Qualifications for Membership
Active Membership
One or more of the following:
- Successful completion of an ABA approved Legal Assistant/Paralegal program or a bachelor’s degree with a Legal Assistant/Paralegal major and at least 6 months experience as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal, whose employer attests that such person is employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal as defined by the ABA in August, 1997, and devotes in excess of 50% of his/her time as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal.
- Have a bachelor’s degree in any field, have been employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal for a minimum of one year, whose employer attests that such person is employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal, and devotes more than 50% of his/her time as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal.
- A minimum of 3 years’ experience as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal, whose employer attests that such person is employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal and devotes in excess of 50% of his/her time as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal.
- Successful completion of a national Legal Assistant/Paralegal certification examination has been employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal for a minimum of 6 months and devotes more than 50% of his/her time as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal.
Associate Membership
One or more of the following:
- Any individual who has graduated from an ABA-approved Legal Assistant/Paralegal program or holds a bachelor’s degree with a Legal Assistant/Paralegal or paralegal major, but is not currently employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal or has been employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal for less than 6 months.
- Any individual who holds a bachelor’s degree with a Legal Assistant/Paralegal or paralegal major but is not currently employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal or has been employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal for less than one year.
- Any individual who has been employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal for a minimum of 6 months by a licensed attorney whose present attorney-employer attests that such person is employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal;
- Any person who has completed a national Legal Assistant/Paralegal certification examination, has been employed as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal for a minimum of 6 months, and who devotes in excess of 50% of his/her time as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal.
Affiliate Membership
One or more of the following:
- A member of the Bar who endorses the Legal Assistant/Paralegal concept or who is involved in the promotion of the Legal Assistant/Paralegal profession.
- Directly involved in the employment and/or supervision of Legal Assistant/Paralegals.
- Any employee of, or a corporation, business, government agency, or Legal Assistant/Paralegal program who is actively involved in the promotion of the Legal Assistant/Paralegal profession.
To qualify for Affiliate Membership, I certify that I do not qualify for Active or Associate Membership.
Student Membership
- A student in good standing in an ABA-approved Legal Assistant/Paralegal program, whose program director attests that I am currently a student in good standing.
To qualify for Student Membership, I certify that I do not qualify for Active, Associate, or Affiliate Membership.
Requirements for maintaining your Active Membership status
All individuals seeking to apply for Active Membership must have completed 10 hours of CLE in the year preceding his/her application for Active Membership. However, for individuals who have never been a COALA Member, this requirement is waived for the first year only.
Requirements for maintaining your Associate Membership status
There is no CLE requirement to maintain your status as an Associate Member.