Membership Criteria

• Any individual who demonstrates an interest in legal administration and the management of legal organizations, including legal professionals employed in a private law firm, legal service clinic, corporate legal department, university legal department, governmental legal agency, court system, charitable legal agency or any other organization engaged in the legal industry.

• Shares interest in and supports the purposes of the Association.

• Is not affiliated with a business partner or business-partner eligible entity.

• Consultant to the Legal Industry. A consultant is defined as an individual who does not provide goods, furniture, equipment, supplies, materials, software, technology, insurance, investment instruments or legal industry services directly or through their company; or causes to be provided through a workforce of employees, or is employed by such an entity; AND the individual meets one or more of the following criteria:

  • an individual who is a recognized subject-matter expert within the legal community;

  • an individual whose primary service generally involves the sale of intellectual property, expert advice, coaching or assessment to legal organizations and who engages with multiple and changing clients;

  • an individual who performs ongoing day-to-day administrative functions for one or more companies or firms which would otherwise qualify the individual for Regular ALA membership despite who employs them, including a business partner;

  • an individual who is self-employed as a contractor or operating a self-owned business and performing day-to-day administrative roles for one or more companies or firms, which would otherwise render the person eligible for Regular ALA membership if an employer/employee relationship existed.

Please note: A consultant membership is bestowed upon an individual, not a company, and employees of business partner-eligible companies are not considered consultants and are not eligible for consultant membership, unless: a) the individual is performing day-to-day administrative functions at a remote or third party location; or b) the individual is employed as a legal administrator in the corporate legal department of the business organization; or c) the individual holds an administrative position similar to someone in a legal management professional role and is not responsible for business development, marketing or sales.

Retired Membership Criteria

Retired individuals who have reached sixty-five years of age and/or maintained fifteen years of continuous membership history with ALA are eligible for the retired member reduced dues rate. This membership keeps you in touch with all the news of your former profession, including Legal Management, maintains your chapter eligibility status; and grants continued access to the members-only areas of the website to participate in discussion forums, education, volunteer opportunities, events and more. Contact Membership for eligibility details, dues information and more.

Student Membership Criteria

Student membership at a reduced dues level is offered to provide individuals who may be considering a career choice in a legal environment, or currently in the legal field and seeking to advance their careers, an accessible opportunity to take advantage of the benefits offered through ALA membership. Students are enrolled full or part-time in any degree program, and do not hold a full-time, management level position. A current transcript or other proof of enrollment may be required. Eligible applicants may receive up to four student membership terms.

General Information

All members must adhere to the ALA Non-Solicitation Policy and are subject to the ALA Code of Ethics.

ALA headquarters membership is required to establish eligibility to join a chapter. All ALA members in good standing are eligible to join a chapter, however, chapter membership is optional and not required. 

Policies governing membership participation and benefits shall be determined from time to time by the Board or its designees.

Diversity is strongly supported and encouraged in the profession and ALA membership. Learn more at the DEIA Resource Hub..

Membership is not open to vendors or business partners. For purposes of membership eligibility, a business partner is generally an individual (or member of an organization) whose primary function is to market or sell products and/or services to members of the legal community. We value our relationship with business partners and vendors, and encourage them to explore the many opportunities available to join forces with ALA.