Membership FAQs

Join the IBA

By joining the IBA you become part of the leading global network of lawyers. Partners from virtually every major law firm in every major city worldwide are members; they join the IBA for its combination of education, information and networking.

IBA membership gives you access to:

  • All IBA membership programmatic materials – hundreds of articles, films, webinars and podcasts
  • Discounts to participate in IBA committee virtual conferences to keep up to date with developments in your specialisms
  • Discounts to delegate fees for in-person committee events and conferences
  • Free access to IBA committee webinars – an opportunity to learn and meet other delegates
  • Online committee networking sessions to make new contacts and renew friendships
  • Access to the wide variety of IBA reports and surveys covering areas such as gender inequality and business and human rights
  • Speaking opportunities at both online and in-person events to raise your profile
  • Writing opportunities in committee publications to widen your influence
  • Contributing to and taking part in IBA projects – be part of and contribute to the IBA’s work
  • Access to the IBA membership directory – find and reach out to new contacts
  • The ability to identify and get to know future cross-border connections and working partners
  • The opportunity to build cross-border cultural and legal knowledge

Membership of the IBA is open to all members of the legal profession, including attorneys, counsellors, solicitors, barristers, advocates, members of the judiciary, and full-time professors and students of law.

Membership runs from 1 January to 31 December.

Those joining after 1 September will receive member benefits for the remainder of that calendar year at no extra cost, if membership is paid at the time of joining. That’s up to 16 months membership for the price of 12! This applies to new members only.

Membership certificates are not distributed to members as a standard. Members can order a membership certificate by emailing us at member@int-bar.org, at an additional charge of £15 per certificate.

The IBA is a non-regulatory body and membership does not entitle anyone to practice law in any jurisdiction.

No, however, if a significant number of lawyers from your firm wish to become members of the IBA, your firm or company may want to consider joining as group or corporate members.

No. IBA membership runs from 1 January to 31 December and it is not pro-rated.

A discounted rate is available for full-time academics, judges, government lawyers, retired lawyers and lawyers from low-income countries.

If for any reason you wish to cancel your IBA membership, please email us at member@int-bar.org.

After joining, the following levels of refund will be made on the membership fee paid:

  • Up to 30 days – full refund
  • 31-90 days – refund minus 25 per cent administration charge
  • Over 90 days – no refund

If you have registered for an IBA conference at the member rate, you are not eligible for a refund. Refunds will be made minus any monies owed to the IBA.

Your donation goes towards supporting the IBA Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and its activities worldwide, promoting and protecting human rights and the independence of the legal professions worldwide (see more), but if you wish to request a refund of your donation, it can be refunded in full if requested within 90 days of joining. Please email us at member@int-bar.org.

We are now issuing proforma invoices rather than final invoices as we recognise income on a cash receipts basis. As such, we cannot issue an invoice until the pro-forma invoice is paid. This is a recognised practice by HMRC as per guidelines published in 1970 (see below) and allows us to comply with the VAT regulations imposed on us by United Kingdom authorities.

The invoice will be issued as soon as payment is received. The proforma invoice contains all the details that would be included on an invoice, including the VAT rate charged.

HMRC Published Guidelines (1970)

If you need to issue a sales document for goods or services you have not supplied yet, you issue a pro-forma invoice.’

A proforma invoice is a valid invoice requiring your payment; it is not a VAT invoice (you can download the invoice once your payment has been allocated, or you can request it from the membership team at member@int-bar.org).