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Becoming a member

There are four types of membership of the Law Society of New South Wales:

• Solicitor Membership
• Associate Membership
• Life Membership
• Honorary Judicial Membership.

Solicitor Membership

Solicitor Membership is available to holders of a current Practising Certificate issued by the Law Society of NSW. Practising solicitors pay an annual subscription fee to be a Solicitor Member.

Application for membership is usually made at the same time as applying for or renewing a Practising Certificate. If you do not apply at this time you can still become a Solicitor Member by following these steps:

1. Download Application Form for Solicitor Membership of the Law Society.
2. Complete the form and return to the Law Society Registry, together with payment.

Associate Membership

The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Law Society of New South Wales and resolutions of Council provide for the following persons to be Associate Members of the Society:

• Australian Admittees – A person who is admitted to practise law in a State or Territory of Australia but does not hold a current practising certificate issued by the Society
• Students – A person who is studying law or has successfully completed a course in law at any university, college or institution in New South Wales recognised by the Legal Profession Admission Board and who signifies the intention to practise as a Solicitor.
• Law Office Managers – A person who does not hold a Practising Certificate in NSW, but is employed in a management role in a legal practice undertaken by a Solicitor Member of the Law Society of New South Wales.
• Foreign Lawyers – A person who is not admitted to practise law in a State or Territory of Australia, but holds a current Practising Certificate, or a current equivalent right to practise law in a jurisdiction outside Australia.
• Legally Qualified Persons – A person who has not been admitted to the practice of law in a State or Territory of Australia but has successfully completed a course in law at any university, college or institution in a State or Territory of Australia recognised by the Legal Profession Admission Board.
• Legal Profession Act Appointees – A person, not being solicitors, who may from time to time assist the Society in the performance of its functions under the Legal Profession Act (e.g. persons appointed as investigators, receivers or lay members of Committees.

How to apply for Associate Membership

1. Download the Application for Associate Membership.
2. Complete the form and return to the Law Society Registry, together with payment.

Read more about the available Services for Associate Members.

If you are not renewing your Practising Certificate, you may choose to become an Associate Member of the Law Society. There is a section on the Practising Certificate renewal form where persons may apply for this type of membership. 

Life Membership

There are two types of Life Membership.

Life Membership for the holders of current NSW Practising Certificates

The Society’s Council may confer Life Membership upon any person who holds a current Practising Certificate in recognition of his or her outstanding contributions to the law. The criteria for judging outstanding contributions are a:

• long and meritorious period of practice, or
• substantial period of meritorious service to the profession.

Life Members become Honorary Life Members of the Society when they voluntarily cease to renew their current Practising Certificate.

Honorary Life Membership

Council may confer Honorary Life Membership on any practitioner who does not have a current Practising Certificate, but did have a Practising Certificate (as a solicitor) for:

• 40 years or more, or
• a period of long and meritorious practice as deemed appropriate in particular circumstances.

Such membership shall continue for the duration of the person’s life. If you wish to nominate yourself or another person, forward a letter or email to the Law Society Registry.

The nomination will be considered by the Law Society Council.

Honorary Judicial Membership

Council may confer Honorary Judicial Membership upon any person who held a current Practising Certificate (as a solicitor) at the time of being appointed:

• as a Judge of the Supreme Court, District Court, Compensation Court, Land and Environment Court, or any Court of record
• to the office of the Master of the Supreme Court
• as Judicial Registrar of a Federal Court, or
• as a Magistrate of the Local Court or Federal Court.

If you wish to nominate yourself or another person, forward a letter or email to the Law Society Registry.

The nomination will be considered by the Law Society Council.