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Benefits of joining a professional paralegal association

  • Continuing education
  • Job prospects
  • Mentoring programs
  • Networking opportunities
  • Access to resources
  • New perspective
  • Professional development
  • Community

Washington State Paralegal Association

ABOUT

The Washington State Paralegal Association (WSPA) is a not-for-profit professional organization formed in 1975 to support and promote the paralegal profession, and to provide a forum for addressing the paralegal needs, interests and responsibilities in the State of Washington.

MISSION

Paralegals dedicated to provide the tools and resources necessary to advance the paralegal profession.

STUDENT BENEFITS OF JOINING WSPA

    • Subscription to WSPA's newsletter, Findings and Conclusions
    • Automatic membership to National Federation of Paralegal Association
    • Reduced rates for professional, educational and networking events (annual State Convention, Biennial Legal Resource Seminar)
    • WSPA Membership directory
    • Access to the WSPA Job Bank
    • The opportunity to network locally, statewide, and nationally with other members of the paralegal/legal assistant profession
    • The opportunity to influence legislation, other professional attitudes, and public opinion affecting the paralegal profession, including regulation, licensing, and certification issue

HOW TO JOIN

    • Student Member: A person who is a full-time student in a Paralegal studies program
    • $60 annual membership fee
    • Membership runs from January to December
    • The renewal period starts from October 1st to March 15th
    • https://wspaonline.org/membership

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS, INC.

ABOUT

Founded in 1974, NFPA was the first national paralegal association. Created as a non-profit federation, NFPA is an issues-driven, policy-oriented professional association directed by its membership. It is comprised of more than 50 member associations and represents over 9,000 individual members reflecting a broad range of experience, education and diversity.

MISSION

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc., promotes a global presence for the paralegal profession and leadership in the legal community.

CORE PURPOSE

To advance the paralegal profession.

STUDENT BENEFITS OF JOINING NFPA

    • A free subscription to the quarterly magazine, the National Paralegal Reporter
    • Discounted registration for our education and networking events, including the NFPA Annual Convention and Joint Conference
    • Special discounted member rates for NFPA webinar recordings
    • Exclusive access to the PEG Student Support & Resource Platform
    • Free access to the NFPA Career Center
    • Discounts on car rentals, major tourist attractions, auto insurance, department stores
    • Awards and Scholarships: Each year, NFPA partners with Thomson Reuters to help paralegal students fund their education. For NFPA members, we also offer scholarships that cover the costs of becoming a certified paralegal
    • Certification: NFPA supports two certification exams, The **Paralegal CORE Competency Exam and the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam® (PACE®). Provides study materials and organization of study groups online and in-person
    • Student Discussion Board: questions or advice for other paralegal students, space designed to share your thoughts

HOW TO JOIN

    • Must be a current student of paralegal studies or a recent graduate (within six (6) months preceding the date the application was submitted).
    • Include a copy of your school transcript with your application as the processing
    • $50 annual membership fee
    • You can join NFPA separately, or through a NFPA Member Association (WSPA)
    • https://www.paralegals.org

**Required for LLLT License

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR LEGAL PROFESSIONALS

ABOUT

Established in 1929 by our founder Eula Mae Jett, incorporated as the National Association of Legal Secretaries in 1949, and renamed NALS...the association for legal professionals in 1999, the association has always been a leader in the legal support profession. Today over half of NALS’ membership is comprised of legal assistants and paralegals.

MISSION

Engage legal professionals on their terms.

Inspire legal professionals to want more.

Enhance the careers of legal professionals.

Promote legal professionals and the legal support industry.

STUDENT BENEFITS OF JOINING NALS

    • NALS Career Center: platform for educational and career services, resume exposure, and larger selection in job search
    • Certification Programs: Accredited Legal Professional (ALP) certification, Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) and Professional Paralegal (PP)
    • Conferences: State and National; offers community and educational resources
    • Legal Training Courses: prepare you for a career in the legal profession, prepare for certification, courses offered locally by state and chapter; classroom training
    • Member locator
    • NALS OnDemand Library: webinars, podcasts, conference sessions for laptops, mobile devices and tablets
    • Specialty Certificate Program: 3 Tracks- Litigation/Civil Law, Corporate Law and Estate Planning/ Family Law

HOW TO JOIN

    • Student Membership $39 - Student members include students attending an accredited program relating to work of a legal nature, who are classified by that school as taking at least nine hours per semester/quarter of college credit.
    • Available to join online or a Membership Application
    • https://www.nals.org/