Chapter 2: Paralegals and Their Profession
Web Links
ABA’s Web Page for Paralegals
The ABA’s Website has a Web page specifically dedicated to paralegals and legal assistants. There one can learn about ABAapproved paralegal education programs, access information concerning the ABA’s position on paralegals and how they can best be deployed, gather career-related information, and order paralegal-related publications.
American Association for Paralegal Education
Like the ABA, the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) provides guidelines on appropriate paralegal curricula, and grants institutional membership status to paralegal programs that are either ABA approved, or in substantial compliance with ABA guidelines and also accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency.Presently, there are over 300 such programs in America.Legal education programs that fail to qualify for institutional membership can be granted associate membership in the AAfPE upon providing evidence that their education programs meet six listed objectives, which include providing a well-designed curriculum, as well as providing sufficient instructor-student interaction, and access to legal research library facilities.Its Website can be found here:
National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA)
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA), has approximately 11,000 members, belonging to over 50 regional NFPA associations.The NFPA publishes its own magazine, The National Paralegal Reporter, and its Website can be found here:
National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA), through its 90 affiliated associations, has approximately 18,000 members. NALA publishes its own magazine, Facts & Findings, and its Website can be found here:
NFPA Salary Survey
The Executive Summary of the NFPA’s 2006 Salary Survey can be found here:
NALA Salary Survey
The National Association’s 2004 Salary Survey information can be found here:
A Sample Statute for Paralegal Licensure
The NFPA has issued its “Model Act for Paralegal Licensure,” a lengthy document that, according to its preamble, “is provided for assistance in developing and drafting Paralegal Licensure legislation and reflects NFPA’s policy on paralegal regulation.”Intended to serve as a blueprint for jurisdictions considering licensing its paralegals, the Act has the appearance of a statutory chapter, complete with its own parts and subparts.In order to be licensed under the NFPA Model Act, one would need to have a sufficient moral character, pass a legal exam,andhave at least a bachelor’s degree.More information on the NFPA Model Act can be found at
An Example of ParalegalStateCertification Requirements
Ohio, through its State Bar Association, has a paralegal certification program.Applicants need to complete the online application and pass the certification exam (and there is a refresher course available).Continuing legal education credits, including ethics credits, are required upon reaching certification status.For more information on the Ohio certification program, see the following link: The ABA allows nonlawyers to become members. For more information on its membership categories and how to join the ABA as a nonlawyer, see the following link:
U.S. Department of Labor and Overtime Pay
For more information on the U.S. Department of Labor’s rules on overtime pay and exemptions, please see the following Web page: can search inside that page for information specifically concerning paralegals and legal assistants.
Department of Labor Private Letter Ruling on Overtime Pay and Paralegals
This Compliance Letter, cited in Chapter 2, was issued in 2005 in response to a law firm that sought to have its paralegals classified as exempt from overtime pay requirements under the professional or administrative exemptions.The Department of Labor’s opinion states that the paralegals at issue did not qualify as exempt under either exemption.That compliance letter can be found at: