Types of Membership
Active Membership
Active Member means a prospective member who is currently resides or works under the jurisdiction of NYCPA and employed as a paralegal having a title of paralegal, legal assistant, nurse paralegal, paralegal assistant, or paralegal supervisor or, if self-employed or employed under another title, having a significant number of duties and responsibilities normally associated with a paralegal position, and must meet the requirements set forth in any one of the following six (6) categories:
(a) possesses a Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies;
(b) possesses a Bachelor's degree or accepted equivalent, and a certificate from a paralegal training program;
(c) possesses a Bachelor's degree or accepted equivalent, and at least one (1) year working experience in a paralegal capacity;
(d) possesses an associate degree in paralegal studies and at least one (1) year working experience in a paralegal capacity;
(e) possesses an associate degree and at least two (2) years working experience in a paralegal capacity;
(f) possesses a high school diploma/GED, a certificate from a paralegal training program and at least three (3) years working experience in a paralegal capacity; or
(g) possesses a high school diploma/GED and at least four (4) years working experience in a paralegal capacity.
Associate Membership
Associate Member means a prospective member who is currently resides or works under the jurisdiction of NYCPA as a paralegal, Paralegal Manager, unemployed paralegal, or Paralegal school graduate not qualifying for Active Membership. An Associate Member shall be entitled to vote and shall have all of the other privileges of active membership.
Student Membership
Student Member means a prospective member who is currently enrolled in a paralegal program or other related educational program in an accredited college or university, who does not meet the requirements to maintain the designation Active or Associate Member. Student Members shall not be entitled to vote but shall have all of the other privileges of active 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.Observer Membership
Observer Membership is open to anyone (i) who is doing a significant amount of legal work, regardless of job title and is located in any state of the United States of America except under the jurisdiction of NYCPA or (ii) anyone who resides under the jurisdiction of NYCPA, but doesn’t work as a paralegal, Paralegal Manager, unemployed paralegal, Paralegal school student or Paralegal school graduate.
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. The first year of membership is free of charge. All potential members should contact membership at vicepresident@nyc-pa.org directly.