Types of Membership

Active Membership

An Active or Voting Member shall be defined as any employed paralegal having a title of paralegal, legal assistant, nurse paralegal, paralegal assistant, paralegal supervisor or, if self-employed or employed under another title, having significant number of duties and responsibilities normally associated with a paralegal position at the time of application or renewal of membership, and who meets the requirements set forth in any one of the following six (6) categories:

1. Possesses a Bachelor’s degree, and a certificate from a paralegal training program;
2. Possesses a Bachelor’s degree or accepted equivalent and at least one (1) year working experience in a paralegal capacity;
3. Possesses an Associate degree in paralegal studies and at least one (1) year working experience in a paralegal capacity;
4. Possesses an Associate degree and at least two (2) years working experience in a paralegal capacity;
5. Possesses a high school diploma, a certificate from a paralegal training program and at least three (3) years working experience in a paralegal capacity; or
6. Possesses a high school diploma and at least four (4) years working experience in a paralegal capacity.

Associate Membership

Associate Members have all the privileges associated with Active Membership except the right to vote or to hold office. Any one of the following shall qualify for Associate membership:

1. Graduated from or completed a paralegal program but who have not been employed full-time as a paralegal or are not currently employed full-time as a paralegal at the time of application or renewal of membership
2. Involved in the supervision of paralegals

Student Membership

Student Members have all the privileges associated with membership except the right to vote or to hold office. Any one of the following shall qualify for Associate membership:

1. Those individuals currently enrolled in an accredited paralegal program at the time of application or renewal of membership
2. Those individuals currently serving a paralegal internship related to such an accredited program at the time of application or renewal of membership

Sustaining Membership

Sustaining membership is available to all firms, corporations, individuals and paralegal program representatives who are interested in supporting the goals of the NYCPA and who contribute annual dues in an amount determined by the Board of this Association.

National Affiliate Membership

National-affiliate membership is open to anyone doing a significant amount of legal work, regardless of job title and located in any state of the United States of America except under the jurisdiction of NYCPA. The legal work can be paid or voluntary, full-time or part-time. All potential members should contact membership at membership@nyc-pa.org directly.

International Affiliate Membership

International Affiliate Membership is open to anyone doing a significant amount of legal work, regardless of job title and located in any place outside of the United States of America. The legal work can be paid or voluntary, full-time or part-time. All potential members should contact membership at membership@nyc-pa.org directly.