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Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics: Worth it to Join?

It’s hard to stay compliant at times, especially if you’re working in a highly regulated industry. As the legal counsel or compliance officer of any organization, it can be hard to keep track of all relevant corporate compliance and ethical rules. In such cases, joining the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) can give you the edge over other compliance officers. 

However, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics is not just a collection of attorneys and compliance professionals governing each other. The SCCE offers a unique perspective into corporate compliance, helps solve legal problems, and educates companies on business ethics. 

In this article, we’ll go over what the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics is, what it’s all about, and whether it’s worth it to join. 

Let’s get started. 

What is the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE)? 

The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) is an organization dedicated to bringing compliance and ethics professionals together. The worldwide, member-based association has over 7,500 compliance and ethics members around the world. 

The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics was found in 2004 by the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) in a bid to support the compliance and ethics professionals in all industries. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the society was started with a singular vision; to be the number one compliance and ethics association that helps promote and establish success and ethical integrity across various organizations and industries worldwide. 

In 2011, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics incorporated with HCCA to form the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics & Health Care Compliance Association (SCCE & HCCA). 

The association is designed to be a massive professional compliance community. That is why each member has access to each other and even the CEO, Gerry Zack. The mission and vision of SCCE are to be the authority on ethical practices and compliance standards. To do so, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics provides relevant resources and knowledge offerings to all ethics and compliance professionals who share the same vision. 

Together, SCCE & HCCA have over 19,000 members, reaching out to various industries simultaneously across the world. With so many members over the years, the association has hosted and set up various seminars, conferences, and more to help compliance and ethics professionals develop a vast network. 

The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics also offers several academies across the world. These academies help ethics and compliance professionals become more knowledgeable in their fields. 

The association also has an international compliance conference named the European Compliance and Ethics Institute (ECEI) that offers certifications if you pass their CCEP-I exam. 

Who Are Compliance and Ethics Professionals? 

Compliance and ethics programs help avoid and identify any misconduct by the organization or any employee. They help establish safe and ethical business environments to protect the organization from potential fines and lawsuits. 

Such programs help protect the business, consumers, investors, and the business community at large. Compliance and ethics professionals (CEPs) have to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, competence, and integrity to effectively initiate compliance programs. It’s crucial for them to follow the Code of Ethics as a baseline during their responsibilities. 

Compliance and ethics professionals are generally any groups of people working in the compliance and ethics fields. However, to get the official CEP title, you have to get certified. The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics has adopted the Code of Ethics to provide guidance and rules to all such compliance and ethics professionals. The point is to develop them to a point where compliance standards and ethical duties always come first. 

For example, XYZ org has hired a compliance professional to help them deploy their compliance program. While their duty is to the organization, their first priority would be to ensure compliance and ethical practice even if it means that the company will face a loss. 

Furthermore, ethics professionals at companies have to ensure ethical practices across the organization. They have to develop ethics programs for companies to improve the integrity of organizations. As the pre-eminent compliance and ethics experts, they need direct access to all organizational departments and necessary resources. 

At times, these professionals take help from the ethics community or the professional compliance community. However, the fastest source of information is always a nonprofit organization like the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics. 

Benefits of Joining the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics 

Compliance and ethics professionals can have a hard time networking with their peers. That’s especially true during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics offers an online global network that adjusts to changing world dynamics. 

The following are the benefits you get by becoming a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics. 

  • Access to over 40 different local and global conferences each year. Becoming a part of the conferences is a great way to earn live Compliance Certification Board (CCB) continuing education units (CEUs) for participation. 
  • Become part of several web conferences over the year that cover various hot topics, allowing you to learn new stuff wherever you want. 
  • You get access to a library of educational products, including books, videos, news-releases, podcasts, and other training materials. 
  • Get a copy of the SCCE’s monthly magazine for all members – Compliance & Ethics Professional. 
  • Also, get a copy of the SCCE’s weekly email newsletter – Corporate Compliance Weekly News (CCWN). You can choose to get the email as a text-only newsletter. 
  • An opportunity to join SCCEnet is there; SCCEnet is a worldwide online social network for all compliance and ethics professionals. 
  • As a member, you can get member discounts on conferences, compliance products, and certification registrations. 
  • Get an official certification through the Compliance Certification Board (CCB). You can opt for the Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional (CCEP), Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional-International (CCEP-I), and the Certified Compliance & Ethics Professional Fellowship (CCEP-F) certifications. 
  • Avail access to the interactive salary survey that’s taken by over 8,000 SCCE members. 
  • Be a part of the Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute. 

