Membership Information

	Also In This Section:
	Membership Application

Membership shall be open to paralegals, students in paralegal programs, attorneys, paralegal educators, officers of title insurance companies, and others of at least equal professional qualifications in related fields. Classes of members and their respective rights and privileges shall be:

Voting Membership is open to individuals who meet the requirements set out in the Voting Membership Application form. Voting members shall be entitled to vote at all meetings of the Association and may hold elected office. Persons eligible for voting membership shall make application for such membership in the manner adopted by the Executive Board. Voting membership dues are $40.00 annually.

Student Membership is open to individuals who are either full-time or part-time students in good standing in any college, junior college, or other school pursuing a course of study as a paralegal. Student members shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the Association and may not hold elected office. Such members may, however, chair and/or serve on committees. Any member who has become eligible for voting membership is responsible for notifying the Vice President of the change in classification in the manner adopted by the Executive Board. Student membership dues are $20.00 annually.

Retired Membership is open to individuals who are no longer actively employed as paralegals, but continue their interest in the Association. Retired members shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the Association and may not hold elected office. Such members may, however, chair and/or serve on committees. Any member who has become eligible for Retired membership is responsible for notifying the Vice President of the change in classification in the manner adopted by the Executive Board. Retired membership dues are $25.00 annually.

Sustaining Membership is open to law firms, corporations, legal assistant educators, and other persons or entities who are directly involved in the education and supervision of paralegals or who endorse the legal assistant concept or who are actively involved in the promotion of the paralegal progession. Sustaining members shall not be entitled to vote at meetings of the Association and may not hold elected office. Such members may, however, chair and/or serve on committees. Any member who has become eligible for voting membership is responsible for notifying the Vice President of the change in classification in the manner adopted by the Executive Board. Sustaining membership dues are $60.00 annually.

Honorary Members. The Executive Board of the Association shall have the power to bestow honorary membership status on a person (who may or may not be a member of the Association) who has supported the goals and programs of the Association and given of their time and energy to such an extent that the membership and/or Executive Board of the Association feels his/her contributions deserve to be given special recognition. An Honorary Member shall not be entitled to vote at membership meetings of the Association and may not hold office.

You may select a specific membership application from the upper right corner of this web page, and follow the download instructions accordingly. Should you need additional assistance or further information regarding membership, please contact the Vice President/Membership Chair found on the Executive Board link found in the upper left corner of this page.

Student Graduate - Free One Year Membership. Qualification includes graduation from an ABA-approved paralegal program, a post-graduate paralegal certificate program, or other paralegal program recognized by the National Association of Legal Assistants and the HALA organization. Free Student Graduation Memberships are non-voting and they cannot hold office, but they can participate on any committee. This free one-year membership value is $40.00. For determination of your qualification for this free offer, contact your college Paralegal Facilitator or you may also directly contact HALA's Student/School Liaison by accessing the "Executive Board" link found at the upper left corner of this web page.

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HEARTLAND PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION
P. O. BOX 12413
OVERLAND PARK, KS  66282-2413

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION/RENEWAL
Applicants must be 18 years of age or older, must never have been convicted of a felony, and must not have violated NALA’s Code of Professional Ethics.

NAME: _________________________________________      ARE YOU A CLA/CP? _____  ACP? ______

EMPLOYER: ____________________________________________________________________________

PREFERRED MAILING ADDRESS:  _______________________________________________________

CITY: ______________________________________ STATE: ________________ ZIP CODE: _________

TELEPHONE NUMBER:  Work:   _________________________   Home/Cell: _____________________

Fax: ______________________      Email Address: _____________________________________________

MEMBERSHIP DUES
Membership dues are due May 1 of each year and become late June 1 of each year.  Beginning June 1 to July 1, a late fee must be paid in addition to your membership dues.  Beginning July 1, a reinstatement fee must be paid in addition to your membership dues.  Late fees and reinstatement fees apply to all membership types.  *Late fees and reinstatement fees do not apply to those who are submitting an application form for the first time beyond posted due dates.  Payment must accompany this form.

____   First Time Membership Application (see remainder of form and complete appropriate membership application area)

____   I am renewing my Membership (see remainder of form and complete appropriate membership area)

VOTING MEMBERSHIP
Voting membership is open to individuals who meet at least one of the following requirements:
(1)         successful completion of the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA/CP) exam through NALA, or
(2)         graduation from an ABA approved program of study for paralegals, or
(3)         graduation from a course of study for paralegals which is institutionally accredited but not ABA approved, and which  requires not less than the equivalent of 60 semester hours of classroom study, or
(4)         graduation from a course of study for paralegals other than those set forth above, plus not less than six months of in-house training as a paralegal, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a paralegal, or
(5)         receipt of a baccalaureate degree in any field, plus not less than six months in-house training as a paralegal whose attorney-employer              attests that such person is qualified as a paralegal, or
(6)         a minimum of three years of law-related experience under the supervision of any attorney, including at least six months of in-house training as a paralegal, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a paralegal, or
(7)         a minimum of two years of in-house training as a paralegal, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a paralegal.
___ I am applying for Voting Membership under #___.    ____ I am renewing my Voting Membership under # ___.
Length of Time employed as a paralegal ________________.    Nature/description of your employer (i.e., law office, judicial agency/court, corporate legal department, etc.) ______________________________________________.
Specialty: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

ATTORNEY/EMPLOYER ATTESTATION
(This section must be completed by all applicants applying under voting membership requirements 4, 5, 6 and 7)

I hereby attest that ____________________________ is employed by me and meets the qualifications for voting membership in the Heartland Paralegal Association.

Attorney/Employer Name: _________________________________________________________________

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
Student membership is open to individuals who are either full-time or part-time students in good standing in any college, junior college or other school pursuant a course of study as a paralegal.

Name of School Attending:  _______________________________________________________________

Length of Program ______________________

____  I am applying for Student Membership     _____  I am renewing my Student Membership

____  My check is enclosed

Signature: ____________________________________________________                   Date: ________________

SCHOOL ATTESTATION – Required of all student applicants/renewals

I hereby attest that _______________________________ is currently enrolled in the paralegal program at this school and is not employed as a paralegal.

Name of Program Director or Instructor:  __________________________________________________

SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP

Sustaining membership is open to those individuals, law firms, corporations and paralegal program representatives who endorse the paralegal concept or are actively involved in the promotion of the paralegal profession and who contribute dues of $60.00 or any amount in excess thereof. 

____   I am applying for Sustaining Membership                       _____  I am renewing my Sustaining Membership
____   My check is enclosed

Nature of Sustaining Membership (i.e., instructor, law firm, etc.) _______________________________

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR USE ONLY

Date Application Received:  _____                       Application Accepted: ______                    Denied _______

Payment Received: ____________            Check No. ________ Late Fee:  ____          Reinstatement fee: _____

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