FWPA :: Membership Information

Welcome to the Fort Worth Paralegal Association Membership Information page! For your convenience, the association has designed a user-friendly method of gaining information to process your membership application. Outlined below are qualifications and explanations of the various types of membership FWPA offers. All membership applications are available for you to print, complete, and mail with your check to:

Second Vice President-Membership
Mary Ann Shurley
Bailey & Galyen
4747 S. Hulen St, Suite 100
Fort Worth, Texas 76132
(817) 263-3000; Fax (817) 263-3010
Email

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS

PATRON MEMBERSHIP

If you are a vendor interested in joining FWPA, we have a membership class for Patron Members. The Fort Worth Paralegal Association would like to deeply express its “thanks” to those of you are past Patron Members. Thank you for your loyal support. To renew your Patron membership, please complete a new Patron Membership Application and attach a check from your firm.

In addition to the membership benefits listed below, FWPA hosts an annual Patron Parade at its monthly membership meeting, where Patron members are eligible to participate and promote their business and services. Patron members also have an opportunity to sponsor a monthly general membership meeting where they may display their company’s advertising brochure/literature and speak directly to the membership about their company’s business or service. Patron members also have access to the password-protected, on-line membership directory, as well as being provided a hard copy of the directory. Patron Members have complete access to all of the information on the FWPA website, and there is a Patron Link button where all of our Patron Members are listed.

If you are interested in becoming a Patron Member, please complete a new Patron Membership Application.

DUES AND FEES

QUALIFICATIONS AND TYPE OF MEMBERSHIPS

(Disclosure-the following explanation is only a summary of requirements for membership. All membership applications will be processed pursuant to Bylaws of Fort Worth Paralegal Association only.)

Type	Description
Voting	Those PARALEGALS or LEGAL ASSISTANTS who are qualified through education, training, or work experience, employed by a lawyer, government, or other entity, whose substantive legal work, requiring sufficient knowledge of legal concepts, is performed under attorney supervision AND WHO: 1.are currently employed as a full time Paralegal, 2.present valid proof of completion of paralegal education. OR 3.have been employed full time for a minimum of 12 months.
Sustaining	Those PARALEGALS or LEGAL ASSISTANTS who are qualified through education, training, or work experience, employed by a lawyer, government, or other entity, whose substantive legal work, requiring sufficient knowledge of legal concepts, is performed under attorney supervision AND WHO: 1. is not currently employed as a paralegal.
Associate	1. Any person interested in the work of the association, whether or not the person is a paralegal or legal assistant. OR 2. Any person employed as a paralegal or legal assistant who has not yet met the requirements of those PARALEGALS or LEGAL ASSISTANTS who are qualified through education, training, or work experience, employed by a lawyer, government, or other entity, whose substantive legal work, requiring sufficient knowledge of legal concepts, is performed under attorney supervision. >OR 3. Any person working as a temporary or freelance paralegal or legal assistant, either as an independent contractor or through a contracting paralegal company, who works an average of less than 35 hours per week.
Freelance	Those PARALEGALS or LEGAL ASSISTANTS who are qualified through education, training, or work experience, employed by a lawyer, government, or other entity, whose substantive legal work, requiring sufficient knowledge of legal concepts, is performed under attorney supervision AND WHO: 1. are currently employed as a full time Paralegal, 2. present valid proof of completion of paralegal education. OR 3. have been employed full time for a minimum of 12 months, AND who work either as an independent contractor or through a company contracting paralegal services to the legal community and who works an average of 35 hours or more.
Student	Those persons who are currently enrolled in a paralegal training program.

(ONLY members in Voting and Freelance categories are allowed to vote and hold offices).

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

JOB BANK – FREE and AVAILABLE ONLY to members - listings from local firms.

COWTOWN PARALEGAL REPORTER – FREE to members - bi-monthly FWPA newsletter.

BROWN BAG SEMINARS – FREE to members - lunchtime seminars offering CLE; bring your own brown bag lunch.

CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION – offered once a month at most FWPA general membership luncheons held on the 4th Friday of the month. - additional seminars throughout the year covering substantive legal topics to provide ongoing CLE opportunities. - Specialty Section Meetings for Family Law, Probate/Real Estate, Litigation and Technology - quarterly meetings held offering advanced CLE topics in these specialty areas. CLA REVIEW- 2-day CLA Review Seminar offered in the spring and an eight-week Study Group/Course available in the fall in preparation for taking the CLA exam.

ANNUAL COMPENSATION SURVEY – informative annual census providing members with compilation of data regarding salary, benefits, education, and current trends in the paralegal field. COMMUNITY SERVICE - offers all members the opportunity to perform worthy, volunteer projects for the Fort Worth community.

SOCIAL EVENTS – various events, including the annual Holiday luncheon with fabulous door prizes.

STUDENT LIAISON/SCHOLARSHIPS – four $250.00 scholarships available; awarded annually to deserving students who achieve the outlined standards.

WEBSITE – provides membership applications, current event and CLE calendars, registration notices, seminar postings, job listings and job placement, patron listings, complete overview of the organization.

STATE BAR-PARALEGAL DIVISION – regular updates provided by our Board member liaison.

TEXAS ALLIANCE OF PARALEGAL ASSOCIATIONS – FWPA Board representatives attend state-wide paralegal association bi-annual meeting and report on behalf of FWPA.

FWPA MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS

PATRON MEMBERSHIP

DUES AND FEES

QUALIFICATIONS AND TYPE OF MEMBERSHIPS

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS