Membership FAQs
With more than 5,000 members, the Law Society of Western Australia is the peak association for the legal profession in the state. Membership offers trusted support, exclusive opportunities, and essential resources at every stage of your legal career.
You can join at any time!
The Law Society membership year runs from 1 July to 30 June, but new memberships are welcome throughout the year.
Do I still get CPD Freedom included with the cost of membership?
The CPD Freedom package has been replaced with free CPD as part of your Law Society membership whenever you join.
We have removed the deadline of 31 July to join or renew in order to get CPD included as part of membership.
Free CPD includes most CPD live seminar events and unlimited access to our 24/7 on-demand library.
I used to be an Ordinary Member but my invoice this year says Practitioner Member, why is that?
There is nothing ordinary about our members, so Ordinary Membership has been renamed Practitioner Membership from 2025. If you were an Ordinary Member last year, your renewal will be as a Practitioner Member.
What is the difference between Practitioner and Associate Membership?
Practitioner Membership is for those who have a current Australian practising certificate. Practitioner Members have voting rights and are eligible for Professional Standard Scheme (PSS) cover.
Associate Membership is for those in the legal community who don’t have a current practising certificate, such as retired lawyers, trainees and paralegals, academics, legal practice managers, members of the judiciary, and so on. Under the relevant legislation, Associate Members are not eligible for PSS cover.
What has changed about Associate Membership this year?
Previously, there were lots of different types of Associate Membership. To help make things simpler for members, we now have just one Associate Membership category with a standardised membership fee. Free CPD is now included for all Associate Members.
I am a Student Member, can I attend CPD seminars?
Student Membership does not include free CPD, but students are welcome to book any CPD course for the advertised fee. There are also lots of other ways to get involved as Student Members, such as through our YLC events and mentoring program.
Do I still have to join before July 31 to get access to free CPD?
You can join any time throughout the year and receive free CPD at no additional cost.
If I join part way through a membership year, do I pay a pro rata membership fee?
Our membership year runs from 1 July – 30 June each year. Pro rata membership is no longer available. This is offset by the inclusion of free CPD all year-round.
I have changed jobs since last year and I need to update my email and employment details. How can I do this?
There are two ways to update your details.
- Log in to the member portal using your membership number and unique password. If you don’t remember your membership number or password or have trouble logging into the portal, contact the Membership Team. Your membership number can be found in our weekly Friday Facts newsletter.
- Email your new details to membership@lawsocietywa.asn.au.
I have not received my renewal invoice. How do I renew?
Your invoice may have been issued to your employer or former employer if you have recently changed firms.
Please contact the Membership Team at membership@lawsocietywa.asn.au for assistance.
Why am I not able to log in to the Member Portal?
To log into the member portal, you need to enter your Law Society membership number and password (case sensitive).
Your Law Society membership number can be found on our weekly Friday Facts newsletter.
If you have forgotten your password, click the password reset link on the login page, where you will be asked to enter your email address (it must match what we have on our records).
You will be asked to provide 3 more forms of identity, which must match what we have on our records.
- Forename (first name)
- Surname
- Date of birth (DD/MM/YYYY)
If all the details match, you will receive an email containing a password reset link. If you don’t receive an email, your details have not matched and you will need to contact the Membership Team on (08) 9324 8692 for further assistance.