If you were part of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics but are retired, you can still opt for a membership. 

How Can You Join the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics? 

Joining the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics is relatively simple – you can start by filling out their membership application here. You can opt for group membership or student membership and get a discount. 

You will be asked to enter your basic information, primary contact information, and other information, including demographic, alternate contact, option subscriptions, and additional information. 

There are four different types of SCCE memberships at varying rates. The following summarizes each membership type. 

  • Individual Membership – Any compliance and ethics professional can apply for individual membership. Each member of the compliance and ethics profession will have access to member magazines, newsletters, and more, along with discounts on conferences and compliance products. The individual membership costs $325.00 annually, per-person. 
  • Group Membership – The group membership is applicable if four or more people are joining at the same time. The same benefits and discounts apply to all individuals who have a group membership. The rate is $275.00 per person annually. 
  • Student Membership – For student membership, you need to be a full-time or part-time student at a reputable school. Furthermore, you should be unemployed to avail the membership. The rate for student membership is $150.00 annually. 
  • Retiree Membership – To get the retiree membership, you need to have been a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics previously. Furthermore, you should be retired from all sorts of active employment and not be receiving more than 500 compensated hours per year. The retiree membership will set you back by $150.00 annually. 

Your compliance program can get an instant boost and lasting success by opting to join the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics. 

Is it Worth it to Join the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics? 

As compliance and ethics professionals, you have a duty to abide by the laws and regulations of the United States. It’s crucial to learn as much as you can, expand your horizons, and understand better business practices. 

The Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics offers that knowledge, along with networking opportunities that are far better than what you can do on sites, such as LinkedIn. 

As a member of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics, you have access to thousands of compliance and ethics experts, learning materials, and more at your disposal. 

In any case, as a compliance and ethics professional, you should most definitely consider joining the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics.

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Best Compliance Conferences in 2021

As compliance professionals, we’re always under pressure to stay on top of regulatory changes, learning about emerging technologies, and expanding our knowledge. Besides networking with industry peers or and following blogs, a great way to stay up-to-date is to attend a compliance conference or two every year.

Whether you’re an in-house attorney, regulator, financial advisor, or anyone with the slightest relation to their ’s corporate compliance program – keep reading. 

In this article, we’ll list and review some of the best corporate compliance conferences to look forward to in 2021 (along with their pricing, venues, and dates).

Let’s get started.

What is a Compliance Conference?

A compliance conference is a social event that’s usually meant for professionals like corporate compliance officers, founders, general counsel, regulators, risk managers, etc. The goals of such a conference are to learn from leading experts, share insights, and network with industry peers.

Compliance conferences can be about anything, ranging from discussing anti-corruption programs in the modern world to examining how to overcome the challenges of cyber-security.

Hundreds of compliance conferences take place every year in the United States and beyond, where professionals get the opportunity for continuing education, expanding their network, and getting better at their jobs.

Top 7 Compliance Conferences to Look Forward to in 2021

The year 2021 has exciting events in stores for compliance enthusiasts.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, some of these will be held as virtual events, while others will be held as traditional face-to-face conferences.

With that out of the way, here are 7 corporate compliance conference that you should definitely consider attending:

1. CEFLI 2021 Compliance Fundamentals Training Conference

Date: May 6 – 7, 2021

Venue: The Union Station Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee

Price: TBA

Let’s start off with the basics.

The 2021 Compliance Fundamentals Training Conference (CFTC) presents a wonderful opportunity to young compliance professionals, seasonal professionals, and other individuals belonging to the life insurance industry to set strong foundations of compliance and/or revisit the fundamentals.

It’s being held by the “Compliance & Ethics Forum For Life Insurers” (or “CEFLI” for short) – a platform for the ethics and compliance professionals in the life insurance industry.

Companies looking to train their new compliance staff should definitely explore this conference.

The event will focus on the key risk areas and fundamentals of compliance, including anti-fraud, anti-corruption, form filing, and handling complaints, among other things.

Furthermore, attendees will get the opportunity to network and learn from the best.

The Compliance Fundamentals Training Conference was originally scheduled for May 2021, but due to unforeseen circumstances, it was rescheduled to 2021. 

Register here 

 

2. AMLFC 4th Anti-Money Laundering & Financial Crimes Conference

Date: April 21 – 23, 2021

Venue: JW Marriott Marquis Miami, Florida

Price: $549 (1 Day Conference: AMLFC Institute) and $1,459 (3 Day Combo: AMLFC Institute & ComplianceAid Conference)

The Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crimes (AMLFC) institute offers certifications in Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Countering Financing Terrorism (CFT), and Financial Crimes Prevention to both graduate and undergraduate students.

Every year, the institute holds a compliance conference that attracts industry professionals from all over the world.

In 2021, AML and FC enthusiasts are in for a treat. The 4th Anti-Money Laundering & Financial Crimes Conference will discuss the latest trends and tips in executing AML/FCP/CFT procedures.

Attendees will get the chance to interact with regulators, and learn about country-specific AML/CFT issues, trends, regulations, and much more.

Additionally, attending the conference can earn you up to 18 CPEs recognized by NASBA.

You can find the complete agenda and other important details on the official event page.

Register here

 

3. HCCA 2021 Managed Compliance Conference

Date: February 1 -3, 2021

Venue: Virtual Conference

Price: TBA

Every year, the Health Compliance Association (HCCA) – an association with more than 12,000 members – arranges the Managed Compliance Conference. 

This event is focused on educating compliance professionals belonging to the health industry on the latest issues, trends, and developments.

Due to health and safety concerns related to COVID-19, the 2021 edition of the Managed Compliance Conference will be held online.

Regulators, auditors, and other industry experts will be invited to speak on topics (in the form of webinars), including, but not limited to:

  • Building and transforming a compliance program
  • Risk areas and enforcement trends
  • Medicaid fraud trends and reporting to regulators

This conference is perfect for compliance officers, data privacy officers, auditors, fraud examiners, and other relevant professionals belonging to the health industry.

As of now, the association hasn’t shared the agenda, pricing information, or the list of speakers. Keep an eye out for more details.

Learn more 

 

4. NRS Spring 2021 Compliance Conference

Date: May 17 – 21, 2021

Venue: Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Bonita Springs, Florida

Price: $1,495

The National Regulatory Services (NRS) is a leading provider of registration and compliance products targeted to financial institutions/wealth management companies.

Their Spring 2021 Compliance Conference is aimed at broker dealers, investment advisers, chief compliance officers, general counsels, and more, who want to learn about the latest trends in regulatory compliance.

Top-level industry experts, who know the secrets to navigating around the compliance challenges in the financial sector, will grace the event with their presence. Attendees will get the chance to learn with real case studies, expert insights, and discussions.

Additionally, exhibitors and sponsors will also get the opportunity to promote their products and services.

As of now, the NRS hasn’t disclosed the agenda and the list of speakers. But judging from the massive success of the last conference (held in 2019), it’s safe to assume that this event won’t be any different.

Pre-register

 

5. ABA Regulatory Compliance Conference

Date: June 13 – 16, 2021

Venue: Hyatt Regency San Diego, California

Price: TBA

The American Bankers Association (ABA) holds the Regulatory Compliance Conference every year.

This conference – targeted at compliance professionals in the banking sector – is aimed at discussing the latest compliance issues in the industry.

The Regulatory Compliance Conference is a 4-day event, where professionals from all over the country gather to soak in the latest compliance information through 50+ insightful sessions.

Right now, it’s still too early to share any further information about this conference. You can sign up to receive updates.

