Membership Services | Member and Insurance Status Changes
Member and Insurance Status Changes
Membership Status Changes
Reinstating your Membership
Becoming an Inactive Member
Becoming a Retired Member
Resigning your Membership
Insurance Status Changes
Applying for Insurance
Applying for Exemption from Insurance
Canceling your Insurance
Reinstating Your Membership
An application for reinstatement is required if:
- An inactive member wishes to become active, entitled to practise law
- An active member not entitled to practise law wishes to become active, entitled to practise law
- A suspended member wishes to become an active or inactive member
Former members of the LSA who wish to resume membership, you must apply for reinstatement of your membership. This applies to the following:
- Former judges who wish to resume membership
- Resigned members who wish to resume membership
- Non-members wishing to resume membership
Disbarred members who wish to resume membership must review Part IV, Division 1 of the Rules. Please note special provisions apply. Applications for reinstatement of disbarred members do not follow the same process as other applications for reinstatement mentioned earlier. Contact Membership Services for more information.
To apply for reinstatement, you must complete submit the following documents and fees:
All forms are to be provided by fax or mail to LSA Membership Services, or email the Membership Department.
Important Information
Complete Disclosure
If you have responded ‘yes’ to any of the questions listed on your transfer application, you must provide full disclosure, and include all official documentation. That could include court documents, bankruptcy discharge documentation, and medical reports.
Certificate of Standing
If applicable, you must provide a Certificate of Standing from each governing body of which you are or have been a member, in or outside of Canada.
LSA Guidelines
To familiarize yourself with the relevant material regarding reinstatement, please refer to the Reinstatement Guidelines and the Credentials and Education Committee Reinstatement Guideline.
Referral to the Reinstatement Panel
If you have practised law or articled for periods aggregating less than 12 months out of the 48 months immediately preceding the date on which your application for reinstatement is received, your application may be referred to a reinstatement panel. See LSA Rule 118 (1)(a) and/or contact membership services for more information.
Referral to other LSA Committees
Your application may be referred to the Conduct committee and/or the Practice Review committee. See LSA Rule 118 for more information.
Becoming an Inactive Member
If you wish to retain membership in the LSA, but do not want to practise law, you may apply to become an inactive member. If you are a former member, you must first apply for reinstatement.
Any member may apply for inactive membership status by submitting:
All forms are to be provided by fax or mail to LSA Membership Services, or email the Membership Department.
If you are an active member, do not include the inactive membership fee with your application. The inactive membership fee may be deducted from the active membership fee you previously paid. You may be eligible to receive a prorated refund of your active membership fee and insurance levy. Contact Membership Services for more information.
Additional Information
Inactive Membership Status
As an inactive member, you will continue to receive LSA materials and you are entitled to act as a Notary Public. You are not eligible for nomination for bencher, nor are you eligible to vote in the bencher election. You are not entitled to practise law.
Withdrawal from Practice
If you are closing your practice, you are required to notify the LSA of the disposition of your client files. This information is requested on the inactive application form. If your law firm’s trust account and financial records are closed, you must submit a final Annual Certificate (Form S) and final Accountant’s Report (Form T). For more information about closing your trust account, please see Part 5 of the Rules.
Returning to Active Status
If you have inactive status and wish to return to active status, you must apply for reinstatement.
Becoming a Retired Member
If you have been an active member of the LSA, or a judge or a master in chambers, for at least 25 years, you may apply to become a retired member. To apply for retired membership status, you must complete and submit the following documents and fees:
Election to Become an Inactive Member (Form 2-20)
Election to Transfer to Retired Membership
All forms are to be provided by fax or mail to LSA Membership Services, or email the Membership Department.
Additional Information
Membership Refund
If you are an active member when applying for retired membership status, you may be entitled to receive a prorated refund of your active membership fee and insurance levy. Contact Membership Services for more information.
Retired Membership Status
As a retired member, you will not receive LSA mailings, including notices to the profession and publications, unless required by the Rules of the Law Society of Alberta, the Legal Profession Act or specified by the benchers. As a retired member, you can act as a Notary Public. You are not eligible for nomination for bencher, nor are you eligible to vote in the bencher election. You are not entitled to practise law. An inactive member, unless otherwise directed, will automatically become a retired member upon age 70. An application for retirement status is not required.
Returning to Active Status
If you have retired status and wish to return to active status, you must apply for reinstatement.
Withdrawal from Practice
If you are closing your practice, you are required to notify the LSA of the disposition of your client files. This information is requested on the inactive application form. In order to comply with the trust accounting rules, if the law firm’s trust account and financial records are closed, you must submit a final Annual Certificate (Form S) and final Accountant’s Report (Form T). For more information about closing your trust account, please see Part 5 of the Rules of the LSA.
Resigning Your Membership
To resign your LSA membership, you must complete and submit an Application to Resign (Form 2-21). All forms are to be provided by fax or mail to LSA Membership Services, or email the Membership Department.
If you are applying for resignation, and face conduct proceedings, you must apply to resign under Rule 92. If you are applying for resignation, and do not face conduct proceedings, you must apply to resign under Rule 69. All applications for resignation will be considered by the benchers.
Important Information
Membership Refund
You may be entitled to receive a prorated refund of your membership fee and insurance levy. Contact Membership Services for more information.
Withdrawal from Practice
If you are closing your practice, you are required to notify the LSA of the disposition of your client files. This information is requested on the resignation application form. If the law firm’s trust account and financial records are closed, you must submit a final Annual Certificate (Form S) and final Accountant’s Report (Form T). For more information about closing your trust account, please see Part 5 of the Rules.
Applying for Insurance
Each active member of the LSA is required to have professional liability insurance when practicing law. You may be exempt from this requirement if you are employed by an organization, other than a law firm, and practise law solely in the scope of that employment. to review the information regarding exemption, see Rule 148.
To obtain professional liability insurance coverage, you must complete and submit the following documents and fees:
All forms are to be provided by fax or mail to LSA Membership Services, or email the Membership Department.
Applying for Exemption from Insurance
You may apply for exemption if:
- You are employed by an organization other than a law firm and practise solely in the scope of that employment
- You do not practise law in Alberta
- Your principal practise of law is in Canada, but outside Alberta
See Rule 148 and Rule 135 for more information.
To apply for exemption, you must complete and submit Application for Exemption from Professional Liability Insurance (Form 7-2). All forms are to be provided by fax or mail to LSA Membership Services, or email the Membership Department.
Additional Information:
Refunds
If you are applying for exemption or canceling insurance, you may be eligible for a prorated refund. Please contact Membership Services for more information.
Effective Date
The earliest effective date of your insurance status change will be the date your application was received in the LSA’s Calgary office.
Pro Bono Services
If you are an active member of the LSA and provide pro bono services through the Volunteer Lawyers Service Program, Calgary Legal Guidance, and Edmonton Centre for Equal Justice, you are deemed exempt from liability insurance coverage. You are automatically covered under the group professional liability insurance policy for this volunteer work. See Rule 148 (2.1).
Coverage Questions
All questions about eligibility for insurance exemption should be directed to the Alberta Lawyers Insurance Association.
Reinstatement
If you are an active member, exempt from liability insurance, and not practicing law, you must first apply for reinstatement, before you practise law.
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