Why join the Law Society of Western Australia
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.
Select a membership category that best fits you:
Practitioner Membership
Practitioner
Holds a current unrestrictedAustralian practising certificate
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Free CPD. All year round
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Access to news, updates and information for your life as a lawyer
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Free and discounted social, networking and award events
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We help make your voice heard
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Professional Standards Scheme - Cap your occupational liability
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Member Extras program offering discounts on a range of goods and services
Overseas
A practising lawyer in another countrywho holds a current Australian practising certificate
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Free CPD. All year round
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Access to news, updates and information for your life as a lawyer
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Free and discounted social, networking and award events
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We help make your voice heard
-
Professional Standards Scheme - Cap your occupational liability
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Member Extras program offering discounts on a range of goods and services
Country
Ordinarily practises outside an 80km radiusfrom the Central Office of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and holds a current Australian practising certificate
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Free CPD. All year round
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Access to news, updates and information for your life as a lawyer
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Free and discounted social, networking and award events
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We help make your voice heard
-
Professional Standards Scheme - Cap your occupational liability
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Member Extras program offering discounts on a range of goods and services
WA Bar
A current member of theWA Bar Association
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Free CPD. All year round
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Access to news, updates and information for your life as a lawyer
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Free and discounted social, networking and award events
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We help make your voice heard
-
Professional Standards Scheme - Cap your occupational liability
-
Member Extras program offering discounts on a range of goods and services
Government/CLC
Holds an Australian practising certificate and is employed by the Government or Community Legal Centre-
Free CPD. All year round
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Access to news, updates and information for your life as a lawyer
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Free and discounted social, networking and award events
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We help make your voice heard
-
Member Extras program offering discounts on a range of goods and services
Restricted
Holds a current restrictedAustralian practising certificate
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Free CPD. All year round
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Access to news, updates and information for your life as a lawyer
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Free and discounted social, networking and award events
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We help make your voice heard
-
Professional Standards Scheme - Cap your occupational liability
-
Member Extras program offering discounts on a range of goods and services
Part-Time
Works up to 20 hours per week and holdsa current Australian practising certificate
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Free CPD. All year round
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Access to news, updates and information for your life as a lawyer
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Free and discounted social, networking and award events
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We help make your voice heard
-
Professional Standards Scheme - Cap your occupational liability
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Member Extras program offering discounts on a range of goods and services
Associate Membership
ILP
An Incorporated Legal Practice in which all Principals usually practise in Western Australia-
We help make your voice heard
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Professional Standards Scheme - Cap your occupational liability
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Member Extras program offering discounts on a range of goods and services
Associate
Legal Trainee, Academic,Non-Practising, Parliamentary, Mediator,
Practice Manager, Judiciary or Retired
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Free CPD. All year round
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Access to news, updates and information for your life as a lawyer
-
Free and discounted social, networking and award events
-
We help make your voice heard
-
Professional Standards Scheme - Cap your occupational liability
-
Member Extras program offering discounts on a range of goods and services
Student
Currently enrolled in a degree course with a faculty of law at an Australian university-
Access to news, updates and information for your life as a lawyer
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Free and discounted social, networking and award events
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We help make your voice heard
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Member Extras program offering discounts on a range of goods and services
On Leave Membership
The Law Society offers a category of membership for members who are taking unpaid leave, for example maternity, parental, carers, study, stress/sick leave, been made redundant or have been stood down. We recognise the challenges that may arise when you are out of the profession for an extended period of time without remuneration.
If you are taking this type of leave for a period of between 6 and 12 months, your membership fee can now be suspended.
During this time, you can continue to enjoy access to the Society’s member benefits and privileges.
Apply for On Leave Membership here.