Learn more

 

6. 2021 FINRA Annual Conference

Date: May 18 – 20, 2021

Venue: Marriott Marquis Washington, DC

Price: Varies (shared below)

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) prides itself as a rare, government-backed private firm that regulates broker-deals in the United States.

If you’re a compliance professional, especially one who’s related to brokerage services, you should definitely look forward to their annual conferences.

Their 2021 conference, which was on cyber-security, attracted compliance officers, IT professionals, business founders, and security officers from all over the US, who gathered to exchange insights, network, and learn from the best.

The agenda for the event scheduled for 2021 has not been disclosed yet, but industry peers should definitely anticipate a highly informative experience.

Here are the pricing details:

  • Individual Attendee – $,1,395 (FINRA member firm), $495 (FINRA member small firm), $995 (government/regulator), $1,695 (attorney), and $1,995 (non-member).
  • Group – $,1,180 (3 to 5 – FINRA member firm), $1,000 (6 or more – FINRA member firm), $370 (3 or more – FINRA member small firm), $1,440 (3 or more – attorney), and $1,690 (3 or more – non-member).

 Register here

 

7. COMPLY (The Compliance, Risk, and RegTech Conference)

Date: May 4 – 5, 2021

Venue: Tribeca 360 & Rooftop New York City, New York

Price: $1,495 (individual) and $1,295 (group rate – 3+)

If you want to learn about the most recent developments in the compliance, risk, and RegTech spheres, you can’t afford to miss out on COMPLY 2021.

Originally scheduled for 2021, the conference was rescheduled for the upcoming year. 

In addition to networking and in-person learning, COMPLY 2021 also offers different credit-earning opportunities for continuing education.

Conference attendees will include a diverse set of professionals, ranging from regulators to investors.

Industry leaders from companies like ABA, Deutsche Bank, and PerformLine, are invited to speak on topics such as risk management, compliance, and cutting-edge regulatory technology.

You can view the complete agenda, read through the FAQs, and register on COMPLY’s official website.

Register here

Wrapping it Up

With so many amazing events to look forward to, it’s safe to say that 2021 will be an exciting year for compliance professionals.

If you’ve never attended a compliance conference before, there’s no time like the present to give it a shot.

And remember – you can always speak to your employer about sponsoring your ticket, in case you can’t afford it from your own pocket. Good luck.

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Best Compliance Newsletters in 2021

The world of compliance is extremely dynamic as new laws and regulations come into practice while old regulations get adjusted. Therefore, it’s crucial to be up to date with the latest compliance news. That’s why it’s best to get your information from various compliance newsletters to keep updated. 

There are several compliance newsletters you can subscribe to; however, there are different compliance newsletters for each industry. However, you can subscribe to newsletters that offer compliance news and information on other hot topics in general. 

In this article, we’ll go over what compliance is and what are the best compliance newsletters you can subscribe to in 2021. 

What is Compliance, and Why is it Important? 

Compliance is quite simply the act of following the rules, laws, and regulations laid down by the local, state, and federal government. Each level of the government enacts new regulations to ensure there are fair business practices in the United States. 

There are different kinds of compliance, including federal compliance, corporate compliance, and more. Companies and organizations lay down various internal and external policies to manage their compliance programs effectively. Staying compliant helps organizations avoid violating laws and rules, so they’re no levy to any lawsuit or fines. 

In any case, compliance isn’t a simple task you can tick off in your to-do list; it’s an ongoing process based on various factors. You can’t read a few FAQs (frequently asked questions) and understand compliance; you need a compliance officer with adequate compliance training. 

The compliance officer usually has all the necessary continuing education required and has enough regulatory compliance knowledge to understand most laws. For example, you may not realize it, but understanding various laws such as Title IX and offices like the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) may help you with regulatory compliance at some point. Other than that, your compliance officer may even keep you safe from money laundering dangers, a data breach, or any other potential issues like regulatory changes. 

In hubs like New York, compliance can include things such as export control, cybersecurity, code of conduct at the company, HIPAA compliance, healthcare, accessibility, risk management, data privacy, and more. Being compliant also means large organizations are required to have a hotline for whistleblowers. 

In any case, compliance ensures companies are practicing fair business while ensuring customers are being treated fairly too. Strict compliance standards ensure companies and organizations stay in check, especially during crises, such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic (coronavirus). 

Top Compliance Newsletters in 2021 

There are several compliance newsletters for different industries you can check out. However, it’s best to consider reading up on well-known and industry-specific newsletters. For example, if you work in the financial services industry, you should subscribe to a newsletter that provides the latest news on all finance-related regulations. 

However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read up on other newsletters too. For example, some compliance newsletters tend to provide news on regular laws and regulations that apply to all kinds of organizations, whether you’re an athletics wear company or a social media company for that matter. 

It’s best to keep in touch with the rules, laws, and regulations that apply to all industries. Meanwhile, you should emphasize on the rules and regulations of your industry to become an expert on it. 

Some companies also have newsletters that have a dedicated news section for compliance. For example, at times, LinkedIn gives news on relevant regulatory changes. In any case, it’s advisable to subscribe to well-known compliance newsletters that offer general and relevant information on new and existing rules, laws, and changes. 

However, the following compliance newsletters are some of the best compliance newsletters you can subscribe to going into 2021. 

1. Corporate Compliance Weekly News 

The Corporate Compliance Weekly News is the weekly newsletter by Corporate Compliance. The website is the official site of the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). 

The newsletter is emailed every Thursday and includes the latest weekly compliance news and updates. The publishers take five days of the week to scour major news sources, congressional hearings, case law updates, and more to develop the newsletter. 

Using their research, they summarize the most relevant corporate compliance-related news and compile it into a single newsletter. 

Each of the updates and news stories in the compliance newsletter includes a link to the source of information. You can authenticate the news or read up on it further if you’re interested. 

To subscribe to Corporate Compliance Weekly News, enter your email here. You can choose to receive the email in HTML format, or you can get the newsletter in a plain text email. 

2. Report on Supply Chain Compliance (RSCC) 

The Report on Supply Chain Compliance is another newsletter by the corporate compliance website – managed by the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics. 

The RSCC offers the latest news and compliance strategies on a worldwide level. The supply chain is a crucial part of most organizations and faces continuous risks from all fronts. Having a proper risk management program for your supply chain management is critical to company operations. 

SCCE’s Report on Supply Chain Compliance opens you up to the global news on all things supply chain, including news on compliance tools, regulation enforcements, regulators, accreditation requirements, and changing supply chain management standards. 

The newsletter also offers a wealth of information on things, such as: 

  • Regulation guidance for various industries. 
  • Third-party due diligence. 
  • Trade agreements and sanctions in different circumstances. 
  • Human trafficking, modern slavery, and other common problems. 

The newsletter is entirely written by renowned journalists and compliance specialists. Each story offers a window into valuable compliance tools and provides successful compliance advice. 

When you subscribe to the yearly RSCC newsletter here, you get access to 22 issues that are published biweekly throughout the year. You also get access to all back issues if you want to go through old newsletters. Most importantly, you get 1.0 non-live continuing education unit (CEU) requirement for every RSCC issue you read; the points count towards getting certified by the Compliance Certification Board (CCB). 

3. Ethikos 

Ethikos is another newsletter by SCCE that focuses on the value of business ethics. It’s a long-running newsletter that started off by offering insight into ethical business practices. Today, it provides updates on changing trends and ethical compliance standards. 

The newsletter has several featured articles that are written by ethics and compliance experts. Furthermore, it also features various case studies, interviews, and case reports of different companies, industries, and leaders who shape today’s corporate culture. 

The Ethikos newsletter provides updates on all compliance news related to business ethics and best practices; however, other information you can find in the newsletter includes the following: 

  • Effectively communicating ethics to a dynamic audience. 
  • The right way to build a corporate culture while staying completely compliant. 
  • The way ethics and compliance officers interact with and manage ESG principles. 
  • Interviews with various leaders in business ethics and compliance. 

The newsletter offers a breadcrumb approach to business ethics so that new readers can catch up effectively with a great user experience. Since all the content in the newsletter is written by ethics and compliance professionals, they also offer tips and information on various ethics and compliance-related issues. 

If you’re a well-known industry professional, host webinars, and have proven experience in the field, you can also write for Ethikos. All you have to do is follow the privacy statement, rules for writing and be a member of SCCE. 

You can subscribe to the yearly newsletter of Ethikos here; it’s available for both SCCE & HCCA members and non-members, albeit at slightly different prices.  

Choosing the Right Compliance Newsletters to Subscribe to 

The compliance field is constantly under change as new laws and regulations come into play while older regulations are adjusted to current standards. It can be hard to keep up, especially for entry-level compliance officers and small-sized companies. 

Therefore, it’s crucial to keep up to date with all changes to manage the compliance standards of an organization. The best way to do so is to subscribe to several compliance newsletters that offer the most value. 

The compliance newsletters listed above are extremely valuable for general compliance practices. That means they’re not restricted to any single industry but are important for compliance professionals in all industries. 

However, you should also find and subscribe to compliance newsletters that are dedicated to providing updates on your specific industry only.

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Association of Corporate Counsel Review: Worth it to Join?

Working in the legal world can be extremely hard, especially if you’re working your way up the ladder. Whether you are a general counsel, associate general counsel, deputy general counsel, or assistant general counsel, working for an organization or government agency might be hard, but getting a job can be harder. In such cases, joining the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) can give you the edge over other attorneys. 

However, the Association of Corporate Counsel is more than just a collection of corporate counsels. Some companies overlook the organization entirely, while others base their decisions on your membership. 

In this article, we’ll go over what the Association of Corporate Counsel is, what’ it’s all about, and whether it’s worth it to join. 

Let’s get started. 

What is the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)? 

The Association of Corporate Counsel is a professional association that serves the business interests of attorneys and counsels who practice law and litigation in the legal departments of corporations, agencies, and other private organizations. 

Founded in 1981, the Association of Corporate Counsel was initially named the American Corporate Counsel Association (ACCA). Currently, the Association of Corporate Counsel is present in 85 countries and has over 45,000 members working in more than 10,000 private-sector organizations around the world. 

Currently, the Association of Corporate Counsel is headquartered in Washington, DC, United States. According to the President and CEO, Veta T. Richardson, the ACC is a non-governmental organization (nonprofit organization) working as a ‘professional society.’ The association’s motto is, “By in-house counsel, for in-house counsel.”

All ACC members are divided into regional chapters. Members communicate and collaborate within those regional chapters in various practice area committees. 

In total, the Association of Corporate Counsel has more than 60 chapters around the globe. Global branches of corporate counsel associations have been joining the Association of Corporate Counsel over the years. Recently, the Australian Corporate Counsel Association joined the ACC to form ACC Australia. Similarly, there have been ACC Middle East, ACC Alberta, and ACC Singapore too. 

The primary directive of the Association of Corporate Counsel is to help resolve the issues of in-house counsel. That includes working on things such as attorney-client privilege, multi-jurisdictional practice, the right to offer pro bono services, and more. 

Overall, the Association of Corporate Counsel helps with the professional development of in-house counsel by providing information, training, online education, networking opportunities, and advocacy initiatives. 

The global legal association also works beyond borders; for example, if you move from the US to Hong Kong, rather than joining the ACC again, you just have to reach out to a different regional chapter. 

What’s the Difference Between Outside and In-House Counsel? 

There are many events and summits, such as the General Counsel Summit (GCS) around the world. Some people are often confused as to whether they should invest time in attending such events or join the Association of Corporate Counsel for all their professional development needs. 

The best way to differentiate is to understand the difference between in-house counsel and outside counsel. 

In-house counsel includes attorneys working in the law department, legal department, or in the legal team as house lawyers, general counsel, and more. They actively take part in site work, attend legal annual meetings, and are dedicated to the organization they’re working for. 

Alternatively, outside counsels are either independent contractors or law firms that provide legal services to organizations and agencies. Outside counsels aren’t necessarily liable for any company faults and work as a service only. Their job is to offer legal services, an excellent user experience, and a docket for redundant legal and compliance tasks. 

