Lesley Cox, RP
Vice President of Position and Issues
vppi@paralegals.org
May 22, 2001
NFPA REVISITS CHARACTER AND FITNESS STANDARDS
Delegates to the 2001 spring convention of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) adopted amendments to previous resolutions to meet their goal of making language in all major NFPA policies consistent. The resolution brings the character and fitness standards stated in the Model Act for Licensure in line with the character and fitness requirements necessary to sit for the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) and maintain the PACE Registered Paralegal credential.
In addition to conforming the language, delegates provided for the right of appeal and due process of law to any paralegal judged to have not met the character and fitness requirements. Among the requirements are that the paralegal in question shall not have been suspended or disbarred from the practice of law nor have been convicted of the unauthorized practice of law in any jurisdiction. The paralegal may not be, for reasons of misconduct, currently under suspension, termination, or revocation of a certificate, registration, or license to practice by a professional organization, court, disciplinary board, or agency in any jurisdiction.
NFPA's character and fitness requirements have always been reasonable, specific, and objective. With the adoption of this resolution, they are now stated consistently in all policy documents.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, NFPA is a non-profit professional organization representing more than 17,000 paralegals in the United States and Canada, NFPA is the national voice and the standard for excellence for the paralegal profession through its work on the issues of regulation, ethics and education.
