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Who can join CLASA?
Ordinary membership of CLASA is open to any person whom the Executive Committee is satisfied:
- is a fit and proper person to be admitted;
- is 21 or older;
- is a South African citizen or is ordinarily resident in South Africa;
- actively and bona fide practices as a corporate lawyer;
and - is or is entitled to be admitted to practice as an advocate or attorney in South Africa;
or - has a South African law degree or an equivalent degree;
or - by virtue of his/her training and experience, is qualified to practice as a corporate lawyer in South Africa.
Ordinary and Corporate Membership
A person who qualifies for ordinary membership may join as an individual member or as a representative of his/her employer organisation (in which case that organisation joins as a corporate member and has as many corporate lawyer representatives as it requires). Only registered individuals will receive members' benefits.
Associate Membership
A person who does not qualify for ordinary membership may apply to join CLASA as an associate member (again as an individual or as a representative of his/her employer organisation). Examples are practising attorneys, advocates and legal consultants.
Why join CLASA?
The benefits of membership appear from the following outline of CLASA activities:
Educational Courses
A variety of educational courses are held each year. Current subjects include “Contracts : Negotiating, Drafting and Vetting”; “Specialised Contracts”; and understanding the financial markets, to name a few. The courses are open to the public but CLASA members pay a reduced fee.
Seminars
Each year CLASA holds seminars on various topics relevant to corporate lawyers. CLASA also endorses and participates in various seminars arranged by professional seminar organisers, thereby obtaining reduced fees for its members.
Monthly eMagazine
CLASA publishes a monthly emagazine entitiled "General Counsel", which not only reports on the Association’s activities, but also contains articles of interest to corporate lawyers.
Legislation Updates/Best Practices Workshops
The aim is to hold one such event every second month : an opportunity to listen to a topical speaker and to network with colleagues.
Annual Lunch
The annual lunch provides an opportunity for corporate lawyers to get together with their colleagues on an informal basis.
Other Functions
Each year CLASA arranges a variety of fun events, such as a golf day, wine/beer tasting, and awards dinner.
Congress
CLASA’s three-day congress is held every second year.
Salary Survey
The Association commissions a professional salary survey of corporate lawyers on a regular basis and provides the results to participants free of charge.
Monday News Alerts
An email based news alert programme providing updates on a legal, accounting and financial developments in the South African market. Access practical guidance, reviews and bulletins through the Linex article search on the CLASA member website.
Hartars Listing
A listing of corporate lawyers who are CLASA members appears in the Hartars Legal Directory.
Publicity
CLASA’s Executive Committee actively seeks opportunities to publicise and promote the concept and utilisation of corporate lawyers, especially to the business community.
Liaison with other Associations
CLASA is a member of the International Bar Association and a founder member of the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa. It also maintains links with a variety of other associations including the South African Chamber of Business, the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association, the Association of Arbitrators and the Licensing Executives Society. CLASA is also a member of the recently founded internation association "In-House Counsel Worldwide".
Representations
From time to time, the Association makes representations to the relevant authorities on matters of concern to corporate lawyers. An example is extensive submissions regarding the long-awaited Legal Practice Bill.
Miscellaneous
CLASA’s Executive Committee is always on the lookout for new ways in which CLASA can serve its members and welcomes suggestions.