Subject to the provisions of the Rules of Auckland District Law Society, any person whether or not resident in New Zealand claiming a significant association with the legal profession shall be eligible to become an Associate Member of Auckland District Law Society. This association may be through:

• being or having been a member of the judiciary; or
• being responsibly employed by or engaged in the practice of a barrister or a solicitor or both, or in commerce, in public service in the state sector 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; or
• being enrolled as a practitioner and having practised or been employed by a practitioner; or
• being an Associate Member of the New Zealand Law Society; or
• being an Associate Member of any district law society and having moved within the area of ADLS

Without limiting the discretion conferred on the Council by subclause 5.8 of the Society’s rules, the Council may consider a person to be responsibly employed by a barrister or a solicitor who is a fee earner holding a Certificate of Attainment from the Legal Executives Institute Incorporated or who has been in such employment as a fee earner for a substantial period of time and thereby has a significant association with the legal profession.

No person shall be eligible to be or remain an Associate Member of ADLS who:

• ceases to be eligible according to subclause 5.4 of the Society’s rules;
• is or becomes the holder of a practising certificate in New Zealand as a barrister or solicitor or as both;
• is or becomes an Distinguished Member of the Society;
• has been struck off the roll of barristers and solicitors pursuant to sections 92, 112, or 113 of the Act or pursuant to the provisions of any earlier or subsequent enactment;
• has been suspended from practice as a barrister or solicitor or as both pursuant to sections 112 or 113 of the Act;
• is subject to an order made pursuant to section 114(2) of the Act prohibiting the employment of that person;
• is not a fit and proper person to be an Associate Member of the Society.

Nominations for appointment as an Associate Member shall be:

• made by a practising Member; on a form prescribed and supplied by the Society;
• accompanied by certified copies of the documents required by the prescribed form;
• verified by a statutory declaration made by the nominee;
• supported by the names and addresses of two referees, at least one of whom shall be the employer of or another person associated in employment or engagement with the nominee, except in the case of those who are or have been members of the judiciary or members of the New Zealand Law Society or those in whose favour the Council has exercised its power of dispensation in respect of referees;
• accompanied by such other information as the Council may require.

The Council may make such inquiry as it considers fit as to the eligibility of the nominee for membership.
Where the Council is satisfied:

• that the nominee is eligible according to the foregoing provisions of this rule;
• that the nominee has a significant association with the legal profession; and
• that such association is likely to promote the interests of the legal profession and the interests of the public in relation to legal matters the Council may, in its absolute discretion, appoint the nominee to be an Associate Member of the Society subject to the Society's rules. The Council shall not be required to give any reasons if it does not appoint any nominee as an Associate Member and the Council may in any case in its absolute discretion dispense with the requirement for references.

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Any person appointed as an Associate Member shall become an Associate Member on payment of the entrance fee (if any) and annual subscription fixed by the Council.

The Council may in its discretion at any time revoke the appointment of any person as an Associate Member of the Society.

Any Associate Member who fails to pay the entrance fee (if any) or any annual subscription within one calendar month after the due date for payment shall thereupon cease to be an Associate Member of the Society unless the Council otherwise resolves in any particular case or cases.

Associate Members of the Society shall be eligible for election or appointment to such committee subcommittees or sections as the Council may determine either generally or in respect of a particular Member.

Associate Members of the Society shall be entitled to receive such privileges and services from the Society and to designate their associate membership in such manner as the Council may from time to time determine.

In accordance with section 16(2) of the Act Associate Members of the Society shall not be eligible for appointment or election as an officer of the Society or a member of the Council or to nominate or vote for members of the Council or to vote at elections or to vote at or requisition meetings of the Society or to receive notice of such meeting nor shall Associate Members be regarded as part of a quorum at general meetings.

All or any of the powers and duties of the Council under this rule may be delegated to any committee or the Executive Director as appointed by the Council. The Council may at any time require all or any Associate Members to produce evidence of their eligibility to retain associate membership.

Click here for an Associate Membership Application form.

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