You can use this form to apply for Full Membership or a Student Membership in the CDLA - please review the following membership criteria to ensure you qualify:
Full Membership Criteria (Bylaw 3.02) - must certify that:
- at least 75% of your practice is devoted to criminal defence work; and
- you are not currently employed or contracted as a provincial or federal Crown Prosecutor, Crown Attorney, Standing Agent or Crown Counsel (collectively “Prosecutor”); and
- you do not practice in the same office or within the same law firm as a Prosecutor. For the purposes of this prerequisite, applicants will be deemed to practice in the same office if they: (i) advertise or otherwise present publicly as a firm or association of independent law practices; or (ii) share legal assistants, articling students, or associates.
Student Membership Criteria (Bylaw 3.03) - must be enrolled as a student at law with the Law Society of Alberta PLUS any one of the following:
- your articling principal is a Full Member of the CDLA in good standing; or
- another lawyer employed by the same firm and directly involved in your day-to-day supervision is a current Full Member in good standing; or
- two current Full Members in good standing will provide written statements supporting your application for Student Membership (can be emailed to cdlayyc@gmail.com)
If you do not qualify for Full or Student membership, please feel free to email our Executive at cdlayyc@gmail.com with a description of why you wish to join the CDLA and why you do not presently qualify for a Full or Student Membership. Our Executive will review that information to determine if you might be a suitable candidate for an Observer or Honourary Membership with our organization.
