Affiliate Associations Policy
LOS ANGELES COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION
AFFILIATED ASSOCIATIONS POLICY
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Amended August 28, 2024
- PURPOSE
Pursuant to Article IX of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (“LACBA Bylaws”) as amended June 14, 2023, the Affiliated Associations Policy (this “Policy”) establishes the procedures for affiliated relationships, not inconsistent with the LACBA Bylaws, including but not limited to establishing criteria of qualifications, application requirements, annual verification of affiliated status, rules for termination, and procedures for reinstatement of affiliated status.
- SCOPE
This Policy applies to other bar or legal associations (“Bar Association”) in Los Angeles County which meet the qualifications outlined in this Policy.
- QUALIFICATIONS
An association meeting all of the following qualifications is eligible to be an Affiliated Bar Association (an “Affiliated Association”):
3.1. It has a commonality of interest and purpose with LACBA at the time of its application for Affiliated Association status and throughout the course of its Affiliated Association relationship with LACBA, as assessed through various factors, including the following:
3.1.1. The Affiliate Association’s purposeful and deliberate decision or action to attain affiliate status, such as expressed through a passage of a board resolution to this effect;
3.1.2. The Affiliate Association’s expressed interest in co-sponsoring or proposal for co-sponsoring an event (monetary or non-monetary) with LACBA; and
3.1.3. The Affiliate Association’s commitment to have a representative give a report to LACBA’s Board of Trustees regarding the activities of the organization based on invitation.
3.2. It is geographically based in the County of Los Angeles, or a part thereof; and
3.3. It is dedicated to legal matters generally, without limitation to a particular branch or subdivision of the law, provided, however, that the Board of Trustees, for good cause shown, may waive this requirement and revoke any prior waiver of this requirement.
3.4. It has a total membership of at least twenty-five (25) at the time of its application for affiliation, and continues to maintain a total membership of at least twenty-five (25) throughout the course of its Affiliated Association relationship with LACBA.
3.5. It agrees that this Policy may from time to time be amended by the LACBA Board of Trustees, and in which case, notification of such amendments shall be given within 30 days.
- APPLICATION FOR AFFILIATION
4.1. An application for affiliation must be submitted to LACBA online with a statement that expresses the Bar Association’s interest in Affiliated Association status and states that it satisfies the qualifications for this status as set forth in Section 3 of this Policy. The Executive Director & CEO of LACBA will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees regarding affiliated association status. Affiliated Association status is subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees. Applications are accepted year-round.
4.2. The Board of Trustees may approve or reject any such application for affiliation. In deciding whether to approve or reject such application, the Board of Trustees may consider, among other factors:
4.2.1. Whether affiliation of the applicant will adversely affect LACBA generally, or any existing Section or committee of LACBA in particular; and
4.2.2. Whether it may be in the best interests of LACBA in the future to create a Section or committee covering the same branch or subdivision of the law as the applicant.
- VERIFICATION OF AFFILIATED STATUS
Every odd-numbered calendar year, each Affiliated Association must renew its application no later than August 15 by submitting to the Executive Director & CEO at ed@lacba.org a Board resolution that expresses the Bar Association’s interest in continued Affiliated Association status and states that it will continue to satisfy the qualifications for this status as set forth in Section 3 of this Policy. Renewed applications will be evaluated and continued affiliated association status will be verified by LACBA Staff according to the qualifications outlined in Section 3 of this Policy. Continued affiliated association status will not require Board of Trustees approval, except in case-by-case basis or as recommended by the Executive Director & CEO. No later than October 30 of each year, the Executive Director & CEO will notify each Affiliated Association of its Affiliated Status.
- TERMINATION OF AFFILIATED ASSOCIATION STATUS
6.1. An Affiliated Association’s status as an affiliate of LACBA may automatically terminate (and all rights and privileges of its members based on such Affiliated Associations Status may likewise terminate) if the Affiliated Association does not renew its application in accordance with Section 5 of this Policy and ensuing a 30 days’ courtesy reminder notice following the deadline of August 15, or if the association notifies the Executive Director & CEO to discontinue such affiliated relationship.
6.2. The Board of Trustees may vote to terminate any Affiliated Association’s status as an affiliate of LACBA. Effective immediately upon transmission of notice to such Affiliated Association of such a vote by the Board of Trustees, or such later date as may be specified in such notice, such association's status as an affiliate of LACBA will terminate (and all rights and privileges of its affiliate members based on such Affiliated Association status will likewise terminate) without further action or notice.
- REINSTATEMENT OF AFFILIATED STATUS
If the affiliated status of an association is terminated pursuant to Section 6 of this Policy, then such association may be eligible to reapply pursuant to Section 4 of this Policy.
- POLICY AUTHORITY
The Board of Trustees have the sole power to resolve any affiliated-related matters arising under the LACBA Bylaws or this Policy.
