Why become a member
EAPIL members have the opportunity to participate in the life of the Association and influence its development and new activities.
Some of the activities endorsed by the Association are reserved to its members such as, in particular, the participation in expert groups set up to draft EAPIL reports and position papers.
Who can become a member
Membership in the European Association of Private International Law is opened to anybody – academic or practitioner – with an expertise, or an interest, in private international law, regardless of their nationality or residence. Entities, such as research institutions and law firms, may be admitted as institutional members.
Types of Membership
The European Association of Private International has four kind of members: ordinary members, associate members, institutional members and honorary members.
Ordinary membership is open to natural persons with competences and experience in private international law. Those wishing to apply for ordinary membership do not need to show that they have such competences and experience insofar as they: (a) hold a relevant permanent or a long-term post in an academic or research institution; (b) have earned a PhD, or equivalent degree, in private international law; (c) authored several publications in the field of private international law; or (d) have a professional experience of at least three years and have been involved as judge, arbitrator, attorney or counsel in several matters raising issues of private international law. Outside the above cases, applicants are required to provide evidence of their competences and experience in private international law. Further details are provided below in this page, in the Application section.
Associate membership is meant for natural persons who hold a University degree in law and who declare having an interest in European private international law. Exceptionally, persons who have not yet earned a degree in law may be admitted as associate members if they show to possess competences in private international law. See below, in the Application section, for further details.
Institutional membership is for legal persons and entities whose activity is related to private international law or who are involved in matters raising issues of private international law.
Honorary membership is granted to natural persons who have dedicated their professional life, or a significant part of it, to private international law, and whose merits are generally recognised.
Applications
Those wishing to become a member of the European Association of Private International Law are encouraged to fill in the application form available by clicking the red “Membership” button in this page.
Applicants are asked to state by which circumstances they comply with the requirements described above.
In addition, those applying for associate membership who have not yet earned a degree in law are required to provide written evidence of their competences in private international law (for instance, by enclosing a transcript of the courses they attended, or a declaration by a University professor attesting the special interest of the applicant in private international law).
Please note that the Secretary General may request that applicants submit documents showing that they meet the requirements to become members, or provide further details relevant to their admission.
Admission
Applications are examined by the Board of Administration. Applicants will receive an email from the Secretary General as soon as the process is complete.
Membership duration
Membership in the European Association of Private International Law is understood to last for an indefinite period. Members wishing to leave the Association may do so by filling in the form available here.
Membership upgrade
Those admitted as associate member are invited to upgrade to ordinary membership as soon as they meet the requirements to be admitted as such. This can be done by the dedicated form that cane be found here.
Fees
Members are asked to pay an annual fee. The amount varies according to the type of membership: (a) ordinary members: 50 Euros; (b) associate members: 30 Euros; (c) institutional members: 200 Euros.
The fees are due on 31 January every year. For newly admitted members, the payment is due by the end of the calendar month of admission.
Those who apply for membership in November or December are not required to pay the fees for the calendar year in which their application was made.
Please visit this page to pay the fees.