AP-LS Membership Overview

The American Psychology-Law Society is a division of the American Psychological Association and is comprised of individuals interested in psychology and law issues. AP-LS encourages APA members, graduate and undergraduate students, and persons in related fields to consider membership in the Division. APA membership is not required for membership in the American Psychology-Law Society. Student memberships are encouraged. You can either join online or complete this form and send with dues to:  Kathy Gaskey, Administrative Assistant, American Psychology-Law Society, PO Box 11488, Southport, NC, 28461-3936; phone/fax: 910-933-4018; email: APLS@ec.rr.com. 

AP-LS is an interdisciplinary organization devoted to scholarship, practice, and public service in psychology and law. The American Psychology-Law Society is both a free-standing organization as well as a division (Division 41) of the American Psychological Association. Members of AP-LS need not be members of APA, although many members belong to both organizations (AP-LS and APA). Membership is open to interested professionals and students in other disciplines beyond psychology. Membership is for the calendar year January 1 - December 31.  Dues from members joining after September 1st will be applied to the next calendar year.   

Membership in AP-LS entitles one to receipt of the Society's publications, Law and Human Behavior (published six times a year) and the American Psychology-Law Newsletter (published electronically three times a year). AP-LS also sponsors an annual meeting as well as programs at the APA convention. The activities of AP-LS/Division 41 in its brief history have been quite diverse, including developing a collection of course syllabi and teaching materials, conducting a survey of career opportunities in psychology and law (for prospective or current graduate students), studying special ethical problems in expert testimony, surveying women's issues in psychology and law, and sponsoring a Science Policy Forum). AP-LS has clearly established itself as one of the most active divisions in APA. Our webpages (www.ap-ls.org) provides information on upcoming conferences, convention programs sponsored by Division 41, the Forensic Specialty Guidelines, graduate school information, and a host of other relevant information for anyone interested in the field of law and psychology.

There are several categories of membership:

  1. Psychologists who are already Associates or Members of another division of APA may join in that capacity. Those who are Fellows of other divisions may join as members and may be nominated for Fellow status later if they wish. APA elects new division members several times a year and bills new (and old) members in the regular dues statement in the fall. Dues for 2009 are $50.00.
  2. Non-Psychologists (e.g., lawyers, sociologists) or psychologists who do not belong to APA may join as Members-at-Large by submitting a check for $50.00 for 2009. If you join as a Member-at-Large, please send in a vita with your membership application. To obtain Member-at-Large status, you should have either a doctorate in psychology or a related behavioral science or a law degree. If you don't meet this criteria, the Executive Committee of AP-LS will vote at the annual APA Convention to determine whether to waive this requirement if there is evidence satisfactory to the Executive Committee of contribution by an individual to the field of Psychology and Law.
  3. Undergraduate students, graduate students and law students may join as Associates-at-Large. Undergraduate or graduate students should be enrolled in a social or behavioral science program. Student membership, which also includes a subscription to Law and Human Behavior and the Newsletter, is $15.00 per year. When filling out the application, please be sure to list the degree(s) you are seeking and the institution you are attending.

Early Career Professionals, meaning those who received a doctoral degree (J.D., Ph.D., Psy.D., M.D., or Ed.D.) within the past 3 years [in 2006-2008 for 2009 dues], may join in one of the membership categories for a reduced dues rate of $15.00.

If you are a member or associate (not student associate) of APA, you join Division 41 through this office and/or website. After this initial process, your name will be submitted to the Executive Committee of Division 41 so they may elect new members at the annual APA Convention (held every year in August). Once elected, your name will be sent to APA stating that you are a member of Division 41 and you will be billed by their office in the fall of 2008 for 2009 Division 41 dues. If you join in category 2 or 3 above, you will be billed sometime in the fall (usually late October) for membership for the following year by this office directly.

To join, please fill out the enclosed form and attach a check made out to AP-LS for the proper amount. Checks should be drawn on U. S. currency only if a foreign affiliate. Send the form and check to the Society's administrative officer, Kathy Gaskey, Administrative Assistant, American Psychology-Law Society, PO Box 11488, Southport, NC, 28461-3936; phone/fax: 910-933-4018; email: APLS@ec.rr.com.  Please feel free to share this application with colleagues or graduate students that you feel would benefit from membership in Division 41. We welcome their participation.

The Division would also like to know the gender and race make-up of the organization. Please check the categories that apply to you on the membership application. Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Please note:  In order to receive Law & Human Behavior, members must provide their complete address.  Foreign members must indicate their country as well as any applicable postal codes.

Sincerely,
Kathy Gaskey
AP-LS Administrative Assistant

If you are interested in obtaining Forensic Psychology Diplomate status in the American Board of Forensic Psychology, please contact ABPP, 300 Drayton Street, Third Floor, Savannah, Georgia 31401; phone 800.255.7792. The American Academy of Forensic Psychology also has an email address: aafp@abfp.com and they have a home page: http://www.abfp.com/aafp.