All lawyers who are qualified to practice law in Alabama and who are not engaged in active practice may become members of the Alabama Bar Association by paying directly to the secretary of such association an annual sum equal to 50 percent of the money collected by the State of Alabama from a lawyer as a privilege license tax to engage in the practice of law. Upon the payment of the sum as prescribed in this section, such person shall be entitled to all the privileges and benefits common to the other members of such association.
Ala. Code § 34-3-18 (1975)