PLEASE NOTE: It may take up to a MONTH for your Membership Application to be approved as it has to go before the Board at the next scheduled Board Meeting for approval. PAYMENTS will not be processed until after approval. NORTHWEST FLORIDA PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 1333 PENSACOLA, FL 32591-1333 website: http://www.nwfpa.com APPLICATION FOR ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP [Portions adopted from NALA Bylaws Article IV(b)] Thank you for your interest in Active Membership in the Northwest Florida Paralegal Association (NWFPA). Please read through this application carefully and select the membership category/criteria under which you are most eligible and wish to apply. The NWFPA is open to all individuals who meet the definition of paralegal as defined below, and who also meet the criteria for membership under one of the categories below. Additionally, all paralegals in the State of Florida are regulated by the Rules Governing the Florida Bar. **First year dues must accompany this application form. Thereafter, dues shall become due on November 1st of each preceding year, payable by January 1st.** Active Membership Dues--$50.00/year Please remit dues made payable to: Northwest Florida Paralegal Association NWFPA Bylaws: Article IV Paralegal Defined A Paralegal is: A... paralegal is a person qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. ABA 1997; NALA adopted by resolution 2001. Rules Governing the Florida Bar: RULE 4-5.3 RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING NONLAWYER ASSISTANTS (a) Use of Titles by Non-lawyer Assistants. A person who uses the title of paralegal, legal assistant, or other similar term when offering or providing services to the public must work for or under the direction or supervision of a lawyer or law firm. RULE 10-2.1(b) Paralegal or Legal Assistant. A paralegal or legal assistant is a person qualified by education, training, or work experience, who works under the supervision of a member of The Florida Bar and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a member of The Florida Bar is responsible. A non-lawyer or a group of non-lawyers may not offer legal services directly to the public by employing a lawyer to provide the lawyer supervision required under this rule.
Active membership is open to any individual who is employed as a paralegal and meets at least one of the following requirements. This is the only membership classification which carries full voting privileges. Active members are also the only NWFPA members who may serve as members of the Executive Committee or team chairs. 1. Any individual who has successfully completed the Certified Paralegal (CP) examination of NALA, or the Paralegal Advanced Competency Examination (PACE) of NFPA, whose certification has not expired, or 2. Any individual who has graduated from an ABA-approved program of study for paralegals, or 3. Any individual who has graduated from a course of study for paralegals, which is institutionally accredited but not ABA-approved, and which requires not less than the equivalent of 60 semester hours of classroom study, or 4. Any individual who has graduated from a course of study for paralegals, other than those set forth in 2 and 3 above, plus not less than six months of on-the-job training as a paralegal, and whose attorney/employer attests that such person is qualified as a paralegal, or 5. Any individual who has a minimum of two years of on-the-job training as a paralegal, whose attorney/employer attests that such person is currently employed as a paralegal defined in the NWFPA Bylaws, or 6. Any individual who has received a baccalaureate degree in any field from a college or university that is institutionally accredited, plus not less than six months in-house training as a paralegal, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a paralegal as defined in the NWFPA Bylaws, or 7. Any individual who has a minimum of three (3) years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney, including at least six (6) months of in-house training as a paralegal, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a paralegal as defined in the NWFPA Bylaws, or 8. Any individual who is registered with the Florida Bar as a Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) in good standing. Application Package MUST include the following documents: Incomplete applications will not be processed Completed application Attorney Attestation (if applicable) Copy of your college degree or transcript (if applicable) Copy of your CP or RP certification (if applicable) Copy of your FRP registration certificate (if applicable)
NAME: PHONE: MAILING ADDRESS: PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS: EMPLOYER: SUPERVISING ATTORNEY: WORK ADDRESS: WORK PHONE NUMBER FAX: WORK E-MAIL ADDRESS: PREFERRED E-MAIL FOR NWFPA COMMUNICATIONS: PERSONAL WORK 1. Please check which qualification number for active membership you are applying under: 1. Any individual who has successfully completed the Certified Paralegal (CP) examination of NALA, or the Paralegal Advanced Competency Examination (PACE) of NFPA, whose certification has not expired, or 2. Any individual who has graduated from an ABA-approved program of study for paralegals, or 3. Any individual who has graduated from a course of study for paralegals, which is institutionally accredited but not ABA-approved, and which requires not less than the equivalent of 60 semester hours of classroom study, or 4. Any individual who has graduated from a course of study for paralegals, other than those set forth in 2 and 3 above, plus not less than six months of on-the-job training as a paralegal, and whose attorney/employer attests that such person is qualified as a paralegal, or 5. Any individual who has a minimum of two years of on-the-job training as a paralegal, whose attorney/employer attests that such person is currently employed as a paralegal defined in the NWFPA Bylaws, or 6. Any individual who has received a baccalaureate degree in any field from a college or university that is institutionally accredited, plus not less than six months in-house training as a paralegal, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a paralegal as defined in the NWFPA Bylaws, or 7. Any individual who has a minimum of three (3) years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney, including at least six (6) months of in-house training as a paralegal, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a paralegal as defined in the NWFPA Bylaws, or 8. Any individual who is registered with the Florida Bar as a Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP) in good standing.
2. How long have you been employed as a paralegal? 3. Your total years legal experience? 4. Please check the most appropriate description of your employer(s): Law department, nonprofit organization; Judicial agency; Court; Corporate law department; Private law office [attorneys(#), paralegals(#), and non-legal personnel(#) ] 5. Practice Area, if applicable: 6. Are you a CP (NALA) or RP (PACE/NFPA)? Date Certified: 7. Formal or special education for present position: Name and Address of School Year of Graduation 8. Are you a Florida Registered Paralegal (FRP)? No Yes date of registration: 9. Please tell us your special skills/talents (not necessarily job related): Make the most of your membership by getting involved in one of the teams listed below. Check all the Teams that interest you: Newsletter Naturalization Law Week Summation Nominations Audit NALA Convention Seminar FRP Technology Student Liaison Christmas Membership
ATTORNEY/EMPLOYER ATTESTATION I,, hereby swear or affirm that is employed by me and meets the qualifications for active membership in the Northwest Florida Paralegal Association, as listed above. DATE SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY/EMPLOYER Printed Name of Attorney/Employer APPLICANT ATTESTATION I,, hereby apply for Active Membership in the Northwest Florida Paralegal Association, and certify that I meet the above-required criteria and agree to be bound by the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and the bylaws as adopted by the Northwest Florida Paralegal Association. I further understand that this application is subject to approval by NWFPA. DATE SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT