

  • The Litigation Assistance Fund is a charitable trust which has been in existence for over 20 years and helps people prosecute civil claims.
  • The Legal Advisory Service has been connecting members of the community with practitioners for over 20 years.
  • The Mock Trial Competition provides senior secondary school students with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of legal system, with practitioners volunteering as coaches and judges.

See a Lawyer Referral Service

Connecting members of the public with legal practitioners

  • Over 30,000 referrals are made each year through the See a Lawyer Service, which connects members of the community with relevant firms who have registered to be on the database.

Exclusive Member Savings

Membership pays for itself

  • Access to our network of partners, sponsors and preferred suppliers offer Members Only savings, events and benefits.
  • Access to our Member Advantage Program, saving you hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on travel, electrical goods, shopping and leisure activities.
  • Members receive discounted rates on:

Membership to the Law Society's Special Interest and Select Committees

Members are eligible to join one or more of the Law Society's Special Interest and Select Committees. These Committees play a vital role in the Law Society's ongoing policy, advocacy and education initiatives.

These Committees have specific areas of focus which include:

  • Areas of Law
    • Aboriginal Issue
    • Accident Compensation
    • Administrative and Public Law
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution
    • Animal Law
    • Artificial Intelligence and Data Privacy
    • Children and the Law
    • Civil Litigation
    • Commercial Law
    • Costs
    • Criminal Law
    • Family Law
    • Human Rights
    • Industrial Relations 
    • International Legal Practice
    • Planning, Environment and Local Government
    • Property
    • Space Law
    • Succession and Elder Law
  • Matters relevant to the legal profession
    • Country Practitioners' 
    • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
    • Justice Access
    • Small Practice
    • Wellbeing and Resilience
    • Women Lawyers'
    • Young Lawyers'
    • Legal Technology
    • Public Sector and In House Lawyers

Associates and Student Associates are not immediately eligible to join these committees but can express their interest to the Committee Chair who will determine whether to approve membership with the Committee Members.

Membership Loyalty Rewards

Platinum Membership

A Member becomes a Platinum Member on 1 July following 30 years of consecutive membership and receives the following additional benefits:

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

*A Standard CPD Session is a CPD run solely by the Law Society of South Australia that is up to 1.5 hours long and has a maximum registration fee of $110 for Members admitted more than 3 years, or $85 for Members admitted less than 3 years. This is non-transferable and excludes all workshops and conferences.

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 and Honorary Members luncheon; and
  • Name displayed on the Senior Member Honour Board at the Society and in the Annual Report

Parental Leave Membership

In order to maintain a connection with the profession as well as eligibility for the membership loyalty rewards, the Society offers a membership category for Admitted Members going on Parental Leave for three to 24 months. 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.

What is the benefit of Parental Leave Membership?

During the Member’s period of Parental Leave Membership, the membership fee is complimentary. At the end of the period of Parental Leave, the fee payable to recommence membership is determined on a pro rata basis for the remainder of the relevant membership (financial) year. This fee is payable within one month of the expiration of the period of Parental Leave. The Member’s join date will not be affected by this Parental Leave period.

  • A Member is due to commence Parental Leave on 1 September 2021 for 12 months.
  • The Member should notify the Society prior to or at the time of renewing their membership (for year ended 30 June 2022), they pay a pro rata membership fee (2 months).They are then not required to pay a membership fee until they return to work on 1 September 2022 (for year ended 30 June 2023). A pro rata membership fee will then apply for the remainder of that financial year = 10 months).

For the period of Parental Leave, the Member’s rights, privileges and benefits are not affected in any way. The Member continues to receive all information disseminated by the Society, can stand and vote in elections (if applicable to the Member’s category of membership) and continues to receive one complimentary Standard CPD Session per year during the period of Parental Leave.

What discount does a Parental Leave Member receive on the cost of Law Society CPD?

A Parental Leave Member continues to receive one complimentary Standard CPD Session per year and is also entitled to the concession rate for CPD offered by the Law Society for the period of Parental Leave.

Does a Member receive a refund of membership fees already paid in advance of commencing Parental Leave?

No. For example, if a Member is granted Parental Leave Membership from 1 May 2022, the Member is not entitled to a refund of the 2021/22 membership fee for the months of May and June 2022. However, a pro rata credit (of two months membership) will be carried forward to the next membership (financial) year.

How does a Member apply for Parental Leave Membership?

A Member applies for Parental Leave Membership by completing an Online Parental Leave Membership Application. The Member will notify the Society of the period they plan to take for Parental Leave.

When does the period of Parental Leave Membership commence and expire?

The period of leave commences and expires on the dates specified by the Society Member in their application, or earlier if the Member returns to work and notifies the Society.

What if a Member does not apply for Parental Leave Membership until after the Society Member has commenced Parental Leave?

Members can apply for Parental Leave Membership following the commencement of Parental Leave.

Does the Parental Leave Member have to notify the Society when they are returning to work?

No. Unless circumstances have changed for the Member, the Member does not need to notify the Society when they are returning to work.

What if the Parental Leave Member changes circumstances?

In the event that the Parental Leave Member:

  • Resigns from their employment;
  • Returns to their employment part-time; or
  • Decides not to return to practise

The Member should contact the Law Society to update their details.

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 here.

Member Rewards Program Partners

The Law Society's Sponsors and Partners offer our Members exclusive offers in a range of areas. Please click here to view the Member Rewards Program.