The benefits of membership
All your CPD is now included in membership – completely free and unlimited. This means you can access face-to-face seminars, live webinars and on-demand content at no extra cost. Exclusive member pricing applies to our Signature Learning series.Â
 
Access to news, updates and information critical to your life as a lawyer. Our popular journal Brief is soon to be relaunched as Brief online – a new website publishing news, legal updates, case notes, opinions, legal analysis and more, along with a bi-annual print magazine exclusively for members. You’ll also receive regular updates via our suite of e-newsletters containing the latest announcements, CPD courses and professional updates, and have at your fingertips a range of resources to guide your practice and compliance. Â
The Law Society loves putting on a shindig for members, from sole practitioners to young lawyers and everything in between. Whether it’s a gala dinner and awards night, an informal sundowner, an inspiring breakfast with a cracking speaker, or a raft of special events during Law Week, there are so many opportunities to gather with your peers and colleagues and feel right at home as part of the legal community.Â
The Law Society has a direct line to government and the courts, and, through our representative Council and network of committees, we help make your voices heard. Whether its consulting on policy, advocating for improvements to access to justice, or taking the concerns of the profession to those who need to hear them, we work tirelessly to ensure we have influence where it matters most. Â
The PSS enhances your professional reputation, offers limited liability, and provides you with peace of mind. If you ever need support, the PSS is an additional safety net.
The cost of living has started to bite over the past few years. Via our Member Extras program, you can get exclusive discounts on a range of goods and services across practice management, travel, health and wellbeing, dining, finance, home, and more. It’s just another way that we can provide tangible value to our members. Â
Payment options
Online via Credit Card
- New members – pay online by credit card via our membership application form.
- Existing members – log in to the Member portal and renew.
Cheque
- Post the application form or invoice remittance advice with your cheque made payable to: Law Society of Western Australia.
- Email:Â membership@lawsocietywa.asn.au
- Post: Law Society of Western Australia, PO Box Z5345, Perth WA 6831
Part Payment Plan
A part-payment plan is available to eligible individual members and/or Sole Practitioners, allowing them to pay membership fees in instalments.Â
To apply, use the Update Details and Change of Payment Method form.
For more information, please refer to the Part Payment Option Information Sheet.
For full terms, click here.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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.
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.
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.
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 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.Â
Select a membership type that best fits you:
As an Ordinary member you have access to:
- Cap your occupational liability through the Professional Standards Scheme
- 30+ specialist committees to become involved with
- Member pricing at leading seminars and webinars
- CPD Freedom subscription for great value
- Accreditation programmes through Quality Practice Standard (QPS), and Accredited Family Law Practitioner
- Access to Brief, Friday Facts, CPD News and other regular communications
- Practitioners Advice Referral Service for assistance if you are subject to a complaint with the Legal Practice Board or Senior Advisors Panel to discuss confidential professional conduct and ethical issues
PRICING
*pro rata rates available (terms and conditions apply)
* Pro rata membership rates are available from August to May each year.Â
* Pro rata membership rates are available from August to May each year. Beginning in June, members apply for the month of June AND the full following financial year, receiving 13 months of membership for the 12 month fee.Â
Join Now Form
- Online via Credit Card:Â Pay online with a credit card via our membership application form (new members) or renew by logging in to the member MyPage (existing members)
- Cheque: Post the application form or invoice remittance advice with your cheque made payable to: Law Society of Western Australia
- Part Payment Plan: A part payment plan is available via the Change of Membership and Payment Type Form to eligible Individual Members and/or Sole Practitioners to pay membership fees in instalments. Please see Information Sheet, for full terms please click here.
If paying by cheque please send the required documentation to:
- Email: membership@lawsocietywa.asn.au
- Post: Law Society of Western Australia, PO Box Z5345, Perth WA 6831
The Law Society offers a category of membership for members who are taking unpaid leave, for example maternity, parental, carers, study or stress/sick leave. We recognise the challenges that may arise when you are out of the profession for an extended period of time without remuneration.
If you are taking this type of leave for a period of between 6 and 12 months, your membership fee can now be suspended. During this time, you can continue to enjoy the Society’s member benefits and privileges. You will also be entitled to a 50% discount on Law Society CPD seminars during this period until you have earned your required number of CPD units. For more information, please see our policy regarding On Leave Membership, or to apply complete the Application Form.
