NFPA announces its second annual Tech Institute! We can hardly wait to see you on July 25-26, 2008 at the Doubletree Hotel Denver-Southeast in Aurora, CO! Click Here

NFPA to Offer CLE Seminars for Paralegals

I am pleased to announce that NFPA and the American Institute for Paralegal Studies ("AIPS") have contracted to jointly offer Continuing Legal Education Seminars for paralegals.  Paralegals now have the opportunity to attend on-line seminars in a wide variety of subjects without leaving their office or home.

The seminars, ranging from practice tips to substantive law topics, will run for two weeks and be facilitated daily by the instructor.  Some of the seminar topics include ethics, mediation, discovery, emerging issues in family law, and practical and technology tips for the litigation paralegal.

Class schedules and the complete course listing can be found on both NFPA (link to www.paralegals.org) and AIPS' (link to www.americanparalegal.edu ) websites.  Questions regarding the program can be directed to Amy Frohwirth (link to apf@wi.rr.com) or Renee Sova, Director of Advanced Programs for AIPS (linke to renee.sova@americanparalegal.edu).

Pennsylvania Paralegal Chosen as Outstanding Local Leader
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PHILADELPHIA PARALEGAL ELECTED REGION IV DIRECTOR FOR NATIONAL FEDERATION OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS

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INTANGIBLE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP WITH NFPA

Association Benefit

When you join one of NFPA's local associations, you automatically become a member of NFPA. A portion of the dues paid to each local association are sent to NFPA for each individual member. You will receive all the individual members' benefits listed inside plus the benefits of the local association you belong to.

NFPA local associations receive the following benefits:

Voting Privileges

Each member association, regardless of its size, has one direct vote. Your association elects the President, all Officers, and your Region Director, votes on positions and issues affecting NFPA and the profession, and votes on dues and the annual budget.

The following position statements are the position statements of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc., which have been adopted verbatim by the Board of Directors of The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals. NFPA Non lawyer position NFPA paralegal outsourcing position

Timely Information

Your association board will receive a bi-monthly report titled Inside NFPA which contains information about NFPA activities, ABA activities, and other national/local events affecting the profession, copies of recently published articles, and information pertaining to other relevant activities.

Opportunities to Network and Debate Issues

Once a year at the Annual Meeting, local association representatives come together to exchange ideas, discuss and debate critical issues facing the paralegal profession, and vote on the future direction of NFPA. Many members from local associations attend the Annual Meeting. The NFPA Annual Meeting is open to all members of NFPA—not just the NFPA Primary/Secondary or local association board members.

Connection to the Information Superhighway

NFPA sponsors the Internet server paralegals.org. Member associations can list information about upcoming local association seminars/events/activities and other association information.

Internet Home Page

Member associations receive a home page on the Internet which includes an e-mail address of "association@paralegals.org."

Internet Communication

Each member association receives its own board list serve for communication between board members and the local members with its board.

Association Management Assistance

Upon request, NFPA will assist your association with general association management issues, financial issues, member retention issues, leadership training, public relation efforts, and in other areas.

The Vice President and Director of Membership is responsible for the overall association assistance programs in conjunction with the assistance provided by the Region Directors. These programs offer a wide range of board training, strategic planning sessions, membership growth advice and association management tips to assist your association. NFPA also holds association management training conference calls.

Association Management Tip Sheets are also often posted in Inside NFPA. Some Tip Sheet topics include:

Retaining Members Recruiting Members

New Members = Future Leaders How to Run a Board or Committee Meeting

How to Avoid "Bored" Meetings Keeping Volunteers Motivated

Recruiting Tips for Volunteers Tips for Dealing with Conflict

Non-Dues Income How to Get New Life Into Your Newsletter

Paralegal Publications

Documents written specifically for the paralegal are available through NFPA.

The National Paralegal Reporter is a bimonthly, high quality, full-color magazine mailed to each NFPA member. Circulation also includes paralegal educators, state and local bar associations, and other legal professionals -- total circulation is over 11,000 copies!

The National Paralegal Reporter offers:

• In-depth feature articles on timely topics such as Paralegal Roles and Choosing Vendors.

• How-to articles providing readers with practical information that can be directly applied to their careers.

• Legal updates providing information that affects the paralegal profession, such as case law, legislation, and technology.

Information Databank

NFPA provides local associations with timely information about the profession and the issues surrounding it.

Individual Benefit

You may also join NFPA directly. If you select this option, you become a sustaining member and receive individual membership benefits from NFPA. Although sustaining members do not have voting privileges and cannot hold a NFPA Board position, they can still contribute to NFPA by working on committees and/or by holding coordinator positions.