Society By-Laws2
BY-LAWS TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Article I, General Provisions and Property Interests
Article II, Membership
Article III, Meetings of Members
Article IV, Society Powers
Article V, Officers and Employees
Article VI, Committees
Article VII, Miscellaneous
Artticle VIII, Amendments
Categories of membership shall be Trial Consultant, Academic/Teacher, Academic/Student, Associate, Attorney, and Emeritus. Members may self-select the category of membership that best describes them with one exception. Emeritus membership is not self-selected, but rather awarded by the Pro-Bono and Awards Committee. Academic/Student memberships are open to individuals who are enrolled full-time at institutions of higher education.
Trial Consultant, Academic/Teacher, Academic/Student, Associate, and Attorney membership shall be for a period of one (1) year. Emeritus membership is a lifetime award.
Membership dues shall be set by the Board on an annual basis or on any other basis established by the Board. Membership dues shall be collected by the Executive Director.
(1) Membership shall be automatically renewed by payment of the annual dues. The procedure for subsequent admission to membership in the Society shall be the same as for initial admission in the Society.
(2) Anyone who has any other outstanding financial balance owing and due to the Society who fails to pay said debt within a reasonable time, shall have their membership denied or suspended and may not join or renew their membership until all outstanding debts are paid or otherwise dismissed by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
(3) Anyone who fails to apply or reapply for membership or pay valid annual dues in accordance with the By-Laws and any rules and regulations of the Society, shall have said membership automatically denied or terminated.
Any member resigning membership shall not be entitled to any refund of dues.
Trial Consultant, Academic/Teacher, Attorney and Emeritus members of the Society shall have the right to one vote at the annual meeting or any other membership meeting of the Society in their second year of membership. Said vote must be cast by the member personally and not by proxy. In addition, Trial Consultant, Academic/Teacher, Attorney and Emeritus members have the right to vote by mail on any official ballot submitted to the membership.
Membership in the Society is non-transferable and non-assignable.
A written record of the membership of the Society shall be kept by the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall provide a copy of the membership roll, together with periodic updates of that membership roll, to the Secretary-Treasurer and the Directory Editor. The membership roll shall contain the name, address, and telephone number of each individual member. In any case where any membership has been terminated for any reason whatsoever, an entry of such fact shall be made on the membership roll, together with the date upon which said membership was terminated.
Certificates of Membership shall be of such form and device as the Board may prescribe. Upon receipt of application and payment of dues, a Certificate of Membership shall be issued to each member. Issuance to and acceptance by a member of such certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the consent of the member to become a member of the Society, and of an agreement to comply with and be governed by all of the provisions of the By-Laws of the Society.