PURPOSE STATEMENT

The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals (PAP) was formed in 1973 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of the paralegal profession. The membership is comprised of practicing paralegals, students, individuals, schools, law firms and other organizations. PAP is a charter member of The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) which has over 17,000 members nationwide. NFPA allows PAP and its members to be involved in the formation of policies affecting the paralegal profession and to stay informed of developments on a national scope.

Since its inception, PAP has continued to promote its established purposes, which are the following:

• Promotion and maintenance of high standards in the paralegal profession.
• Fostering creative expansion of paralegal roles.
• Offering and encouraging continuing education to paralegals.
• Informing members of all developments in the paralegal profession.
• Promoting the education of employers and consumers in the use of paralegals and their role in the delivery of legal services.
• Establishment and maintenance of mutually beneficial relationships with local, state, and national bar associations.
• Communicating with other paralegal associations.
• Providing service to the legal consumer and the legal community under the supervision of an attorney.
  

The Philadelphia Association of Paralegals strives to meet the needs of Philadelphia area paralegals and provide as much information as possible to its members through its quarterly newsletter, The Philadelphia Forum, by printing PAP information weekly in The Legal Intelligencer, the local legal newspaper, and through its committees and bimonthly luncheons.

The Board of Directors oversees the activities of the committees and leads the Association in promoting paralegals and the paralegal profession in the Philadelphia area. The Board of Directors is comprised of the officers of the Association and general Board members. Members of the Board of Directors are elected by the general membership to manage the business of PAP. Officers are then elected by the Directors. The offices of the Association are President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer.