AAEC membership is open to legal professionals committed to ethical leadership and regional collaboration. Members gain access to a trusted network, exclusive events, and a shared mission to strengthen the role of in-house counsel across Central America.
Take part in AAEC Member Assemblies and vote on proposals that shape the direction of the association.
Apply for roles such as country representative, committee lead, or other leadership positions within the organization.
Ability to participate in local chapters, commissions or equivalent bodies of the association.
Benefit from AAEC’s strategic partnerships with similar associations, gaining access to events, continuing education, and professional networks.
In the future you can receive access to any technological platforms where you can connect with other members and seek advice regarding issues in your daily work or other professional concerns in a private environment.
Access industry news, insights, and invitations to member-only luncheons and social gatherings.
You hold a valid license to practice law.
You currently work on a full-time basis for a private or public company or institution.
In your current position, you primarily provide legal advice or assistance related to the application of the law or the resolution of legal disputes specific to your employer.
Your title indicates a legal in-house function, such as:
Note: In the event that you do perform the duties of in-house or corporate counsel but your job title does not reflect either a legal role or the appropriate functional role you may be asked to provide confirmation of your responsibilities before being accepted into the association. This may be the case if you perform multiple roles for a company and your title is reflective of a corporate function but not your legal role.
Your professional responsibilities include legal matters in at least one country within Central America.
If you no longer meet these eligibility requirements after becoming a member, you must notify the association immediately by writing to: membership@aaec.org
In-House Counsel are specialized professionals whose central role is to serve the best interests of their clients. In that role, they also serve as the legal and ethical conscience of their respective organizations and in effect, they represent the interests of society at large. In these capacities, In-House Counsel must comply with the codes of conduct and ethics prescribed by their local licensing organization, however, there is often room for ethical dilemma. These grey areas present opportunities for In-House Counsel to create better companies by shepherding their clients to a higher ethical standard.
The following guide for standards of professional conduct acts in concert with these competing responsibilities. The guide contains the foundations and principles of conduct that must be an essential part of all of AAEC’s members’ behavior for achieving the ultimate goal: better companies, better countries.
Ethics are based on values, not rules. In-House counsel should be guided by a set of values that allow them to do what is right when faced with an ethical dilemma. In-house counsel should at all times exercise integrity. Behaving with integrity means taking an honest, fair, principled and transparent approach to everything one does. Integrity is the fundamental quality of any person who seeks to practice as a member of the legal profession.
In-House Counsel must exercise independent and professional judgement in all dealings with Clients, Employers and stakeholders and retain independence by avoiding undue subordination or influence over one’s judgement by others.
In-House Counsel has a duty to uphold the standards and reputation of the In-House Counsel profession and those of the legal profession where applicable, and to assist in the advancement of their relevant association or institution’s goals. In-house counsel should act with the required degree of skill, due diligence, and independence expected from an In-House Counsel professional, and regularly update one’s practical and theoretical legal knowledge.
In-House Counsel shall apply relevant knowledge, skills and attributes in a manner appropriate and efficient to each matter undertaken on behalf of an Employer/Client and the nature and the terms of the engagement. The requirement of conscientious, diligent and efficient service means that In-House Counsel should make every effort to provide timely service to the Employer/Client. To accomplish this, the In-House Counsel must undertake an appropriate level of Continuous Professional Development to be able to deliver advice to the competency standards required by an In-House Counsel.
When advising an Employer/Client, In-House Counsel must be honest and candid and must inform the Employer/Client of all relevant information known to In-House Counsel that may affect the interests of the Employer/Client in the matter. In-House Counsel must never knowingly assist in or encourage any dishonesty, fraud, crime or illegal conduct, or instruct the Employer/Client organization on how to violate the law or avoid punishment.
In-House Counsel at all times must hold in strict confidence all information concerning the business and affairs of an Employer/Client organization acquired in the course of the professional relationship and must not divulge any such information unless expressly or impliedly authorized by the Employer/Client organization or required by law or a court to do so.
The lawyer-client relationship is based on trust. In-House Counsel has a duty of loyalty to the Employer/ Client organization in which he or she works. To maintain public confidence in the integrity of the Legal profession and the administration of justice, in which lawyers and In-House Counsel play a key role, it is essential that In-House Counsel respect the duty of loyalty.
In-House Counsel has an ethical duty to avoid conflicts of interest. In-House Counsel should be mindful that a conflict of interest may exist not only from the outset, but throughout the duration of a matter, as new circumstances or information may establish or reveal a conflict of interest. In-House Counsel must not act or continue to act where there is a conflict of interest.
In-House Counsel must be courteous and civil and act in good faith with all persons with whom he or she has dealings and must at all times respect the objectives, values and mission of their colleagues and their respective Employers/Clients and seek to create and maintain good relations with them.
*Note: AAEC reserves the right to enact a membership fee in the future. If this should occur, members will be given notice before the fee is enacted.
Please make sure you have carefully reviewed all the information above, including the eligibility requirements, ethical guidelines, and membership conditions. Submitting this form confirms that you understand and accept these terms.
Contact Us
© 2025 AAEC. All rights reserved.
© 2025 AAEC. All rights reserved.
