The introduction of a membership subscription, from 1 July 2024, is part of our new representative strategy. While final approval of the cost of a subscription won’t be given until the Council’s AGM in April 2024, the Council wanted to give members as much notice as possible about the new subscription cost. 

The cost of joining one section will be included in the overall membership cost. Members can join an additional section for a cost of $100 plus GST per section. The subscription will be included in this year’s renewal and membership invoice for those who are current paid section members and those who indicate before 15 May 2024 that they want to retain their membership and the value it provides. Lawyers who would like to pre-register now can do so via this link.

Membership continues to be voluntary, but some benefits will only be available to members. Non-members will also have to pay non-member pricing for events and CLE courses. 

Currently, the Law Society membership subscription is $0. By law, the money the Law Society receives from practising certificate fees can only be spent on regulatory matters, not on services for members. Services that are funded by regulatory, such as libraries and counselling, will continue to be available to the profession as they are currently. 

The proposed new representative strategy, which seeks to deliver new and exciting benefits, is part of the Law Society’s organisation-wide transformation.  

Law Society President Frazer Barton says the Law Society is the only organisation that represents lawyers in New Zealand through its 13 branches around the country. 

“For many years lawyers have enjoyed a wide range of membership services including quality education and connection, technical guidance and information, advocacy and the voice for the profession at no cost,” he said. “Included in the modest cost of our subscription, we will now be adding a range of exciting new member exclusives to these services our members already have access to.” 

Mr Barton said the Law Society will let lawyers know details about the new member exclusive offers in the coming weeks and months. 

The Council will meet in April to formally resolve to implement the representative strategy, including the membership subscription.