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CCAL Policies: Membership
MEMBERSHIP
A. Nominations, Application, and Appointment
The Board of Governors of The College has established a process for nominations to encourage the nomination of qualified candidates for membership in The College.
A candidate for membership may be nominated by one or more members of The College. Nominations will not be accepted from a current member of either the Board of Governors or the Membership Committee, or from a member of the same law firm or educational institution as the candidate. There is no required format for the nomination. A brief letter to the Board, describing generally the member's relationship with the candidate and why the candidate qualifies for membership, will suffice. After The College receives the nomination, an application will be sent to the nominee to be completed and forwarded to The College.
A candidate may also apply for admission to The College without being nominated by a member of The College. Upon receipt of a request for an application from such a candidate, The College shall send an application to the candidate to be completed and forwarded to The College. Each application for membership must be accompanied by two letters of recommendation. With respect to candidates who are nominated by one or more members of The College, each nomination letter shall be considered as a letter of recommendation.
B. Eligibility Criteria
1. The applicant must provide evidence that he or she is licensed to practice law, in good standing, in the highest court of the state, province, or other jurisdiction in which he or she resides.
2. A minimum of ten years legal practice is required with a demonstrated concentration in community association law, five of which must immediately precede the date of application. The ten years may include a combination of the following: litigation, corporate representation of community associations, lender and developer representation, and must constitute at least fifty percent (50%) of the applicant's current practice. Applicant should identify seminars or courses which he/she has taught or any publications he/she has written. In addition, the applicant should indicate the approximate number of community association projects with which he/she has been professionally involved and specify the applicant's role as counsel for the developer, lender, or association. Also, to the extent feasible, the applicant should provide the time frame during which the listed activities occurred. The percentage of practice currently devoted to community association law and the percentage for each of the five-year periods preceding the date of this application should also be indicated.
3. Writings and teaching must reflect a broad legal or educational purpose affecting the bar and the community association industry. Examples include papers, articles or other substantive works in the field, teaching and speaking before legal and nonlegal audiences, and drafting legislation and amicus briefs affecting the community association industry. In addition to local management company or firm newsletters, and other types of writings or teachings, The College will expect to see evidence of in-depth, scholarly writings, and substantive teachings. Law review quality articles, amicus briefs, legislation, legal treatises, and accredited law school teaching will usually satisfy this requirement, but they are not the exclusive means to quality. Overall, The College is looking for a combination of national and statewide exposure. Promotional materials and articles published in trade journals and CAI local chapter newsletters will not suffice.
4. Application materials as a whole must reflect that the applicant's professional achievements and conduct fulfill the basic eligibility standards and enhance the base of knowledge of the community association legal profession or industry. Examples include participation in the organized bar in areas related to the community association field, and contributions to organizations that advance professional expertise of community association practitioners or improve homeowner understanding of the association life-style, such as, CAI, the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, and the American Bar Association.
5. The applicant must demonstrate acceptable qualities of ethics, character, professionalism, service, and leadership. The College values community and public service leadership related to enhancing professional expertise and consumer education about the community association field. The College may conduct its own background check, including confidential character references, to assess the applicant's qualifications.
6. Members of The College must be members of CAI; however, an applicant for membership need not be a member at the time of application.
C. Nature and Conditions of Membership
There is one class of membership. Any lawyer licensed to practice in the highest court of any state, province, or other jurisdiction in the country in which he or she lives or practices, and who has had substantial experience in community association law for a period of not less than ten years, and who meets the qualification requirements, from time to time, established by the Board of Governors, shall be eligible for election and renewal as a Member of The College. Membership is conditioned upon becoming and remaining a member of CAI during the period the member is a Member. Members are expected to continue to be active in the practice of community association law and education.
D. Membership Term and Fees
Members are admitted, after having met the eligibility and criteria requirements. Membership in The College shall continue from year to year subject to the members' satisfaction of the conditions of membership and payment of the annual membership fee.
Application and annual membership fees are determined by the CAI Board of Trustees. Annual membership fees are due on receipt of invoice.
E. Meetings
1. Regular Meetings: The College will hold a meeting of the Members at each of The College's Annual Law Seminars during the year, at a time and place to be determined by the Board of Governors.
2. Special Meetings: Special Meetings of the Members between Annual Law Seminars may be called by the Board of Governors, at such time and place as the Board may designate.
F. Membership Expulsion and Re-election
1. Any Member disbarred or suspended from the practice of law pursuant to disciplinary proceedings of any licensing State Bar Association or of any court shall immediately cease to be a Member of The College and shall be ineligible for nomination and readmittance to membership during the period of suspension or disbarment.
2. Any Member who is more than six (6) months delinquent in the payment of annual membership fees shall be dropped from membership but shall be readmitted to membership upon payment of all deliquent membership fees.
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