Membership

Applications for membership of the Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies (“CALRAs”) are very welcome.

Membership is open to:-

• institutional law reform agencies,
• individuals with a current or previous tie to a law reform agency and
• any other body which, or person who, supports the aims of CALRAs

– subject to the Executive Committee’s approval of each application.

Membership is also open beyond the Commonwealth.

The benefits of CALRAs membership: 

Becoming a member of CALRAs is primarily about taking an important place in the international law reform community; supporting CALRAs in  promoting the role and value of law reform; and contributing to the development of  law reform agencies in other countries and regions.

Membership supports CALRAs in our aims and activities, and enables us to provide the following to law reform agencies and the wider law reform community:

1) The opportunity to attend and contribute to conferences to promote law reform and support law reform agencies:

• • • CALRAs has organised biennial conferences since 2005.
    • The conferences offer a unique and significant opportunity for representatives of law reform agencies in the Commonwealth and beyond to meet and network.
    • The conference programmes include presentations and discussions on key aspects of law reform methodology.
    • The conferences provide a forum for candid discussions about the issues that law reform bodies face; an exchange of best practices in law reform; the sharing of new ideas for law reform including emerging legal issues to be addressed. The conferences thereby assist in developing law reform capacity, especially for new and small state law reform agencies.
    • The conferences attract Chairs, Presidents, Chief Executives and officials of law reform agencies, Law Officers, legal academics, legislative counsel and Government officials.

2) Access to resources for law reform:

• • • CALRAs published a valuable and unique guide to law reform – Changing the Law: A Practical Guide to Law Reform, jointly with the Commonwealth Secretariat.  This publication has been used by agencies around the world and is available in hardback and on the CALRAs website.
    • CALRAs conference presentations and papers are placed on the CALRAs website as a resource for all.

 3) Representation at Ministerial level within the Commonwealth: 

• • • CALRAs submits reports on law reform and law reform agencies to the biennial meetings of Commonwealth Law Ministers.
    • CALRAs meets Ministers and their delegations, encouraging the establishment of new law reform agencies and seeks Government support and funding for existing agencies. 
    • This representational work keeps law reform and the work of law reform agencies on the agenda at the highest level.

4) Direct contact between law reform agencies:

• • • CALRAs can facilitate direct contact and sharing or support between individual law reform agencies.

5) Training and expert advice:

• • • CALRAs facilitates the provision of training and development, and expert advice, on law reform for new and existing members.
    • CALRAs can assist in identifying sources of funding for training where possible.

6) Liaison with key Commonwealth partners: 

• • • CALRAs liaises and maintains close relations with key Commonwealth partner organisations in the justice sector: the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel, and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association.

The work of CALRAs is largely based on the voluntary efforts of the General Secretary and Treasurer, guided and supported by a President, vice-President and Executive Committee members who all lead or hold office in an established law reform agency. CALRAs therefore does not have salary costs that are passed on to members.  CALRAs membership fees are at a minimal level to encourage all types of law reform agency to join.

Annual membership fees for each year are currently:-

• “Large” bodies £250
• “Small” bodies £100
• Individuals £20.

Where an organisation becomes a financial member of CALRAs, all current personnel in the organisation are covered without the need for a separate application or separate fee.

To apply, please use the application form. Information is available which may be of assistance when completing the form.

To view the list of Executive Committee Members, click – HERE