Why and How to Join AILA

If you don’t already have an AILA.org account, you will need to create one and then sign in before you can apply online for AILA membership.

Create an Account   Apply or Renew Online

Note: If you are unable to apply online and need a paper application sent to you, or have any questions, please contact membership@aila.org.


Founded in 1946, the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is the national association of more than 16,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. AILA is a nonpartisan, non-for-profit organization that provides continuing legal education, information, professional services, and expertise to its members through its 39 chapters and over 50 national committees.

Get Full Access to AILA's Professional and Social Network of Members


Enjoy Full Access to AILA Resources



Types of AILA Membership

There are five types of memberships - regular, nonprofit, senior, retired, and law student. Persons residing and practicing outside the United States may apply for international associate status. Paralegals of AILA members are eligible to gain access to many AILA research tools and educational opportunities. Government employees and members of the public can register for an account on AILA.org. See below for more information.

Regular Members
  • Members 15+ years $643.00
  • Members 10-14 years $621.00
  • Members 8-9 years $599.00
  • Members 6-7 years $535.00
  • Members 4-5 years $481.00
  • Members 2-3 years $351.00
  • 1st year of membership $216.00

Regular National Dues are determined by your original AILA join date.

Chapter dues, which are also required, range from $25 to $100 and are determined by your geographical location of practice.

Online payment for your dues can be made using a Credit/Debit card. The use of a payment plan is available to Regular Members who wish to have their dues payment spread throughout the year. The payment plan can be requested during checkout and will split your dues into four payments, taken at intervals of 90 days. Please note that there is a one-time processing fee of $15 applied to the first payment. The remaining three payments will only be 1/4th of the total.

Learn More About Membership   Create an Account   Apply or Renew Online

Nonprofit Members
  • Nonprofit Members $162.00

If you are employed by a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organization, which provides free or low cost legal services to immigrants, and you earn less than $84,000 annually, you may be eligible for the reduced National dues rate of $162. The organization must be the attorney's only source of income. All nonprofit members must provide proof of eligibility upon application and renewal.

If you qualify, you must submit a letter from your organization attesting to:

  • The organization's 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
  • The organization's mission to provide free or low cost legal services to the immigrant community.
  • That you are a full-time employee with the organization and that your salary does not exceed $84,000 annually.

Omission of the above information will delay the process of your application.

Nonprofit Members are required to submit proof of their continuing Nonprofit Membership eligibility each year.

**Nonprofit Members are not eligible to partake in the Payment Plan for renewal**

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Senior Members
  • Senior Members $322.00

Persons who have been AILA members for at least 25 years and who have reached the age of 65 are entitled, upon request, to be Senior Members.

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Retired Members
  • Retired Members $54.00

As a current AILA member who is retiring from the practice of law, you may request the retired membership category and rate. Your state bar license must be completely retired at the time of request and membership renewal.

**Retired Members are not eligible to partake in the Payment Plan for renewal**

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Law Student Members
  • Law Student Members FREE

Students who are enrolled in a full-time capacity at an ABA or like body accredited law school may be eligible for Law Student Membership with AILA.

Learn More   Create an Account   Apply or Renew Online

Nonmember Associates

Persons residing and practicing outside the United States may apply for international associate status. Check eligibility requirements for becoming an international associate.

International Associates
  • International Associates $595

Persons residing and practicing outside the United States who are otherwise ineligible for membership in the Association may apply for International Associate status. Applicants must prove their eligibility to become an International Associate of AILA by submitting a current certificate or letter of good standing of the attorney licensing body of the country in which they reside and practice. Complete the online application to become an International Associate with payment and proof of active license.

Learn More   Create an Account   Apply or Renew Online

Register with AILA

Paralegals of AILA members are eligible to gain access to many AILA research tools and educational opportunities. Government employees and members of the public can register for an account on AILA.org.

AILA Member Paralegals and Support Staff

Paralegals and Support Staff

If you are a paralegal or occupy another support staff role for an AILA member attorney, you are eligible to gain access to many AILA research tools and educational opportunities. Paralegals and support staff of non-member attorneys are not eligible for these benefits.

Because we recognize the important role that support staff play in a law practice, AILA offers special access to the following resources outlined below. This guarantees direct access to all the critical information on AILA.org that staff of AILA member attorneys need to support their supervising attorneys, without the attorney needing to share their own member login credentials (which is not permitted).

Support staff access includes:

  • AILA's Website
    Registered staff of AILA member attorneys have special searchable access to AILA.org resources, including the most up-to-date immigration news and information, government correspondence, and the latest on AILA activities, products, services, and events.
  • Message Center
    The Message Center provides an avenue to ask questions and engage with your peers, AILA members, and other support staff. NOTE: Support staff are required to identify themselves as such when posting questions on the Message Center.
  • AILA Products
    Paralegals and other support staff receive reduced pricing on AILA Agora.

Paralegals and support staff are not permitted access to the following AILA member benefits:

  • Mentor Directory
  • Listserves*

*We understand that paralegals and support staff play a critical role. There are certain member benefits that are provided exclusively for member attorneys. As such, member accounts should be associated with their emails and paralegals and support staff should have their own accounts.

To Create an Account**:

  1. Go to AILA.org, and click on “Create an AILA.org Account” in the grey box at the top of the page.
  2. You will get a confirmation email with an activation link.
  3. Under “Person Type”, choose “Member's Paralegal” (choose this option even if you have a different title or other support staff role, such as Legal Assistant).
  4. Where indicated, enter your attorney's member number and last name***.
  5. Your attorney will receive an email asking to confirm that you are their paralegal/support staff and that they will not share their own login with you.
  6. Once your supervising attorney confirms, you're ready to log in!

**Support staff will be required to renew their access annually, and attorneys are not permitted to register as Paralegals.

***Last name must exactly match what's listed in our database.

Additional AILA Resources for Paralegals

  • AILA Paralegals Online Course
    AILA's Paralegals Online Course, available exclusively for AILA members' paralegals, is a perfect resource for beginner-to-intermediate paralegals, combining a focus on immigration law itself as well as paralegal practice skills. It includes over 20 hours of content in 11 modules that include reading materials, videos, discussion questions, and quizzes. Participants receive a certificate of completion once the course is finished.
  • AILA’s Toolbox for Immigration Paralegals
    AILA’s Toolbox for Immigration Paralegals is a reference tool for the desk of every immigration paralegal. This edition of the Toolbox provides the background necessary for paralegals to understand the cases they are working on, with the focus on the procedures paralegals must master to be highly effective in their work.
Government Employees

Government employees can register by creating an AILA.org account. On the "Person-Type" field of the form choose "Government Employee" from the drop-down. Fill out the rest of the form and click "Create Account" when finished. An e-mail will then be sent to your government address with your login information. Users whose e-mail ends in .gov will receive automatic approval. If your email does not end in .gov, please contact the AILA membership department at membership@aila.org to set up your access.

Members of the Public

Members of the public can register for an account on AILA.org and gain access to the Recent Postings Alert, saved searches and bookmarks, and more.

Membership/International Associate Cancellation Policy

AILA Membership and International Associate Status can be cancelled at any time. However, a prorated refund will only be issued to those members or international associates who are no longer eligible according to AILA’s Bylaws.


Note: If you are unable to apply online and need a paper application sent to you, or have any questions, please contact membership@aila.org.