Student Member
Proof of current enrolment in a law or related programme (LLB, JD, LLM, PhD or equivalent). No age restriction.
Includes: Exchange with practitioners and researchers across legal traditions
SCLA Membership
A community working for the public good through law
Learn from cross-border perspectives, exchange professional experience and contribute to work with a public purpose. SCLA membership brings together students, legal professionals, scholars and institutions who value cross-cultural understanding, professional integrity and public responsibility.
Why Join SCLA
SCLA connects cultures through law, makes legal knowledge more accessible and turns professional cooperation into public benefit.
Founded in Geneva in 2019, SCLA grew from legal exchange between Switzerland and China and today connects that foundation with a wider international conversation about access to law, cross-cultural cooperation and the public good.
Every member receives
- Membership number and verifiable digital certificate
- Selected legal updates, comparative analysis and topic tracking from the SCLA Legal Observatory
- Invitations to SCLA dialogues, lectures and roundtables
- Opportunities to contribute to research, public education and public-interest initiatives
Membership grades are assessed — not selected or purchased. You never choose your own category: SCLA offers the category your evidence supports.
Membership Categories
Experience thresholds are guidelines, not automatic rejection rules. In-house, public-sector, NGO, academic and legal-adjacent work, pro bono work and mediation are recognised alongside private practice.
Associate Member
Legal education, early-stage practice or legal-adjacent professional work: early-career lawyers, trainees, paralegals, legal translators, compliance staff and similar roles.
Includes: A place in a community working across Swiss, Chinese and European legal cultures
Member
Substantial legal practice, academic work or professional experience — normally around five years — as a qualified lawyer, in-house counsel, legal academic or other established legal professional.
Includes: Recognition of your established legal practice or scholarship
Fellow
Senior standing plus demonstrable contribution, such as publications, arbitration or judicial service, institution-building, or China–Switzerland or international legal exchange. Always requires human endorsement; an interview is optional.
Includes: SCLA's highest individual grade, recognising a significant contribution to Swiss–Chinese or international legal cooperation
Institutional Member
A verified legal entity — law firm, university, arbitral institution, bar association, chamber or corporate legal department — with a named authorised representative. Both the entity and the representative are verified.
Includes: Recognition of your institution's commitment to legal cooperation; Named seats for colleagues (seats do not grant individual membership grades)
Eligibility and Evidence
- Student Member: proof of current enrolment in a law or related programme (LLB, JD, LLM, PhD).
- Associate Member: legal education, early-stage practice or legal-adjacent professional work.
- Member: substantial legal practice, academic work or professional experience — normally around five years.
- Fellow: senior standing plus demonstrable contribution, such as publications, arbitration or judicial service, institution-building, or China–Switzerland legal exchange. Always endorsed by people; an interview is optional.
- Institutional Member: a verified legal entity with a named authorised representative.
What we never use
Nationality, language fluency and firm prestige are never used as a measure of competence. Bar admission is not required for any category; if you rely on a bar admission or professional title, we verify it.
Individual or institution
Individuals apply for themselves. Law firms, universities, arbitral institutions, bar associations, chambers and corporate legal departments apply through a named authorised representative; Institutional Membership includes named seats for colleagues.
Application and Assessment
How It Works
- ApplyTell us about your legal education, practice and contribution. Save and return at any time.
- AssessmentAn AI-assisted assessment compares your evidence with the published criteria. People review Fellow, Institutional and exceptional cases — and any case on request.
- Private offerSCLA offers the appropriate category. The annual fee and terms are shared privately with your offer.
- Accept & activateAccept your membership and pay securely online. Nothing is charged before you accept.
- Member Area & certificateDownload your verifiable certificate, renew, manage invoices and, for institutions, named seats.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is my application assessed?
SCLA uses an AI-assisted assessment to compare the information you provide with the approved criteria and to explain which category your evidence supports. Uploaded documents are treated as your evidence only. The AI does not make final decisions on Fellow or Institutional membership, and any applicant can ask for human review. Missing information leads to a question, never an automatic rejection.
Can I choose my membership category?
No. Membership grades are assessed, not selected or purchased. SCLA offers the highest category your evidence supports.
Do I need to be admitted to the bar?
No. Bar admission is not required for any category. If your application relies on a bar admission or another professional title, we ask for evidence or the public register where it can be verified.
How much does membership cost?
Annual membership fees are communicated privately with your offer. Applying carries no obligation to join, and you see the complete fee, currency and terms before you accept.
What if I disagree with the outcome?
You can request a reconsideration from your Member Area at any time after a decision or offer. It is reviewed by an assessor who was not involved in the first decision.
How does renewal work?
Membership runs for 12 months from activation. Renewal is not automatic: before your membership expires we will send you a renewal offer. Renewal does not require a new application.
Does membership give access to UN meetings?
No. SCLA membership does not automatically confer United Nations representative status or access to UN meetings. Participation in specific activities is subject to the relevant procedures and eligibility requirements.
What does the certificate mean?
The SCLA certificate recognises SCLA membership. It is not an academic degree, a licence to practise law or a government accreditation. SCLA membership does not confer United Nations representative status or access to UN meetings. Anyone can check a certificate's current status on the verification page.
Put your knowledge to work for others
Tell us about your legal education, practice and contribution. SCLA will assess your application and offer the appropriate membership category. Annual membership fees are communicated privately with your offer. Applying carries no obligation to join.