The American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) is a division of the American Psychological Association (APA) 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. Please visit the AP-LS Membership Database website to become a member, renew your membership, or verify membership status.

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 (Div. 41) of the APA. 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 Jan. 1 - Dec. 31. 

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/Div. 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 website provides information on upcoming conferences, convention programs sponsored by Div. 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. 
  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. 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 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 (JD, PhD, PsyD, MD or EdD) within the past three years, may join in one of the membership categories for a reduced dues rate of $15.

To join or renew your membership, please visit our membership management page. If you would like to renew without using our membership management page, please use this form.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Kathy Gaskey
Administrative Assistant
American Psychology-Law Society
P.O. Box 11488
Southport, NC 28461-3936
Telephone/Fax: (910) 933-4018 

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

If you are interested in obtaining Forensic Psychology Diplomate status in the American Board of Forensic Psychology and American Board of Professional Psychology, please contact:

ABPP
600 Market Street
Suite 300
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Telephone (919) 537-8031
Fax: (919) 537-8034


More information can be found on websites:  American Board of Forensic Psychology  and  American Board of Professional Psychology