San Diego Legal Secretaries Association Membership Information

Membership Benefits
Membership Requirements and Levels
Membership Dues
Apply or Renew for Membership

SDLSA is a non-profit, mutual benefit corporation; Membership is open to persons employed as legal support staff in the offices of attorneys who practice law in California. Also eligible for membership are attorneys, persons employed in the courts, and persons employed in other offices or institutions directly engaged in any work of a legal nature in San Diego County. Our objectives and purposes are to join together for the further education of legal secretaries and to cooperate with attorneys, judges and bar associations in stimulating a high order of professional standards and ethics among those performing secretarial and other duties in law offices. We encourage friendship, cooperation and an exchange of ideas among members. All SDLSA members are affiliated with Legal Secretaries, Incorporated, a statewide organization.

Membership Benefits

SDLSA offers the following benefits and programs, in addition to many others:

Subscription to The Legal Secretary, a quarterly magazine published by LSI;
Subscription to Legalines, a monthly bulletin published by SDLSA;
Monthly membership meetings with featured guest speakers;
Legal education classes, both beginning and advanced, on legal procedures;
Credit union membership, insurance plans (dental and medical), as well as Hertz and Wells Fargo membership benefits, AAA, 1-800-Flowers.com discount, AFLAC discount, and long term care discount.
California Certified Legal Secretary program (CCLS).

Membership Requirements and Levels

Applicants must have been continuously employed in San Diego for a period of at least six months or elsewhere for a continuous period of at least 12 months. Associate and Student memberships are available for those not meeting active membership requirements.

Membership Dues

Required Annual Dues by May 1, 2011. Dues postmarked after May 31, 2011 are subject to a $10 penalty. Late renewals will not be processed unless accompanied by the penalty fee. Pursuant to Standing Rule No. 5, a collection fee of $15, plus bank charges shall be assessed for each returned check.

Active Membership: $50
Associate Membership: $15
Student Membership: $15
Retired Member: $0
Life Member: $0
Honorary Member: $0
After November 1, active memberships are $35 until May 1.

Apply or Renew for Membership

You can apply or renew your SDLSA Membership online using our Membership Form below. Applying or renewing online uses Paypal in order for you to pay for your annual dues. If you would rather pay by check, you can mail in your membership form using a downloadable PDF form.

Register by Mail - Downloadable Forms

Membership Form (New Members Only) (PDF)
Membership Renewal Form (Current Members) (PDF)

Register Online

Please select the correct link below to register on-line. Please state the information exactly how you would like it published in SDLSA's Roster.

1. ACTIVE

a. An active member shall be a person (1) employed as legal support staff in the office of any attorney engaged in the practice of law; (2) licensed to practice law; (3) employed by the courts; or (4) as owner of or employed in any other institution or office directly engaged in work of a legal nature, in California; provided that they have been so employed in San Diego County for a continuous period of at least six (6) months, or elsewhere for a continuous period of at least one (1) year. An active member may retain such status, though not employed as above set forth, provided such member has been an active member of SDLSA for at least one year, and shall have all the rights and privileges of active membership except eligibility for elective office.

b. Someone who continuously retains active membership, regardless of change to employment not described in Section A.1.a. above.

2. ASSOCIATE

An associate member shall be: (1) a graduate of high school, college or business school, (2) intent on changing careers or re-entering the work force; and, (3) desiring to become a legal secretary. An associate member may retain such status for only one (1) year and may not vote or hold office.

3. STUDENT

A student member shall be a college or business school student enrolled in legal secretarial courses. A student member may retain such status for only two (2) years and may not vote or hold office.

4. RETIRED

A retired member shall be a former active member of SDLSA who has maintained continuous membership for the prior fifteen (15) years and is eligible for social security and no longer employed full time. A retired member shall have all the rights and privileges of an active member.

5. LIFE

A life member shall be any past president of SDLSA who applies for life membership status by written application to the Board of at the beginning of the fiscal year in which he or she wants to become a life member. A life member may not hold office, make motions or vote.

6. HONORARY

An honorary member shall be a person who has performed a special service to SDLSA or to the community. An honorary member may not hold office, make motions or vote.