The association has three classes of membership; Active Member, Student Member and Observer Member.
Applications received between January 1 and September 15, 2014 will provide individuals with a membership from the date the application is processed to March 31, 2015.
Memberships are non-refundable or transferable. Membership applications are not processed during the month of December.
Please allow up to 15 business days for applications to be reviewed and processed.
Benefits of membership:
Membership benefits for both Active 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)
- 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
- Conference materials at member pricing
- Subscription to For For The Defence newsletter
Active Membership: If you are a practising criminal defence lawyer in Ontario in good standing with the Law Society of Upper Canada 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.
Student Membership: If you are a student-at-law, articling student or a student in an accredited law school you may apply for a Student membership. Download application.
Observer Membership: For practising criminal lawyers OUTSIDE of Ontario. Download application.
Benefits that WILL be provided to 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
- Member rates on Spring and Fall Conference
- Conference materials at member pricing
- For The Defence newsletter
Benefits that WILL NOT be available:
- CLA Membership ID card
- CLA voting privileges
- Cannot run for any director positions on CLA Board