Apply Online to Become a Member (Recommended Method-Support a Green Environment)
If you intend to pay with a credit card (Visa, Mastercard or AMEX), apply for membership using the fast and easy online applications detailed below.
Online applications and payments will be processed automatically and you will receive immediate confirmation of receipt for your records.
Once you have applied and submitted payment, you can quickly access your member benefits and manage your membership online. See other options to join at the bottom of this page. |
The NACDL Bylaws divides membership into the following categories: |
| Regular, New Lawyer, Law Professor, Public Defender, Military, Law Student, Associate, Life, President’s Club, Sustaining members. The eligibility requirements and application for each category are highlighted below.
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| Regular membership in the Association is available to attorneys of professional competence, integrity and good moral character who are actively engaged in or retired from the defense of criminal cases. Regular member dues are $290. |
| Regular Member Application |
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Public Defender membership is available to attorneys of professional competence, integrity, and good moral character who are in the full-time employ of a local, state or federal public defender office or legal service agency. Public Defender membership dues are currently $125. |
| Public Defender Member Application |
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| New Lawyer membership in the Association is available to attorneys of professional competence, integrity and good moral character who are actively engaged in the defense of criminal cases and who have been admitted to the Bar for less than three years. New Lawyer member dues are currently $165. |
| New Lawyer Member Application |
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| Law Student membership is available to persons of integrity and good moral character who are students in law school. Law Student member dues are currently $55. |
| Student Member Application |
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Law Professor membership is available to professors employed full time on the faculty of an accredited law school. Law Professor member dues are currently $150. |
| Law Professor Member Application |
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Associate membership is available to persons of integrity and good moral character who are not actively engaged in the defense of criminal cases, but whose duties and responsibilities are a part of, or contribute to, the defense of criminal cases. Included in this category are members of the judiciary and non-lawyers who support the goals and objectives of the Association. Associate membership dues are currently $175. |
| Associate Member Application |
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| International lawyers who reside outside of US and Canada are eligible to join under NACDL's international lawyer membership rate of $165. |
| International Member Application |
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| Military membership is available to all full-time, active duty military lawyers engaged primarily in criminal defense. Military membership dues are currently $150. |
| Military Member Application |
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| A Regular, Public Defender, Law Professor, Military, New Lawyer, President’s Club or Sustaining Members may become Life Members by paying a onetime dues payment of $5,000 in lieu of an annual dues payment. Convenient payment plans have been established which spread the payment over 2 to 5 years. Life members also receive special recognition in the NACDL Annual Handbook with picture, as well as, a special award in recognition of your lifetime commitment to NACDL. |
| Life Member Application |
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| Regular, Public Defender, Law Professor, Military, New Lawyer, or Sustaining Members are eligible to become President's Club members. President's Club membership rates are currently $625. |
| President's Club Member Application |
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The title of Sustaining Member is conferred by the Board of Directors on a Regular, Public Defender, Law Professor, Military or New Lawyer who in lieu of the regular membership dues, pays dues in an amount established by the Board of Directors. Sustaining Member dues are currently $425. |
| Sustaining Member Application |
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| Download a Membership Application Form. Please return completed form with a check for the applicable dues to our address below.
For further information, contact membership at (202) 872-8600 or e-mail membership@nacdl.org.
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