Terms of Membership
Last updated 2026
Nature of the Council
The North American Bar Council (NABC) is a private professional membership association. It is not a statutory bar, a government regulator, or an authority that admits lawyers to practise. Membership is a professional affiliation and does not confer a licence, a right of audience, or any regulatory standing in any jurisdiction.
1. What membership is
Membership in North American Bar Council is a professional affiliation. It signals that the Council recognises the member's standing as a common-law lawyer and grants access to the directory, certificate, publication, and practice tools described on the Membership page. It is not, and does not confer, admission to practise, a licence, a right of audience, or any regulatory standing in any jurisdiction.
2. Eligibility & invitation
During the founding period, membership is granted by invitation at the Council's discretion. Creating an account does not itself confer membership. The Council may decline, delay, or revoke membership for any lawful reason, including where it cannot verify a member's professional standing.
3. Dues
Billing is not currently active. Where dues are shown, they represent the Council's intended future pricing and are not being charged. Members will be notified in advance of any change to this arrangement.
4. Directory & certificate
Members choose whether to appear in the public directory. A member's certificate number and status may be looked up by anyone using the public verification page — this is the mechanism by which the Council's recognition is made checkable. A member may ask the Council to remove their directory listing at any time; the certificate record itself is retained for verification integrity.
5. Achievements & publications
Achievements and articles submitted by members are reviewed by Council editors before they are shown publicly or under the NABC banner. The Council may decline or remove content that it cannot verify or that does not meet its editorial standards.
6. Conduct
Members are expected to represent their credentials and affiliations accurately, including their use of the "Member, NABC" designation, and not to imply that membership constitutes a licence or regulatory approval in any jurisdiction.
7. Termination
The Council may suspend or terminate membership for conduct inconsistent with these terms. A member may resign at any time by contacting the Council.
8. Contact
Questions about these terms may be sent to support@startuplab24.com.