Oklahoma Paralegal Association

Oklahoma Paralegal Association
An affiliation of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)

Information About OPA

The Oklahoma Paralegal Association was formed in October, 1985, with the purpose of providing a forum for legal education and professional growth for legal assistants throughout the State of Oklahoma and in furtherance of the delivery of quality legal services.

The Oklahoma Paralegal Association is an affiliate of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). The members of OPA voted to affiliate with NALA, recognizing that NALA's goals and purposes were sound and representative of its own aspirations. Among these goals and purposes are:

The promotion of professional legal assistants, education of the public
for the advancement and improvement of the profession, and broadening public understanding of the legal assistant concept;

Cooperation and participation with local, state and national bar associations in setting standards for legal assistants;

Informing its members through continuing legal education seminars and regular news publications.

OPA is striving to further define its position in the legal community by offering its members education, ethical guidelines, local law-related news, social contacts and an opportunity for professional growth.

Active Membership includes those who have been certified by NALA and their certification is current, and persons employed as legal assistants or paralegals under the supervision of an attorney or Judge.

Associate Memberships are available for persons directly involved in the employment or supervision of legal assistants, and members of the legal community who support the concept of legal assistants, including, but not limited to, law office administrators, court reporters, Court Clerks, Judge's Clerks, District Attorney Assistants; and also persons employed outside of the law firm or courthouses but whose work is law-related such as mediation specialists and assistants for legal aid offices.

Student Memberships may be obtained by students of an institutionally accredited legal assistant program.

Sustaining Memberships are available for members of the bar association endorsing the legal assistant concept or who are involved in the promotion of the legal assistant profession, and also includes law firms, corporations and paralegal educators who endorse the legal assistant concept and are actively involved in the promotion of the profession.

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