Constitution

Name  Objects and Powers  Membership  The Committee  Meetings  Rules of Procedure  Finance  Property  
Amendments to the Constitution  Dissolution  Standing Orders

1. Name
   
   
   The name of the association is the Young Fraud Lawyers Association ("the Association").
   
   
   
2. Objects and Powers
   
   
   1. The Objects of the Association are to advance its members' education and training in all matters relating to their practice as fraud lawyers and to encourage social interaction amongst its members.
      
   2. In furtherance of the above Objects the Association may:
      i. Employ and pay any person or persons to further the work of the Association;
      ii. Promote and carry out research and publish the results to the members or to any wider audience that the Association sees fit;
      iii. Arrange and provide for meetings, lectures, seminars and training courses;
      iv. Collect and disseminate information on all matters affecting the Objects;
      v. Acquire any property and any rights and privileges necessary for the promotion of the Objects;
      vi. Subject to such consents as may be required by law, borrow or raise money for the Objects;
      vii. Raise funds and invite and receive contributions from any person or persons PROVIDED THAT the Association shall not undertake trading activities in raising funds for the Objects;
      viii. Invest the monies of the Association not immediately required for the Objects in or upon such investments, securities or property as may be thought fit, subject to such conditions (if any) as may for the time being be imposed or required by law and,
      ix. Undertake such other activities as are desirable for the attainment of the Objects.
      
   
   
   
3. Membership
   
   
   1. Membership of the Association shall be open to individuals who satisfy the criteria for membership set out in the Association's Standing Orders or Rules. The annual membership subscription payable by members shall be determined by the Committee of the Association.
      
      
   2. All applications for membership shall be decided by the Committee of the Association. The Committee shall have the right for good and sufficient reason to reject an application for membership or to suspend a member provided that the individual concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Committee before a decision is taken.
      
      
4. The Committee
   
   
   The policy and general management of the affairs of the Association shall be conducted by a Committee (the Committee"), which shall consist of a Chairman, Treasurer, Educational Secretary, Social Secretary, Membership Secretary and Publicity Secretary (the "Executives") together with 9 non-portfolio members whose task shall be to assist the Executives in the conduct of the Committee's business.
   
   
   1. All members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of one year by ballot to be conducted in accordance with the rules laid down in the Association's Standing Orders.
      
      
   2. The Committee shall appoint the Executives from among its members together with such other Executive officers as it wishes.
      
      
   3. No person may hold the same Executive office for more than two consecutive years.
      
      
   4. No person may stand for election to the Committee or be elected to serve on the Committee for more than six consecutive years.
      
      
   5. If a vacancy upon the Committee occurs, the Committee shall appoint a replacement from among the Association's members. In such cases the person appointed to fill the vacancy will hold office until the next election of the Committee.
      
      
   6. The Committee may appoint such sub-committees as it may deem necessary and shall determine their terms of reference, powers, duration and composition. All acts and proceedings of such sub-committees shall be reported back to the Committee at the next meeting of the Committee.
      
      
   7. Meetings of the Committee shall be held at least 6 times in each year and at such intervals as the Committee shall determine. Fourteen days' notice of such meetings shall be given to all members of the Committee.
      
      
   8. Any member of the Committee who fails without reasonable cause to attend 3 consecutive meetings of the Committee shall cease to be a member of the Committee. What is or is not a reasonable cause for such non-attendance shall be decided by the Committee.
      
      
5. Meetings
   
   
   The Annual General Meeting (the "AGM") of the Association shall be held in each year within 3 months of the end of the Association's financial year. At least 28 days' notice of the AGM shall be given in writing to all members. The business to be conducted at the AGM shall be determined by the Committee and shall be notified to the members in accordance with the Associatio's Standing Orders.
   
   
   1. Notice of any resolution to be proposed at the AGM shall be submitted in writing to the Educational Secretary at least 14 days before the AGM and shall be distributed to all members at least 7 days before the date of the AGM.
      
      
   2. An Extraordinary General Meeting (an "EGM") of the Association may be called at any time by the Committee and in any event shall be called within 28 days of receiving a written request so to do signed by at least 15 members of the Association and giving a reason for the request. Fourteen days' notice of an AGM (howsoever called) shall be provided to all members, such notice to state the business to be dealt with at the AGM. No other business may be dealt with at such meetings except that specified in the notice of the meeting.
      
      
      
      
6. Rules of Procedure
   
   
   The quorum at any AGM and EGM shall be 5 members. The quorum at Committee meetings shall be 3 Executives.
   
   
   1. In any meeting of the Association or the Committe, in the case of a draw in any vote cast, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
      
      
   2. Minutes shall be kept by the Committee and by any sub-committees. The Committee shall determine whether and when the members be informed of any matters dealt with by the Committee and sub-committees. Any member may request a copy of the minutes of a meeting of the Committee or sub-committee by a request in writing addressed to the Secretary who will provide a copy of the requested minutes requested within 28 days.
      
      
   3. The Committee shall have the power to adopt Standing Orders or Rules, so long as such Standing Orders or Rules are consistent with this Constitution. Any such Standing Orders or Rules must be ratified by the Association either by way of hands vote at the next AGM or by way of a postal/electronic ballot. In both cases, the meaning of and reason for the proposed Standing Order or Rule shall be fully explained to the members in advance of any vote. In the case of a postal/electronic ballot, any proposed Standing Order or Rule shall be adpoted by the Committee unless dissent in writing is received from any member to that proposal within one calendar month of the notification having been sent. In the case of such dissent, the Committee may seek ratification of the relevant Standing Order or Rule at the next AGM.
      
      
   4. The Committee shall operate and develop the work and functions of the Association in accordance with the policies of the Association and the Association Statement of Intent on Equal Opportunities as set forth in Schedule 1 to this Constitution provided that such policies are strictly within the Objects and Powers of the Association.
      
      
7. Finance
   
   
   All monies raised by the Association shall be used to further its Objects and for no other purpose PROVIDED THAT nothing in this Constitution shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the Association not being a member of the Committee; purchasing and making of any reasonable gift to persons or bodies who have assisted the Association and/or the Committee in its business; or the repayment of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by any person including members of the Committee. In all cases of expenditure as contemplated by this paragraph, no such expenditure (whether in principal or amount) shall be undertaken without the unanimous approval of the Executives.
   
   
   1. The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of the finances of the Association and shall submit those accounts for audit by an independent third party on an anuual basis.
      
      
   2. A banking account or accounts in the name of the Association shall be maintained with such bank, building society or other financial institution as the Committee shall decide. All cheques shall be signed by any two of the 3 authorised signatories.
      
      
8. Property
   
   
   The title to any property which may be acquired by the Association shall be vested in not less than three Executives.
   
   
9. Amendments to the Constitution
   
   
   The Constitution may be amended at the Association's AGM or any EGM by the positive votes of at least two-thirds of the members present and voting. Unless short notice is agreed to by at least two thirds of the voting attendees to the AGM or EGM as the case may be, at least 14 days' advance notice of any such amendment must be sent to members of the Association.
   
   
10. Dissolution
    
    
    The Association may be dissolved at an AGM or EGM by the positive votes of at least two-thirds of the members present and voting PROVIDED THAT at least 28 days' notice of such meeting must be provided to all members of the Association stating the business to be dealt with. In the case of dissolution of the Association, after the satisfaction of any debts, the Association's assets shall be transferred to such organisation or organisations with objects similar to those of the Association as the Association shall determine in a ballot of its members (such ballot to be conducted by way of simple majority).
    
    

Schedule 1:  Statement of Intent on Equal Opportunities

The Young Fraud Lawyers Association adopts the Law Society statement and policy on equal opportunities.


Click Here to view a copy of the Standing orders.