Which category of Fellowship am I eligible to apply for?
IAFL has three classes of fellowship into which new Fellows may join:
- A Fellow is a practicing lawyer who at the time of admission is in active legal practice, has a significant part of their work advising on family law and who has a substantial international component to their practice.
- A Judicial Fellow is one who at the time of admission is a member of the judiciary
- An Associate Fellow is one who is not in active legal practice but who has made, or is making, a major contribution to international family law (for example academics or individuals employed by NGOs or charities).
If you are a practicing lawyer, the only category of fellowship open to you is that of Fellow (so, for example, if you are a practicing lawyer and a part-time judge or chair of a charity involved in family law you cannot choose to apply for a Judicial or Associate Fellowship).
What are the specific admission criteria to be a fellow?
You can find the admission criteria here. You can also find Supplementary Information specific to each Chapter here:-
Who should I ask to be references and what are they asked?
Detailed guidance and information on references can be found in the new online application form. If you have not got the new online application form please email admissions@iafl.com to request a copy.
Will the information I provide be shared with third parties?
No.
When will I hear if my application has been successful?
We will acknowledge your application when it is received. We will collect your references; you do not need to do this.
On receipt of your references, your application is forwarded to the members of the relevant Admissions Committee for consideration. The Admissions Committees generally meet four times a year. Once the Admissions Committee has concluded their deliberations, the application is considered by the Board of Admissions (which comprises the IAFL Executive Committee). This Board generally meets four times a year. In 2025 meetings will be held in March, May, October and December.
You should be aware that it is not uncommon for the Board of Admissions to defer taking a decision and to refer applications back for further enquiry. Ultimately, the decision to offer fellowship lies with the Board of Admissions.
Please note that the IAFL Admissions Secretary will not be able to provide you with updates as to progress, as they are not party to the deliberations of the Admissions Committees.
What are the costs?
The costs for making an application:
- There is an administration fee of $100 for all applications. The fee is not refundable, but if your application is successful, it is credited against your initial joining fee (which is a one-off payment of $175).
The costs of becoming a Fellow:
- If you are invited to become a Fellow, to join you need to pay (i) a one-off, initial joining fee of $175 (this becomes $75 when the application fee that you will have already paid is deducted); (ii) the first year’s annual dues, currently $550 per year, and (iii) annual Chapter dues, if you practice in one of the geographical areas covered by our Chapters: currently USA Chapter $250, European Chapter $225, Asia Pacific Chapter $150, and Canadian Chapter $200.
- If you are in a jurisdiction that qualifies for Tiered Dues, you are eligible for a discount on dues in the first three years of Fellowship. In the first year you will receive a 66% reduction thus dues payable will be $183 (as opposed to $550) and, if applicable, Chapter dues will be reduced from $225 to $75 for qualifying jurisdictions in Europe, or from $150 to $50 for qualifying jurisdictions in Asia.
- Note: Chapter membership is not optional; if you practice in a part of the world where there is a Chapter, you are required to be a member of that Chapter. you are unsure about whether your jurisdiction falls within one of the Chapters, please ask.
- If you join the IAFL as a full Fellow partway through the year, your dues are prorated.
- If you are invited to become a Judicial or Associate Fellow, to join you need to pay (i) a one-off, initial joining fee of $175 (this becomes $75 when the application fee that you will have already paid is deducted); (ii) the first year’s annual dues, currently $80 per year.
The ongoing costs of Fellowship:
- Each calendar year you will need to pay IAFL annual dues. Payment is requested in advance by credit card and due by 1 January each year.
- For those qualifying for Tiered Dues, the discount is automatically applied to the invoice you received.
- Fellows who are in a Chapter, will need to pay Chapter annual dues. Payment is made at the same time as your IAFL annual dues.
We recognize that the costs of Fellowship may be prohibitive for some. If you wish, for whatever reason, to apply for a reduction in the dues, such an application would be considered and dealt with confidentially at the point of accepting an invitation to join the IAFL, or at any time subsequently.
The costs of attending meetings:
Currently the IAFL holds four meetings a year - the IAFL annual meeting and AGM; the European Chapter meeting (held in Europe), the joint USA and Canadian Chapters meeting (held in the US or Canada) and the Asia Pacific Chapter meeting.
For each meeting, you need to pay a registration fee; this varies from meeting to meeting but is generally between $950-$1,300. The Education program and some activities, such as drinks receptions, are included in the registration fee, but the cost of other activities is additional. The activities are optional. Participants are encouraged to stay in the conference hotel.
We recognize that the costs of attending meetings can be prohibitive for some, and there is a fund to help with the cost, for those who wish to make use of it. Applications for such assistance are dealt with confidentially. The initial approach should be to the Executive Director, Annie Dunster (annie.dunster@iafl.com).
Can I come to a meeting if I am not a Fellow to see what it’s like?
If you are thinking of applying in future, one of the most valuable things to do is to register for one of our meetings as a lawyer guest. If you don’t know an existing Fellow well enough to ask to come as their guest, do contact our Executive Director, Annie Dunster (annie.dunster@iafl.com), and she can arrange for one of our Fellows to be introduced to you, so that you can come as their guest.
Note, once you are eligible to apply for Fellowship, you may only attend a maximum of two of our Chapter or Academy meetings before you apply for Fellowship. If your application for Fellowship is unsuccessful, this limit is re-set. We do periodically hold other meetings which can be attended as many times as you like - these are specifically designed for more junior, or general practitioners or for a specific geographical region.
Although I am admitted in one jurisdiction, I also practice in another/other places; where will I be listed as a Fellow?
You will be listed in the jurisdiction(s) for which you have been admitted.
