Bylaws of the association.

Legal form

1Pursuant to Articles 60 and following of the Swiss Civil Code (Art. 60 ff. CC), these bylaws express the intention to establish the Association for the Legal and Judicial Professions (AP2J), governed by the present provisions.

2Its registered office is in Geneva.

3Its duration is unlimited. Dissolution may only be decided by an extraordinary general assembly having this as its sole agenda item, by a qualified majority of 2/3 (two thirds) of the members present, representing at least 50 % of the members on the day the assembly is convened.

Purpose

1The Association’s purpose is to work towards ensuring a legal and judicial system in Switzerland that is fair, transparent and respectful of the humanist and democratic values of the rule of law.

2With a view to creating a fairer and more accessible legal environment for all participants in the system, the Association is committed to the reform and harmonisation of conditions of access to the legal professions.

3The Association combats bureaucratic obstacles to the realisation of a democratic state governed by the rule of law that is fair, humane and coherent.

Members

1Any person whose application for membership is accepted by the Board shall be a member.

2Any organisation or association may become a collective member.

3Founding members are honorary members. As such, if they are not elected to the Board, they shall have a permanent advisory voice. The initial founders acquire this status automatically. For subsequent founders, the Board may decide to grant the status subject to approval at the next General Assembly.

Governing bodies

The governing bodies of the Association are:

• the General Assembly;
• the Board;
• the Auditor.

General Assembly

1The General Assembly, composed of the members, is the supreme governing body of the Association.

2It exercises the following powers:

• deciding on the total or partial amendment of these bylaws;
• deliberating on all matters relating to the organisation of the Association;
• reviewing the Board’s annual reports and granting discharge for its management;
• determining the amount of dues;
• electing the members of the Board;
• appointing the Auditor;
• ruling definitively on appeals regarding the validity of a member’s exclusion.

3The General Assembly shall validly deliberate on items placed on its agenda and mentioned in the notice of meeting. Remarks expressed under “any other business” may be put to a vote at a subsequent Assembly.

4The ordinary General Assembly shall be held annually.

Board

1The Board is the executive body of the Association.

2It is composed of:

• the President;
• the Secretary General;
• the Treasurer;
• and other elected members.

3It shall organise itself and exercise all powers not attributed by these bylaws to other governing bodies.

Liability

Members shall bear no personal liability towards third parties, regardless of their role.

Joint signature

1The association is bound by the joint signature of the President and another Board member.

2For financial matters, the other member shall be the Treasurer.

Exclusion

1The Board shall decide on the exclusion of a member, in the member’s absence, after having heard them.

2Honorary members may only be excluded for qualified just cause.

3An excluded member may appeal to the General Assembly immediately following their exclusion, which shall decide by simple majority, on the Board’s recommendation. Such decisions are taken without stating reasons and without possibility of further appeal.