Iowa Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals (IALA.P)

Transcription

1 Iowa Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals (IALA.P) Have you ever wondered what other paralegals are doing for their profession? Have you ever wanted to get involved in promoting your career? If so, have you thought about joining our state-wide association?

2 Page 2 IALA.P JOINING IS EASY! You can go to to sign up online, or complete the Application for Membership contained herein. IALA.P MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS ACTIVE: An individual whose supervising attorney attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant/paralegal AND that such individual works at least three-fourths of total hours of employment as a legal assistant as defined by the American Bar Association. Active members must live or work in the State of Iowa. This membership classification carries voting privileges at the state level. Active members may serve as state officers. ASSOCIATE: Any individual not currently employed as a legal assistant/paralegal who has successfully completed a course of study as a legal assistant/paralegal at an educational institution. Any individual not currently employed as a legal assistant/paralegal who has successfully completed the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) or Certified Paralegal (CP) examination administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals. Any former active member of IALA.P not currently employed as a legal assistant/paralegal. Associate members may vote and hold office on a regional level, but do not have state voting rights and may not hold a state office. STUDENT: Any individual who is a student at any educational institution pursuing a course of study as a legal assistant/paralegal, and who is not currently employed as a legal assistant/paralegal. Evidence of good standing or an attestation of the director of said program that the individual is a student in good standing is required. Student members do not have voting rights and may not act as an officer on either the state or regional level. SUSTAINING: Those members of bar associations or the legal profession endorsing the legal assistant/paralegal concept or involved in the promotion of the legal assistant/paralegal profession. Those members of the educational field endorsing the legal assistant concept or involved in the promotion of the legal assistant/paralegal profession. Any person or entity endorsing the legal assistant/paralegal concept or expressing a viable ongoing interest in the legal profession and approved by the Board of Directors. If you are an active, reserve active or retired military personnel, or member of the National Guard of the United States, we offer a 10% discount on active membership, but only if your employer does not pay your dues. To receive the discount, please provide valid proof of service (Military ID).

3 Iowa Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals Page 3 Application for Membership Membership Term Begins February 1 and Ends January 31 Annual dues vary by type of membership and are prorated based upon the month of application. Please remit the appropriate amount based upon your membership classification (see page 2 for membership classifications and discounts). All dues are nonrefundable. Membership belongs to the applicant and not to the applicant's employer. If you apply for active membership, you must do so by January 31 in order to receive the one magazine subscription included with your dues (see page 4 for magazine subscription benefits). Month of Application Active Associate Student Sustaining February through July (not eligible for magazine subscription) $90.00 $60.00 $25.00 $ August through November (not eligible for magazine subscription) $45.00 $30.00 $25.00 $ December & January (includes renewal fee for next membership year & includes one magazine subscription) $90.00 $60.00 $25.00 $ I hereby apply for (circle one) Active, Associate, Student, Sustaining Membership in the Iowa Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals. Name: Employer Name & Address (or school name, if applicable) (Include: P.O. Box, Street Address, Suite #, City, State and Zip Code) County of Employment: Work Telephone Number: Home/Mobile Phone Number: If CP, RP, etc., Date Certified: Mailing Address: (If you are applying for active membership, before January 31, this is the address that your magazine will be mailed to) (Please be sure to inform IALA.P of any changes regarding your addresses) Home Address, if not listed above: Primary Address: (This is the address for all IALA.P communications will be sent) Secondary Address: Areas of Work Expertise: How did you hear about IALA.P/Who referred you? FOR OFFICE USE APP. RECEIVED: DUES RECEIVED: DUES VIA: MEMBER ID: ROSTERS: 2 ND VP: REGION DIRECTOR: PASSWORD:

