NFPA® - National Federation of Paralegal Associations

Connecticut Association of Paralegals
P.O. Box 134
Bridgeport, CT 06601-0134
E-Mail: Connecticut@paralegals.org

HISTORY AND PURPOSES

The Connecticut Association of Paralegals ("CAP") was formed in 1975 by a group of students enrolled in the Legal Assistant Program at Sacred Heart University who recognized the need for an association dedicated to their own profession. They were assisted and directed in forming the organization by Attorney Joan Farcus. From the beginning, CAP has evolved into a professional, non-profit organization composed of paralegals working in all areas of the law, including paralegal students as well as other individuals and institutions interested in furthering the paralegal profession and its development.

The purposes of CAP are:

To promote the development of the paralegal profession;
To foster communication among paralegals, both individually and with other paralegal associations;
To evaluate and define the paralegal roles in various sectors delivering legal services and to educate both employers and consumers to these roles;
To offer continuing legal education for paralegals;
To maintain mutually beneficial working relationships with local, state and national bar associations;
To maintain academic relationships with legal assistant training programs in the State of Connecticut;

MEMBERSHIP

All memberships are in effect for a twelve month period from September 1 to August 31. There are four classes of membership:

Voting Membership - A voting member shall be a practicing paralegal or legal assistant; or shall have completed a formal paralegal program (certificate or degree granting) and intends to enter or enters the field within nine months after graduation.

Associate Membership - An associate member shall be a person who has been employed as a paralegal but who is not so employed at the time of application for membership; or, a person who has completed a Paralegal program but who is not employed as a paralegal at the time of application for membership; or any voting member who is not employed as a paralegal at the time of annual renewal of membership. Upon satisfaction of requirements for voting member, an associate member may become a voting member. Associate members may make motions and debate, but may not vote.

Student Membership - A student member shall be currently enrolled in a formal paralegal Program carrying 12 or more credits and shall not otherwise be employed full time as a paralegal. The student member shall become a voting member within nine months after graduation. The student member shall not vote.

Sustaining Membership - Any firm, organization, institution or individual employed in the past as a paralegal or legal assistant who supports the purposes of the Association may hold membership in this category. The Sustaining member shall not vote.

Annual membership dues in the Connecticut Association of Paralegals are:

*$ 4 of the above membership amounts are for the subscription to the National Paralegal Reporter;
**$20 of the above membership amounts are applied to membership in the NFPA.

Membership Application

CBA Guidelines For Paralegals

OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES

CAP has elected seven officers: President, First Vice-President -- Administrative, First Vice President -- NFPA; Second Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and the NFPA Secondary Representative. There are twelve standing committees: By-Laws, Program, Continuing Education, Newsletter, Membership, Bar Association Liaison, Job Bank, Paralegal School Liaison, Publicity, Survey, Pro Bono, Professional Development, and National Affairs, as well as committees appointed by the Board of Directors.

List of current committees and brief descriptions.

SERVICES - BENEFITS

All members receive:

A subscription to CAPTIONS, the newsletter of the Connecticut Association of Paralegals, containing articles of local and national importance to paralegals and announcements of CAP events, programs and job bank information;
A subscription to the National Paralegal Reporter. The Reporter is a quarterly, high-quality, full-color magazine mailed to each NFPA member. The Reporter offers: in-depth feature articles on timely topics such as Paralegal Roles and Choosing Vendors; how-to articles providing readers with practical information that can be directly applied to their careers; legal updates providing information that affects the paralegal profession such as case law, legislation, technology and education.
Educational programs and seminars;
Professional Recognition;
Job Bank information;
CAP's Membership Directory;
Professional Liability Insurance - NFPA members can purchase professional liability insurance that provides coverage for acts, errors, or omissions for services provided as a paralegal, notary public, or member of a local association Board of Directors or committee members;
Professional and Personal Benefits - NFPA members have access to professional liability insurance plans, membership with Members America Credit Union, and discounts on professional publications, selected hotels, air express delivery services, car rentals, eye wear, prescriptions, dental, and other professional services;
Dinner meetings, held approximately every six weeks at various area restaurants, featuring speakers, panel discussions and CAP business. Members are welcome to bring guests. An annual meeting is held in June for the purpose of electing officers and such other business as may come before the meeting;
Participation in the Connecticut Alliance of Paralegals;
Professional and personal contact with other paralegals around the world.

NATIONAL AFFILIATION

CAP as of May, 1986, is a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations ("NFPA"), a nationwide organization of paralegal associations. NFPA membership provides paralegal associations with a means of communicating effectively on issues of national importance regarding the paralegal profession. NATIONAL PARALEGAL REPORTER is mailed to all current CAP members.

LOCAL AFFILIATION

CAP is also proud to be a member of the Connecticut Alliance of Paralegal Associations, an alliance of the 3 local paralegal associations in Connecticut.

Connecticut Association of Paralegals
P.O. Box 134
Bridgeport, CT 06601-0134
Email Address: Connecticut@Paralegals.Org
Central Connecticut Paralegal Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 230594
Hartford, CT 06123-0594
Email Address: CentralConnecticut@paralegals.org

New Haven County Association of Paralegals, Inc.
P.O. Box 862
New Haven, CT 06504-0862