Section 1. Classification and Roster of Members.(a)Classes of Membership. There are four classes of membership in the Alaska Bar Association: (1) Active Members. Any person now or hereafter admitted to the practice of law in Alaska and membership in the Alaska Bar Association is an active member and shall maintain active membership status unless the member: (A) transfers, or is transferred, to inactive or retired status; (B) resigns from Association membership; (C) is placed on interim disability or disability inactive status; or (D) is suspended or disbarred. (2) Inactive Members. Inactive membership in the Alaska Bar is limited to members who no longer engage in the practice of law or hold judicial office or any other legal position in the State of Alaska. (3) Retired Members. Retired membership in the Alaska Bar is limited to former active or inactive members of the Alaska Bar who are 65 years of age or older and who no longer engage in the practice of law or hold judicial office or any other legal position in the State of Alaska or any other jurisdiction. (4) Honorary Members. Deserving Alaskan citizens, any district court judge not already a member of the Bar, and distinguished visitors who have contributed to the purposes of the Alaska Bar Association may be accorded honorary membership in the Association upon a vote of the members of the Board or a majority of the members in attendance at an annual business meeting of the Bar. (b)Roster of Members. The Association shall keep a roster for the enrollment of all members of the Alaska Bar. The roster shall contain such information as the Board may determine to be proper and desirable. Section 2. Transfer from Active Membership to Inactive or Retired Status.(a)Methods of Transfer. Only the following methods are effective to transfer from active status to inactive or retired membership: (1) Written request by the member to, and permission to transfer granted by, the Executive Director, pursuant to transfer request procedures set forth in the Board's Standing Policies; (2) Transfer by the Board of Governors, after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been afforded the member; or (3) Transfer to interim disability or disability inactive status by the Supreme Court of Alaska, pursuant to Bar Rule 30.(b)Member Transfer Requests. Requests from members to transfer from active to inactive or retired status may be granted if submitted to the Executive Director no later than January 1 of the applicable year. Section 3. Privileges of Inactive, Retired, or Honorary Members.An inactive, retired, or honorary member may participate in Bar and Board meetings, may be appointed to any standing or special committee, and may join any Bar section, but he or she may not hold office or vote.
Section 4. Transfer from Inactive or Retired Membership to Active Status.(a)Transfer if Inactive or Retired for One Year or More. Upon written request to the Board, a member who has been inactive or retired for one year or more may be transferred to active status if (1) the Board finds the requesting member possesses character and fitness to practice law as provided in Alaska Bar Rule 2, Section 1(d), pursuant to procedures set forth in the Board's Standing Policies; and (2) full, annual active membership fees are paid for the current year, less any inactive fees previously remitted for that year. (b)Transfer if Inactive or Retired for Less Than One Year. Upon written request to the Executive Director, a member who has been inactive or retired for less than one year may be granted transfer to active status by the Executive Director, pursuant to Board policy, if full annual active membership fees are paid for the current year, less any inactive fees previously remitted for that year. (c)Board Eligibility Determination. The Board, after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been afforded the member, may transfer a member from inactive or retired status to active membership status if the Board determines that the member is no longer eligible for inactive or retired status. Upon transfer by the Board, the member shall pay full annual active membership fees for the current year, less any inactive fees previously remitted for that year. Section 5. Member in Good Standing.Any active or inactive member of the Alaska Bar Association who has paid the requisite membership fees for the current calendar year and who has not been transferred to interim disability or disability inactive status, or been suspended or disbarred, is a member in good standing and entitled to all of the privileges and benefits accorded Bar members.
Section 6. Membership Card.(a)Certification of Good Standing. Each member of the Alaska Bar Association who is currently a member in good standing of the Alaska Bar annually shall be issued an official membership card which shall contain the member's name, current membership status, the seven-digit membership number assigned to the member upon admission to the Bar, and other information the Board determines appropriate for inclusion on the card. (b)Revocation of Certification. A member's card shall be surrendered to the Bar when a member: (1) has been suspended for the nonpayment of his or her membership fees; (2) pursuant to Bar Rule 28(j), has been suspended or disbarred; (3) pursuant to Bar Rule 30, has been transferred to inactive status; (4) after notice and an opportunity to be heard has been afforded the member, the Board determines that the member should be required to surrender his or her membership card. Section 7. Resignation.(a)Affidavit of Resignation. A member may resign from membership in the Association. A resignation is subject to acceptance by the Board, must be in affidavit form, and, as of the date of the affidavit, affirmatively must state the: (1) the member does not now, and will not in the future, engage in the practice of law in Alaska; (2) the member has no cases pending before the courts of this State; (3) the member's clients have been given proper notice of his or her intent to resign and that they have had sufficient opportunity to find substitute counsel without prejudice to their cases; (4) the member has no discipline, fee arbitration, or client security fund matters pending; (5) the member is current on all membership fee payments, applicable insurance premiums, and other financial commitments to the Bar; and (6) the member understands that his or her resignation is permanent and irrevocable and, should he or she at any time in the future desire to return to the practice of law in Alaska, that he or she would have to make application as a new admittee, subject to the provisions of Part I of the Alaska Bar Rules, including, if applicable, the requirement that he or she take and pass the Alaska Bar Examination. (b)Jurisdiction Retained. The Association shall retain jurisdiction to investigate and take action with respect to matters involving the conduct of a member during the time he or she was a member of the Alaska Bar. (c)Board Action. Upon receipt of an affidavit of resignation, and if no information is received which bears unfavorably upon the member, the Board shall formally accept the resignation at its next regularly scheduled meeting. Resignations received 20 days prior to a Board meeting will be placed on the agenda of the next subsequent regularly scheduled meeting. (d)Notice to the Courts. Upon formal acceptance of a member's resignation, the Board shall notify the Alaska Supreme Court and the clerks of court that the member has resigned from the Association and state the effective date.