Setting the Standard for Paralegal Excellence in Central Florida since 1983
National Organizations
The National Association of Legal Assistants and Paralegals (NALA) is a nationally-recognized association that promotes the paralegal industry mainly through providing quality continued legal education opportunities. NALA has been certifying legal assistants (now considered Paralegals) for
over 30 years. For more information on NALA certification, see CLA/CP/ACP. Each year, NALA members and affiliated associations gather for its Annual Meeting and Convention. NALA provides paralegals with a Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility for legal assistants and paralegals. Interestingly, although NALA has recently recognized "paralegals" as being widely preferred term among its members, it still uses these terms interchangeably even as many states struggle to define "paralegal" functions as somewhat different than those commonly thought to be addressed by a "legal assistant".
CFPA
is an affiliated association of NALA and as such, supports the NALA
Annual Meeting by sending a representative, NALA LIAISON each year who is also a member of the CFPA Executive Committee. As an affiliated association of NALA, CFPA provides quarterly reporting on membership and association activities to NALA. If you have any questions about the NALA Liaison, you may review the BYLAWS (Art. 6.4(f)) or contact our current NALA Liaison, Nancy Jordahl by email: NALA LIAISON
Founded in 1974, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations 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
11,000 individual members reflecting a broad range of experience,
education and diversity. It was also the first national association to
have a website. NFPA’s Mission Statement and Core Purpose delineate its dedication to
the advancement of the paralegal profession and leadership in the legal
community. NFPA also administers a certification program, the PACE. For a history
of the NFPA through October, 2008, CLICK HERE FOR HISTORY, or to read NFPA's Mission Statement, CLICK HERE FOR NFPA MISSION STMT.
For more information about the NFPA see PARALEGALS
For more information about the PACE examination, see PACE
Although
CFPA is not a NFPA-affiliated association, our goal is to promote
professionalism within the paralegal field and CFPA recognizes as NFPA
as a national organization that promotes continued legal education and
professionalism.
National Paralegal Reporter, NFPA, PACE Registered Paralegal, RP,
PACE, NFPA - The Leader of the Paralegal Profession and the NFPA design
logo are all Registered Trademarks/Service Marks of NFPA; NFPA - Your
partner in your profession, PACE - The Standard for Excellence, NFPA
Tech Institute and the PACE design logo are Trademarks/Service Marks of
NFPA.
Formerly an acronym for the National Association of Legal Secretaries, NALS is possibly the oldest association for legal support staff in the country. Until the 1980s, the NALS national offices were shared with NALA headquarters. In 1999, NALS abandoned the acronym and kept the name NALS as a widely-recognized name synonymous not just with legal secretaries but with legal professionals of various titles. NALS established the Professional Paralegal examination in 2004.
For more information about the PP examination, see EXAM
CFPA
is not affiliated with NALS but recognizes NALS as a national
organization whose mission is to promote continued legal education and
professionalism.
