Membership with the Corporate Counsel Association of South Africa
The Corporate Counsel Association's members represent over 80 leading corporations and organisations across South Africa, including many of the country’s top blue-chip companies.
Membership is open—subject to approval by the Membership Committee—to a broad range of legal professionals and affiliated roles, including: Corporate Counsel, Company Secretaries, Legal Practitioners and Law Firms, Legal Consultants, Legal Interns, Legal Operations Officers, Paralegals, Legal Support Staff, Compliance Officers, Risk Managers, and Employment Agencies specialising in the legal sector.
Membership categories
The Corporate Counsel Association offers three distinct membership categories—each designed to provide tailored benefits that support your professional development, enhance your legal and business skills, and connect you with a dynamic network of in-house legal professionals.
1. Ordinary Membership
Ideal for:
Individual Corporate Counsel joining the Corporate Counsel Association independently
Legal departments registering up to 9 team members
2. Corporate Membership
Ideal for:
Legal departments registering 10 or more team members as Corporate Counsel members
3. Associate Membership
Open to a wide range of professionals working in or alongside the legal sector, including:
Legal Practitioners and Law Firms
Legal Consultants and Interns
Legal Operations Officers
Paralegals and Legal Support Staff
Compliance Officers and Risk Managers
Employment Agencies specialising in legal recruitment
Membership criteria
When applying for Corporate Counsel membership, the following criteria apply:
Applicants must show that they:
are a fit and proper person to be so registered;
are South African citizens or is ordinarily resident in South Africa;
actively and bona fide practices as corporate counsel;
is or is entitled to be admitted to practice as a Legal Practitioner in South Africa; or
has satisfied all the requirements for the degrees of Baccalaureus Legum, Baccalaureus Procurationis or Baccalaureus Iuris of any university in South Africa, or any degree which, in the opinion of the Board, is equivalent thereto; or by virtue of his training and experience is, in the opinion of the Board, qualified to practice as a corporate counsel in South Africa;
by virtue of their current or past employment has, in the opinion of the Board, a bona fide interest in being a member of the Corporate Counsel Association; and
by virtue of their membership will, in the opinion of the Board, contribute to the attainment of the objects of the Corporate Counsel Association.
View the Corporate Counsel's Membership Policy
Member Products and Services
No other Professional Body is in a position to deliver a service which assists Corporate Counsel across South Africa with the development of their professional skills and careers as well as the Corporate Counsel Association. Some of these services are included in the annual membership subscription fee, but others, such as the certification program, training courses and networking events are on a fee basis, with a discount offered to Corporate Counsel members. The value-added in-house counsel services developed for Corporate Counsel include:
Certified Professional Designations: Gain a competitive advantage in your career, grow your influence and earning potential by obtaining a certified Corporate Counsel designation. It is the only certification program for Corporate Counsel of its kind in South Africa.
Courses: Topic specific workshops which ensure that Corporate Counsel keep up to date with developments in law and business. A variety of informal educational courses are offered each year which are presented by Corporate Counsel for Corporate Counsel. All courses are run live and online.
Legislation Update Sessions: These sessions cover relevant changes to laws which impact on the Corporate Counsel’s day-to-day activities and outputs.
TeamTalks: TeamTalks are held online on a monthly basis and cover legal Best Practices and challenges facing Corporate Counsel.
e-Magazine: Corporate Counsel's regular newsletter titled “In-House Brief” which reports on the Corporate Counsel's activities and contains articles of interest to Corporate Counsel and the legal profession in general.
Online Resources: Complementary access to popular online tools and resources such as the Corporate Counsel Knowledgebox, Lexology’s weekly newsstand, surveys about the profession and much more.
CCASAlerters: Information at your fingertips. Stay informed on leading trends in the legal profession through CCASAlerters.
Template of the Month: Once a month, a “Template of the Month” is shared with members. These generic templates take the form of various types of agreements or policies which Corporate Counsel deals with on a regular basis.
Representations: The Corporate Counsel Association is the national voice and forum for Corporate Counsel in South Africa. From time-to-time we make representations to the relevant regulatory authorities on matters concerning Corporate Counsel and their work fields.
Surveys: Exclusive access to surveys on compensation for Corporate Counsel, including the opinions and practices of other in-house lawyers.
Liaison with other Associations: The Corporate Counsel Association has strong alliances with corporate counsel organisations around the world, including being a member of In-house Counsel Worldwide (ICW). ICW is a global network of associations that is focused on the profession of in-house counsel. Member associations have formed a community of international in-house counsel working together to promote the value of the in-house profession, share knowledge and best practices across borders and foster global connections.
Mentoring: Senior Corporate Counsel members are available to provide mentorship to in-house professionals.
The CCASA Foundation Trust Scholarship: The CCASA Foundation Trust awards scholarships to carefully selected previously disadvantaged South African law students on a regular basis.