Major Players

Question 1

National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)

Answer 1

• founded 1974 as the 1st national paralegal association
• association of more than 50 state and local paralegal associations
• individual paralegals can be members but most are connected through local paralegal associations
• offers voluntary certification for entry-level and experienced paralegals

Question 2

National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)

Answer 2

• non profit incorporate in 1975
• primarily as association of individual paralegals
• leading organization in the industry
• 90 state and local paralegal associations are affiliated
• offers voluntary certification for entry-level and experienced paralegals
• initially formed as a breakaway association from NALS

Question 3

American Bar Association (ABA)

Answer 3

• largest voluntary professional associate in the world
• provides school accreditation, legal education and information, programs to assist lawyers and judges, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public

Question 4

ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals (SCOP)

Answer 4

• has had significant impact on growth of the field
• publication of research on paralegals, establishment of voluntary program of approving paralegal schools and creation of an associate membership category for paralegals

Question 5

Association for Legal Professionals (NALS)

Answer 5

• initially stood for National Association of Legal Secretaries
• oldest national association in the country
• more than 4,000 paralegals and legal secretaries in 100+ chapters
• offers voluntary certification examination (PP, Professional Paralegal)

Question 6

American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE)

Answer 6

• established 1981

- national organization serving paralegal education and institutions that offer paralegal education programs

Question 7

Association of Legal Administrators (ALA)

Answer 7

• improve the quality of management in legal services organizations, promote and enhance competence and professionalism of legal administrators and all members of the management team
• represent professional legal management and managers to the legal community and the community at large

Question 8

State Bar Association

Answer 8

• issues guidelines on proper use of paralegals by attorneys
• issues ethical opinions that apply a state’s ethics code to an attorney’s use of a paralegal
• followed the lead of the ABA and allowed paralegals to become associate or affiliate members

Question 9

Local Paralegal Association (14 categories)

Answer 9

1. Nationwide
2. Statewide
3. Regionwide (encompassing more than 1 state)
4. Regionwide (within a state)
5. Countywide
6. Citywide
7. Practice Specific
8. Division of a bar association
9. Association of associations
10. Schoolwide
11. Manager-focused
12. Associations limited to paralegals
13. Associations with members of paralegals, legal secretaries and other non-attorneys
14. Foreign

Question 10

Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA)

Answer 10

a program that helps fund legal services for the poor with funds that attorneys are required to turn over from interest earned in client trust accounts containing client funds

Question 11

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Answer 11

a federal-state welfare program

Question 12

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)

Answer 12

federal agency that investigates employment discrimination that might violate federal law