Membership Criteria

A person may be eligible to become a Fellow, Emeritus Fellow or Honorary Fellow only if such person meets the eligibility and other requirements, has been nominated for membership pursuant to the Bylaws and membership guidelines, and is elected and invited to join pursuant to the Bylaws.

There are three classes of membership: Fellows, Emeritus Fellows and Honorary Fellows. The classification of Fellows are:

Fellows

Practicing lawyers who are licensed to practice law in the highest court of their respective states, who have engaged substantially in the practice of insurance law for at least 15 consecutive years, and who meet and continue to meet the qualification requirements which are from time to time established by the Board of Regents (“Board”) may be eligible to be become a Fellow. Time spent as a judge or law clerk may be considered in determining whether the 15 year requirement has been satisfied. Fellows include lawyers engaged in the private practice of law, with a concentration primarily in the fields of insurance coverage, bad faith and/or extracontractual claims. Fellow nominees are required to have substantial experience in the field of insurance and/or extracontractual law, typically devoting at least 70% of their practice to this area.

Emeritus Fellows

If, after a person becomes a Fellow, he or she (i) attains the age of 65 years, (ii) ceases to engage in the active practice of insurance or extracontractual law, and (iii) is at such time a Fellow in good standing, may be eligible to become an Emeritus Fellow. In the discretion of the Board, a Fellow under the age of 65 may be admitted as an Emeritus Fellow if such Fellow ceases to engage in the active practice of insurance or extracontractual law because of age, illness, infirmity or other reason satisfactory to the Board but is otherwise a Fellow in good standing. The rights and privileges of Emeritus Fellows are subject to the Bylaws.

Honorary Fellows

Persons who are lawyers, judges, academics or other individuals who at the time of election may not otherwise be eligible for membership in the College, but who by their contributions to and accomplishments in the practice of insurance law, have attained a high degree of respect and eminence, and who, by reason of their qualifications, can contribute to the goals and aspirations of the College, may be eligible for membership as Honorary Fellows. Additionally, a lawyer who is admitted as a Fellow but who subsequently leaves the active practice of law to serve as a judge or teach insurance law shall become an Honorary Fellow for the term of that service but may retain their prior status if they later resume the active practice of law. The rights and privileges of Honorary Fellows are subject to the Bylaws.