NFPA®  - National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc.

Founded in 1974, NFPA was the first national paralegal association. Created as a non-profit federation, NFPA is an issues-driven, policy-oriented professional association directed by its membership. It is comprised of more than 50 member associations and represents over 11,000 individual members reflecting a broad range of experience, education and diversity. It was also the first national association to have a website.

NFPA's Mission Statement and Core Purpose delineate its dedication to the advancement of the paralegal profession and leadership in the legal community.

NFPA prides itself on the professionalism of its members and routinely monitors legislation, case law, proposed changes to the rules of responsibility and ethics opinions that affect the paralegal profession.  Since its inception, NFPA has assisted the profession in addressing many issues associated with the growth and expanded role of the paralegal, such as: 

• responded to the Department of Labor’s 2003 proposed changes and updates to the regulations issued under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA);
• worked with and testified before many organizations such as legislatures, bar association task forces, and court committees on issues related to paralegal participation in delivering legal services and the paralegal profession generally;
• filed amicus briefs with courts throughout the United States on issues that could effect the paralegal profession;
• participated in the ABA’s Commission on Non-Lawyer Practice;
• participated in the New Roles and the Law Conference in 1996;
• created, developed and adopted the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE®);
• created position statements on non-lawyer practice, outsourcing of paralegal duties to foreign countries, short-term paralegal programs, and diversity. 
  

NFPA endorses the implementation of paralegal regulation to establish standards for all paralegals on a state-by-state basis insofar as its implementation is consistent with NFPA’s mission statement and expands the utilization of paralegals to deliver cost-efficient legal services.  NFPA will actively promote regulation of the paralegal profession generally by providing information as to NFPA’s preferred form of regulation of mandatory licensure and specialty licensure and its preference of a four-year degree being the requirement for entry into the paralegal profession.  NFPA and its board of directors will not initiate the introduction of any proposal to regulate paralegals in any jurisdiction, but may educate and inform others regarding the existence, size, strength of NFPA, its regulation policy, and its resources.  This includes, but is not limited to, NFPA’s paralegal definition, education policy, minimum standards for paralegal regulation, publications, models promulgated, PACE, etc.  Further, NFPA may support only those regulation proposals which meet its minimum criteria for regulation and may not support opposition to any regulatory proposal consistent therewith.

Strategic alliances are an essential element to the advancement of the paralegal profession and an integral part of NFPA’s strategic plan.  Further, NFPA supports unity within the paralegal profession.  To that end, NFPA maintains and promotes interaction with other paralegal associations and members of the legal community.  Since 1986, NFPA has worked with the American Bar Association (ABA), the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), and others to develop a consensus on the issue of paralegal education and to discuss other issues affecting the paralegal profession.  In addition, NFPA has a representative on the ABA Approval Commission which works with the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals (SCOP) to evaluate paralegal education programs. 

NFPA – The Leader of the Paralegal Profession®