Thursday, August 1, 2013

Becoming A Member Of An Alaska Paralegal Association

By Maryanne Goff


A paralegal is a person who works closely with qualified attorneys on a variety of legal matters. These professionals are currently employed all throughout the United States, and most states have their own rules and regulations governing their work. If this career interests you and you live in Alaska, you may want to consider joining an alaska paralegal association.

Before you embark on this career, take some time to consider if this is really the job for you. Although you will not be required to complete a law degree the same as an attorney, you will be expected to know the law and how to follow legal procedures. This includes preparing legal documents and interviewing clients when needed. The work can be quite demanding at times.

If this is appealing to you, you may want to contact the Alaska Association of Paralegals office. They are in charge of overseeing paralegals in Alaska. They work to ensure that you are properly qualified and that you conduct yourself professionally.

The AAP was started in 1981. The aim of the organization is to develop and grow its members in the profession. The group is governed by its board of directors, who are chosen by the AAP members at the general meetings each year. The group has many different committees, including an Ethics Committee, a Pro Bono Committee, and a Newsletter Committee.

The mandate of the AAP is to promote the educational and professional advancement of its members, and to encourage the pursuit of continuing education. It also aims to uphold honor and integrity in the legal profession. Furthermore, it seeks to protect the public interest.

To achieve this, monthly meetings are held at lunchtime, so that members and students can listen to different educational speakers. Seminars are also given on various topics that are relevant to the profession. A newsletter is published every quarter to keep the members current on the latest news and trends.

If you are interested in joining, you should first consider whether you qualify for any of the classes of membership. The full member class is for those who are currently working in the profession; these members are able to vote in meetings. An associate member is someone who is not working as a paralegal, but just has an interest in the profession. Associate members cannot vote in meetings. Student members are those enrolled in a program with the goal of becoming a full member in the future.

To join the alaska paralegal association, start by filling out the membership application form which can be downloaded from their website. Be sure to note the membership fees when you apply. Currently, the fees are $85 for full members, $45 for associate members and $40 for student members. Government paralegals receive a discount for these fees. You should also state whether you are interested in joining any of the committees, such as the Ethic Committee or the Continuing Legal Education Committee. This may provide good experience for you as well.




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