4 Page 4 IALA.P I agree to be bound by the ethical standards and by-laws adopted by IALA.P, an affiliated association of the National Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals (NALA). All members are bound by the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Date Signature of Applicant AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION DEFINITION OF A LEGAL ASSISTANT.PARALEGAL: A legal assistant or 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. ATTORNEY-EMPLOYER/SCHOOL ATTESTATION: I hereby attest that I have read and understand the American Bar Association (ABA) definition of legal assistant as set forth on this application for membership. I attest that Applicant is supervised by me and is qualified as a legal assistant/paralegal as defined by the ABA OR is currently enrolled in a legal assistant/paralegal program and is a student in good standing. Date Signature of Supervising Attorney/School Program Director **************************************************************************** Please mail this form with the appropriate membership dues to: Iowa Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals Jody L. Burns, CP 700 Locust Street, Suite 200 Dubuque, IA 5200 Please questions to membership@ialanet.org **************************************************************************** MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION BENEFITS Active Membership: IALA.P offers, as part of your active membership benefits, your choice between Paralegal Today and NALA's Facts & Findings if you renew or apply prior to January 31. If you are interested in receiving the other publication at a reduced rate, you can. By simply adding $30.00 to your active membership dues, IALA.P will secure your subscription to either Paralegal Today or NALA's Facts & Findings. Paralegal Today Facts & Findings Associate, Sustaining or Student Membership: IALA.P offers, as part of your associate, sustaining or student membership benefits, the option to gain access to Paralegal Today and NALA's Facts & Findings if you renew or apply prior to January 31, by choosing one subscription for $30.00 or both subscriptions for $60.00 in additional costs. If you would like to add Paralegal Today, please check here: If you would like to add NALA's Facts & Findings, please check here: I would like to add a publication to my membership. Please forward me the publication I have chosen as indicated above. I understand that this will increase my membership cost by $30.00 for one subscription and $60.00 for both subscriptions and I have included that cost with my payment. Member Signature Make Checks payable to: IOWA ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS.PARALEGALS

5 Iowa Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals Page 5 SOME BENEFITS OF BELONGING TO IALA.P Subscription to a paralegal periodical Networking connections The Original Notice, newsletter Reduced cost at IALA.P seminars Scholarship opportunities Study assistance for NALA certification exams Updates on laws, rulings, and activities affecting the paralegal profession Website: Members only list serve Exclusive discounts with various vendors and organizations Representation at Iowa State Bar Association events To see a complete listing of benefits, go to IALA.P SEMINARS IALA.P serves the educational needs of paralegals in the state of Iowa. IALA.P has two (2) educational seminars per year. These one-day seminars typically rotate to various areas of the state in order to provide continuing education opportunities for Iowa paralegals, and provide a wide array of topics. Members of IALA.P may attend each of these seminars at a reduced cost. Student Members are provided a certificate yearly for free attendance at one of these seminars.

6 Page 6 IALA.P SCHOLARSHIPS IALA.P proudly affords its members three (3) scholarship opportunities each year to earn scholarships. As the paralegal profession has grown, the educational background requirements for the paralegal continue to grow as well. IALA.P recognizes the importance of education and, through scholarships, offers its members the opportunity to advance their careers. Paula Grady Memorial Education Award o Two awards in the amount of $500 each to be used towards the payment of tuition, fees and books at a paralegal education program, or for the payment of examination fees for the National Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals Certified Paralegal and Advanced Paralegal Certification exams. Applications and essays will be taken through July 1. The committee will review the applications and essays and notify the recipients of the awards in August. NALA Certified Paralegal Professional Scholarship Award o Nominations for this award must be completed by May 3. Scholarship Award recipient will receive: certificate, Certified Paralegal Review Manual, CP Study Guide and Mock Examination, and application fee to be admitted to the NALA Certified Paralegal program. MENTORING PROGRAM The purpose of the IALA.P Mentoring Program is to develop and promote the career development and professionalism of future paralegals. The Program invites senior paralegals to share their knowledge of the profession and their area(s) of expertise with junior paralegals and students enrolled in a paralegal program. IALA.P strongly believes that it is vitally important that seasoned paralegals help foster the growth of its newer members as a means to meet the needs of our ever growing profession and to set the standard for the future. If you are interested in either being a Mentor or Mentee, please send an message to president@ialanet.org. ETHICS A paralegal must adhere strictly to the accepted standards of legal ethics and to the general principles of proper conduct. The performance of the duties of the paralegal shall be governed by specific canons so that justice will be served and goals of the profession attained. IALA.P adopted the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility as a general guide intended to aid paralegals. Each IALA.P member agrees to follow the canons of the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. This code is the foundation of ethical practices of paralegals in the legal community.

7 Iowa Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals Page 7 HISTORY OF IALA.P The association was formed in 1987 when the Iowa Legal Assistants Association and Paralegals of Iowa Ltd. merged. These predecessor associations served the needs of Iowa s paralegals since IALA.P became associated with the National Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals in Through this association, IALA.P is able to offer the benefits of national activities in addition to those on the state and local levels. IALA.P REGIONS IALA.P consists of eight (8) regions which correspond to Iowa s eight (8) judicial districts. The directors of the individual regions within IALA.P hold meetings within their regions and also sit on the board of directors of the association. Please visit to find contact information for the current director in your region today.

8 OUR MISSION The Iowa Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals (IALA.P) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and advancing the legal profession and the status of paralegals throughout the State of Iowa. Members of IALA.P vigorously work to encourage and maintain high ethical and professional standards within the field. Iowa Association of Legal Assistants.Paralegals 700 Locust Street, Suite 200 Dubuque, IA membership@ialanet.org or president@ialanet.org