Membership

Membership

Tees Valley Law Society offers two categories of membership: Standard and Trainee. Membership confers various benefits including reduced fees for our training courses - which are held locally and at a time to suit most practitioners - invitations to networking and social events, opportunities to get involved in your local Society and access to a wider support network.

Membership of TVLS is annual. The current membership year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Those wishing to join later in the year may be interested to know that we reduce the membership fee for new members by 50% from 1 October (this does not apply to people who were members in the previous year).

Standard Membership

To qualify for Standard Membership you must either be a) a person who is regulated by law for the delivery of legal services, or b) a solicitor who is exempt from the regulatory requirements. As well as the other benefits of membership, Standard Members can become members of TVLS Council, and also have voting rights at the Society's AGM.

Standard Membership costs £50 annually. To apply for Standard Membership complete the online application form, or download, complete and return the offline application form.

Associate Membership

TVLS' Associate Membership is available to any person who is employed by a body which is regulated by law in the delivery of legal services. Associate Members share all of the rights and duties of Standard Members save that Associate Members are not entitled to vote at any general meeting of the Society.

Associate Membership costs £30 annually. To apply, please complete the online application form, or download and complete the offline application form.

Trainee Membership

People who have completed their LPC (or equivalent qualification in a Law-based subject) and are serving a pre-qualification training contract are eligible for Trainee Membership of TVLS.

Trainee Membership costs £20 annually. To apply for Trainee Membership complete the online application form, or download and complete the offline application form.

Student Membership

TVLS offers membership to students who are studying for a qualification that, if successfully completed, would qualify them for Standard Membership (see above). Student Members share all of the rights and duties of Standard Members save that Student Members are not entitled to vote at any general meeting of the Society.

Student Membership costs £10 annually. To apply please complete the online application form, or download and complete the offline application form.

Corporate Membership

Firms and organisations that employ within the Tees Valley region more than five people who qualify for Standard Membership can apply for Corporate Membership. This provides a reduction in fee for those Standard Memberships, as well as providing free memberships to all people at the firm who would otherwise qualify for Associate, Trainee or Student membership. The rate of fee reduction increases the larger the firm:

  • Firms with between 5 and 9 solicitors receive a 10% discount
  • Firms with between 10 and 24 solicitors receive a 20% discount
  • Firms with between 25 and 49 solicitors receive a 30% discount
  • Firms with between 50 and 99 solicitors receive a 40% discount
  • Firms with more than 100 solicitors receive a 50% discount

As an example, imagine a firm of 10 solicitors that also employs three legal executives (or similar), and has three trainees. If paying individual fees it would cost £650 for all at the firm to become members, but with a Corporate Membership that fee would reduce to £400.

To apply for Corporate Membership, or to discuss the option further, please get in touch.

Life Membership

Any member, having retired from the practice of the law, may apply to Council to be a Life Member of the Society upon payment equivalent to one annual Standard Membership subscription. If you wish to become a Life Member then please get in touch.