Statutes of the IALS

Art. 1.

An Association is established, under the auspices of UNESCO, entitled the International Association of Legal Science (hereinafter called the Association).

Art. 2.

The Association has its seat in Paris, at UNESCO House.

Art. 3.

The Association fosters the Development of legal science throughout the world through the study of foreign laws and the use of the comparative method.

It has as its ultimate object to aid the mutual knowledge and understanding of nations.

Art. 4.

The Association lends its aid to international exchanges, in every form, and facilitates by methods of international co-operation meetings among jurists and the access to legal sources, publications and documents.

Art. 5.

The Association encourages in every country the development of institutions devoted to the study of foreign laws and comparative law, and stimulates their creation in countries where they do not exist.

Art. 6.

The Association fulfils its task mainly by making use of existing institutions; it strives to co-ordinate their activities and afford them new facilities. It may however undertake certain works on its own initiative.

Art. 7.

The Association has for its members National Committees which devote themselves to the tasks defined in the above articles. Their applications for admission require the approval of the International Committee of Comparative Law. (2)

Art. 8.

The National Committees are free to choose such names as they wish and regulate at their discretion the form and details of their organisation, taking account of the circumstances.

Art. 9.

The National Committees pay an annual subscription. It is for each National Committee to determine freely the amount of its subscription, subject to an annual minimum of 150 Euros.

The Associate members admitted after July 1, 2004 pay an annual subscription the amount of which shall be freely determined by them, subject to an annual minimum to be fixed from time to time by the International Committee of Comparative Law.

The National Committees and the Associate Members admitted under article 10 may make gifts to the Association.

When a National Committee has not paid its subscription for at least two years, the International Committee of Comparative Law may:

a) suspend the communication to the National Committee of the documents which the Association distributes among its members, as well as any other facility to which they are entitled;

b) deprive the National Committee of the right to appoint a delegate to the Council of the Association (art.12);

c) deprive the National Committee of the right to propose a candidate for election to the International Committee of Comparative Law (art.13);

d) deprive the National Committee’s delegate to the Council of the right to take part in the election of the International Committee of Comparative Law (art.16).

When a National Committee has not paid its subscription for at least three years, the International Committee of Comparative Law may decide to exclude the Committee from the Association.

Art. 10.

The status of Associate Member may be accorded to international institutions, national or international research institutes, and law firms, whose application has been approved by the International Committee of Comparative Law.

Art. 11.

The affairs of the International Association of Legal Science are directed, with the assistance of a Council, by an International Committee of Comparative Law (hereinafter called the International Committee) composed of nine members. It is managed, on behalf of the International Committee, by a Secretary-General. The direction of scientific studies is conducted by a Director.