Generally, companies with small or no legal departments tend to hire outside counsel. At times, larger organizations hire outside counsel to assist with a large project, such as an expansion plan. 

However, most companies prefer having in-house counsel due to privacy matters. 

The Association of Corporate Counsel is specifically for in-house counsel who work in various organizations. Therefore, as an in-house counsel, you can consider being part of the Association of Corporate Counsel to enhance your understanding of the legal world. 

However, if you’re working as an outside counsel, you should focus on attending various events and summit to further your professional development. 

Benefits of Joining the Association of Corporate Counsel 

As an in-house counsel, you may face various issues, especially when it comes to networking. The Association of Corporate Counsel helps you develop a regional and global network while giving you the tools you need for a professional edge. 

The following are the benefits you get by joining the Association of Corporate Counsel. 

  • Tons of Resources: The Association of Corporate Counsel has a wide range of resources, from sample policies to various risk-management training tools. The resources are created and developed by fellow ACC members around the world, covering every in-house practice area. You can review resource listings by material type, source, interest areas, region, and audience. 
  • Global Networks: As a member of the ACC, you are open to 19 practice area-based networks that allow you to develop meaningful relationships with other in-house counsel. You can interact with fellow in-house lawyers, get online resources, discuss & share knowledge on online forums, and attend online education events. 
  • Education and Events: As a member, you get access to several in-person and online education opportunities. The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Annual Meeting is the largest gathering of in-house counsels, offering more than 100 CPD/CLE programs. 
  • Regional Chapters: ACC chapters divide various communities and regions to offer better networking opportunities in each region. 
  • The ACC Docket: The ACC Docket is the Association of Corporate Counsel’s award-winning publication that’s available in print and online. It offers a wide range of content that addresses various issues and challenges faced by in-house counsel and is published ten times a year. 
  • Legal Operations: The Association of Corporate Counsel’s legal operations section supports corporate legal operations professionals. The branch offers benchmarking, resources, and opportunities to collaborate, and serves as a unified voice to advance the business function. 

It’s advisable to go through the membership benefits FAQs. 

How Can You Join the Association of Corporate Counsel? 

The Association of Corporate Counsel is a global bar association that focuses on the interests of in-house counsel. Therefore, if you’re an attorney who works in an association, corporation, or any other private-sector organization, you can join the ACC. 

However, member eligibility is for individuals who are actively practicing law and are employed by an organization. Furthermore, the person shouldn’t have any enforcement, regulatory, or policymaking responsibilities to avoid any malpractice. You should either be a full-time in-house counsel or contract attorney on a long-term placement (five years or more). 

It’s advisable to opt for Continuing Legal Education (CLE), if eligible. It increases your chances of getting a membership. 

You may be ineligible for membership under the following conditions. 

  • If your responsibilities include marketing, sales, and business development in the legal world. 
  • If your responsibilities include providing or selling services to clients other than their employer. That includes attorneys working in law firms and temp agencies. 
  • Any organization (applying for corporate membership) that has enforcement, regulatory, or policymaking responsibilities. 

There are four different types of memberships you can apply for depending on your situation. 

  • Individual Membership – is for individual attorneys working in any organization who want to join the Association of Corporate Counsel. 
  • Corporate Membership – is for organizations that want to join the Association of Corporate Counsel. 
  • In-Transition Member – is for existing members who can continue their membership at a reduced price if they lose their in-house position. 
  • Retired Member – is for retired attorneys who wish to maintain their ACC membership at a reduced rate. 

You can check out the more information on each membership type here. 

Is it Worth it to Join the Association of Corporate Counsel?

As an attorney, you can use every opportunity to network with other lawyers and counsels. It’s a great way to learn, expand your horizons, and get new opportunities. 

It’s definitely worth it to join the Association of Corporate Counsel if you’re an in-house counsel. It helps with your professional development, offer networking opportunities, tons of resources, and more. 

If you’re an outside counsel, you can opt for other ways to learn. However, it’s advisable to briefly work as an in-house counsel and reap the benefits of the Association of Corporate Counsel. 

In any case, you should give joining the Association of Corporate Counsel a try, at the very least.