New Zealand Law Society - Associate membership
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Associate membership of the Law Society is designed for people who have close links to the legal profession. Only practising lawyers may be full members.
Associate membership does not carry any entitlement to practise.
You may be eligible for appointment as an associate member if you are:
Lawyers who have been suspended or struck off the roll are not eligible.
Read the Rules for Associate Membership to confirm your eligibility.
There are two routes to associate membership.
The Law Society Board must be satisfied that the applicant is eligible according to the Rules and has a significant association with the legal profession.
Please note that if you are providing legal services to the public outside the confines of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 (for example, tax consultants, insolvency practitioners, employment advocates) you may not be eligible for membership.
The Board will retain an absolute discretion over appointments.
The membership year is from 1 July to 30 June.
Associate membership 2024/25: $106 + GST
Associate membership 2025/26: $150 + GST
Associate membership allows people who have given service to, or been closely connected with, the legal profession to participate in its work.
While they will not be eligible for appointment or election as Law Society officers or Council or Board members, associate members are eligible for appointment to special committees as the Board may decide.
Associate members receive the Law Society’s weekly email newsletter, LawPoints. They can access a digital copy of LawTalk on our website. This is the Law Society’s flagship publication – its official magazine, published quarterly. LawTalk contains news of Law Society activities and information of direct and immediate benefit to members and associate members.
Associate members receive member rates for CLE New Zealand Law Society courses. CLE runs an extensive continuing education programme. Webinars, seminars and specialist workshops on a wide range of topics are presented online and at various venues throughout the country.
Access to Law Society library services is available at a cost of $632.50 per year. Conditions apply. For information about the conditions of access, please contact associatemembership@lawsociety.org.nz.
Associate members, like lawyers, are charged for any research, photocopying and delivery costs.
From 1 July 2025, Associate members will have access to discounts and savings across banking, business services, retail and travel and more through our Partner Programme – all accessed through our Law Society Partner Programme app.
Associate members of the Law Society may join the Property Law Section and the Family Law Section.
For any queries about associate membership, please email associatemembership@lawsociety.org.nz.
Read our membership terms and conditions.