Join Us
The Association has three main classes of membership to choose from:
1. Active Member (Full Member)
| 2. Student Member
| 3. Observer Member
|
Please note any membership applications submitted between December 10 to 31 will be for the 2019 membership year with membership commencing towards the end of the first week of January. The CLA office will be closed for the holidays from December 21 to January 2. Applications submitted during this time will be processed when the office reopens.
CLA Membership application information:
- Membership applications submitted any time between December 10, 2018 and September 15, 2019 and will provide the applicant with a membership up to March 31, 2020.
- New membership applications (not open to individuals that lapsed in current year) submitted between October 1 to December 9, 2019 will have a prorated rate applied and will provide the applicant with a membership up to March 31, 2020.
- Memberships are non-refundable or transferable.
- Please allow up to 15 business days for applications to be reviewed and fully processed.
Benefits of membership:
Membership benefits for both Active (Full) and Student members:
- CLA Membership ID card. Personalized photo identification cards are available to active and student members at no charge. Through special arrangements with the Ministry of Correctional Services, these cards have been designated as an acceptable form of identification for purposes of obtaining unobstructed access to the various detention facilities.
- CLA voting privileges (Active members only – for director position votes, applicable to region/city noted in your CLA membership record)
- Can run for any director positions on CLA Board (Active members only)
- Include in online membership directory
- Listserv access (e-mail discussion forum with more than 850 criminal lawyers)
- Access to members only section of website
- Member rates on Spring and Fall Conference
- Special rates to all CLA professional development programs
- Conference materials at member pricing
- Subscription to For The Defence newsletter
Active (Full) Membership:
If you are a practicing criminal defence lawyer in Ontario in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario and a significant portion of your practice is devoted to the defence of criminal charges or you are a lawyer who devotes a significant portion of your efforts to the interests of the defence bar, then you are eligible for Active membership in the Criminal Lawyers’ Association.
Download application.
$169.50 ($150 + $19.50 HST)
Called to the bar after January 1, 2017
$339.00 ($300 + $39.00 HST)
Called to the bar on or before December 31, 2016
Student Membership:
If you are a student-at-law, articling student (in criminal law) or a student in an accredited law school, you may apply for a Student membership.
Download application.
$84.75 ($75 + $9.75 HST)
Please note that student members are required to notify the CLA office once they have passed the bar. In order to maintain a membership with the CLA after passing the bar, the individual must then be a practicing criminal defence lawyer. Those that end up not becoming practicing criminal defence lawyers will have their membership lapsed with no refund.
Observer Membership (Criminal Defence Lawyer)
For practicing criminal lawyers OUTSIDE of Ontario who do NOT practise in Ontario at all.
Download Application
$56.50 ($50 + $6.50 HST)
Called to the bar after January 1, 2017
$113.00 ($100 + $13.00 HST)
Called to the bar on or before December 31, 2016
Benefits that WILL be provided to Criminal Defence Lawyer Observer Members:
- Include in online membership directory
- Listserv access (e-mail discussion forum with more than 850 criminal lawyers)
- Access to members only section of website
- Access to all CLA events and conferences at the member rate
- Access to CLA member rates to webcast recordings
- For The Defence newsletter
Benefits that WILL NOT be available to Criminal Defence Lawyer Observer members:
- CLA Membership ID card
- CLA voting privileges
- Cannot run for any director positions on CLA Board
Observer Membership (Law Professor)
For law professors that are NOT practicing criminal defence attorneys or judges.
Download Application
$113.00 ($100 + $13.00 HST)
Benefits that WILL be provided to Law Professor Observer Members:
- Access to all CLA events and conferences at the member rate
- Access to CLA member rates to webcast recordings
- Conference materials at member pricing
- For The Defence newsletter
Benefits that WILL NOT be available to Law Professor Observer members:
- Access to members only section of website
- Inclusion in online membership directory
- CLA Listserv Access
- CLA Membership ID card
- CLA voting privileges
- Cannot run for any director positions on CLA Board