The International Order of Jurists brings together people who have studied law, who work in law or who have retired from it, and who wish to be held, and to hold one another, to a common standard of conduct, wherever they practise.
For the Order, a jurist is anyone who has studied law, who works or has worked in law, or who represents, seeks or administers justice for the good of all. Advocates and solicitors, legal advisers, in-house lawyers, judges, notaries, academics, civil servants and students of law can all be jurists in this sense. The Order has admitted members since 2019.
Purpose
The Order exists for five purposes:
- To uphold integrity in legal work. Members commit to the Order’s Code of Conduct, whatever their country, field or legal tradition.
- To make standing verifiable. Each member’s record is kept by the Order and can be opened by anyone holding the member’s card.
- To give the public a voice. Clients, colleagues and others who deal with members can commend them or raise a concern, and the Order acts on what it hears.
- To connect jurists across borders. The Order is a fellowship of jurists from many jurisdictions, who can turn to one another on questions of foreign law and practice.
- To serve the common good. Members give part of their time to pro bono work, or to other work for the good of society, and take an interest in laws being written with justice in mind.
How the Order works
Admission
Every application is reviewed individually. The Order checks the applicant’s identity and legal background before admitting a member, and does not admit anyone on request alone.
Records
The Order keeps a record for each member and shows it only to those who hold the member’s card or private link. Members confirm their record every year.
Standards
Commendations raise a member’s standing. Concerns are investigated fairly, the member is always heard, and upheld outcomes are recorded on the member’s record.
Independence
The Order is independent of governments, bars, law societies and commercial interests. Membership is currently free of charge.
The nature of the Order
The International Order of Jurists is a private, voluntary association of jurists. It is not a public authority, a regulator, a bar or a law society, and it does not license anyone to practise law. A member’s record states what the Order itself has checked and recorded, and nothing more.
Where the right to practise law, or to use a protected professional title, matters, the member’s admission should also be checked with the competent authority in the member’s jurisdiction. Members are asked to say so plainly to their clients, and never to present membership of the Order as a licence or a public registration.
The Order does not give legal advice and does not refer clients. If you need legal help, please contact a lawyer or a legal aid service in your country.
Language and contact
The Order works in English. Applications, commendations and concerns may be written in English; where that is difficult, write in your own language and the Order will do its best to understand you. You can reach the Order through the contact page.