Links to Paralegal Organizations

Note: Links to the following websites are provided for your convenience and information and do not constitute an official endorsement.

Joining and participating in paralegal-related activities sponsored by local, state and national professional organizations can help you succeed.

The American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) is a national organization that serves the needs of paralegal educators and institutions offering paralegal educational programs; its goal is to be the authority in paralegal academics.
The Dallas Area Paralegal Association (DAPA) (formerly known as the Dallas Association of Legal Assistants, or DALA) offers student membership to El Centro Paralegal students, as well as the opportunity to receive annual scholarships. Students are welcome at DAPA’s general and sectional meetings. The organization’s mentor program offers student members the opportunity to associate one-on-one with a working paralegal. A student membership in DAPA includes student membership in the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).
The Dallas Association of Young Lawyers (DAYL) has as its primary goals improving the quality of life for young lawyers through education and support and serving the Dallas community through public service projects that young lawyers find meaningful. DAYL is composed of young lawyers of all racial, ethnic and gender backgrounds, as well as solo and small firm practitioners, large firm practitioners, in-house and government lawyers and law students.
The J.L. Turner Legal Association (JLTLA), founded in 1952, is the African-American bar association of Dallas. JLTLA provides scholarships to law students demonstrating financial or other needs, provides attorney mentors for law students and performs educational and other community outreach projects for area residents.
The Paralegal Division of the State Bar of Texas offers a student membership that allows students to participate in continuing legal education seminars, receive quarterly and monthly publications and access job bank listings.
Paralegal Today is an online publication that provides paralegals with news, salary data, tips and reviews of professionally related software and hardware.
The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) provides continuing education and professional development programs and is composed of more than 18,000 paralegals, through individual members and through its 90 state and local affiliated associations. NALA also includes information about the paralegal career field.
The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) promotes a global presence for the paralegal profession as well as leadership in the legal community.
The North Texas Paralegal Association (NTPA) is an affiliate of the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).