Becoming a Member
General Instructions for Students-at-Law to Enrol as Members
BEFORE the Completion of your Articles and CPLED
Schedule your bar call at one of the following locations:
Court of Queen's Bench (Calgary)
Monica L. Landry at 403-297-3864
Calgary Court Centre
705N, 601 5 Street SW
Calgary, AB T2P 5P7
Court of Queen's Bench (Edmonton)
Cara Desaulniers or Tracy Andrews at 780-422-2492
Court of Queen's Bench
Law Courts, Main Floor
1A Sir Winston Churchill Square
Edmonton, AB T5J 0R2
Provincial Court of Alberta (for Bar Admissions south of Red Deer)
Office of the Chief Judge (Calgary) at 403-297-6761
Provincial Court of Alberta (for bar admissions in Red Deer, Edmonton and northern Alberta)
Office of the Chief Judge (Edmonton) at 780-427-6330
IMPORTANT: The date of your Bar Call must be a minimum of 30 days after your completed enrolment application and fees are received by the Calgary office of the Law Society of Alberta. HOWEVER, please do not complete or submit your enrolment documents until you have completed your Articles.
Complete and submit a Notification of Call Ceremony and Membership Information Form:
Once you have scheduled your bar call date and you have confirmation from the Court House, please complete and submit a Notification of Call Ceremony and Membership Information Form.
For expediency, return the completed form to Membership Services in the Calgary office by fax or email.
AFTER the Completion of your Articles and CPLED
Complete and submit the following enrolment application documents:
Please send the information by fax, mail or email to Membership Services.
Original notarized documents such as proof of date of birth must be mailed, couriered or hand-delivered to the Calgary office. Official law school transcripts must also be mailed to the Calgary office.
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Membership & Insurance Status:
You have four options from which to choose when becoming a member in Alberta:
1. Active – Insured:
An active member of the Law Society is required to have Professional Liability Insurance coverage when practising as a sole practitioner or with a law firm.
Fees: Pro-rated member fee (includes Assurance Fund Levy) and insurance
Form: Application for Professional Liability Insurance
Form: Statutory Declaration and Undertaking (for use by active members practising as sole practitioners who do not operate a trust account). Please contact Membership for this form.
2. Active – Exempt In-House Employment:
You may apply for an exemption from insurance if you are employed by an organization other than a law firm, and practise solely in the scope of that employment. This would include a corporate or government setting.
Fees: Pro-rated member fee (includes Assurance Fund Levy) and insurance
Form: Application for Exemption from Professional Liability Insurance
Form: Statutory Declaration and Undertaking (for use by members who are counsel as defined by Rule 135). Please contact Membership Services for this form.
3. Active - Not Engaged in the Practise of Law:
You are not entitled to practise law or give legal advice in Alberta. If you wish to obtain practising status, you are required to notify the Law Society of Alberta and comply with the professional liability insurance requirements.
Fees: Pro-rated member fee (includes Assurance Fund Levy)
Form: Application for Exemption from Professional Liability Insurance
4. Inactive:
You are not entitled to practise law or give legal advice in Alberta. However, you are able to maintain your membership in Alberta.
Fees: Annual inactive fee
Form: Election to Become an Inactive Member
Membership Services will invoice you for the appropriate fees based on the information you provide on the Notification of Call Ceremony and Membership Information form.
Fees
Fees are payable to the Law Society of Alberta (making a payment).
Reinstatement
If you choose to be called as “Active – Not Engaged in the Practise of Law” or “Inactive” status and decide to change your status to either “Active – Insured” or “Active – Exempt In-House”, you will be required to make an Application for Reinstatement.
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