| The paralegal profession began back in the 60's and | | | | primarily serves individuals, was created in 2003 and is |
| 70's. Attorneys began hiring assistants to help them | | | | called The American Alliance of Paralegals. It quickly |
| with general duties, case investigation and paper | | | | began setting standards in the paralegal field and |
| work. This trend was noticed by the American Bar | | | | paralegals are required to meet particular work |
| Association and it resulted in the formation of the | | | | experience and / or educational guidelines in order to |
| Standing Committee on Legal Assistance which was | | | | be a voting member. It was also the first national |
| established to setup standards in the paralegal / | | | | organization for paralegals to become involved in |
| attorney relationship. It included duties associated | | | | setting minimum educational guidelines and standards. |
| with a paralegal and employment guidelines. Today, | | | | You may want to check with other paralegals in your |
| the committee consists of both professional | | | | area to see what they have to say about the |
| paralegals and lawyers. | | | | professional memberships available in any of these |
| The American Bar Association offers a certification | | | | organizations in your area. You may also want to |
| training program to schools that offer paralegal | | | | inquire about other benefits of becoming a member |
| certification and training. This helps to establish | | | | and what type of professional development training |
| educational and training standards throughout the | | | | each organization offers. |
| industry which helps to ensure training uniformity. | | | | If you are considering a paralegal career or you have |
| In addition to the American Bar Association, there are | | | | just begun your paralegal training, you may want to |
| a number of national organizations for paralegals that | | | | consider adding a membership card to one or more |
| have also contributed to the refining of the paralegal | | | | of the professional paralegal organizations in your |
| legal assistant profession. | | | | area. |
| Two of these professional organizations are the | | | | It's both common sense and good business sense to |
| National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) | | | | contact every paralegal organization you can find. |
| and the National Association of Legal Assistants | | | | Professional paralegal organizations that offer |
| (NALA). Together they represent about 30,000 | | | | networking or job opportunity boards are clearly a |
| paralegals in the United States. While these | | | | great benefit to anyone but they can be essential to |
| organizations are competitors, they have come | | | | those who are just beginning their careers. These |
| together to help shape and serve the paralegal field. | | | | organizations can also expose you to many |
| NALA prefers to call individuals in the profession legal | | | | opportunities you may otherwise not have been |
| assistants while NFPA prefers to call them paralegals. | | | | exposed too like: scholarship offers or financial |
| Another organization, which consists of paralegal | | | | programs that could help you complete your training. |
| educational programs and teachers, is called The | | | | If you've been sitting back and waiting to take that |
| American Association for Paralegal Education or | | | | next step in your life and your career and the allure |
| AAfPE. Consistent paralegal educational standards are | | | | of a paralegal career is calling you... then you must |
| one of their key points of interest. | | | | check out the links below. |
| Another professional organization for paralegals, which | | | | |