Membership

South Texas Organization of Paralegals, Inc. is proud to announce its acceptance as an affiliate of the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. STOP is excited to be associated with NALA, and we encourage you to join our organization. There are four classifications of Membership in STOP, each with its own eligibility requirements.
 

VOTING  (Download Application)

Any individual who meets at least one of the following requirements may become a Voting Member. Any individual who has successfully completed: 1. the certification examination given by NALA, TBLS, or NFPA; or 2. an approved program of education and training for paralegals; or 3. an Associate's, Bachelor's, or higher degree; AND has been employed full-time as a paralegal for at least one (1) year or part-time as a paralegal for at least two (2) years; or 4. Any individual who has three (3) years of full-time employment as a paralegal and six (6) hours of Continuing Legal Education in the last fiscal year, two (2) hours of which may be self- study. NOTE: Any individual who meets the requirements for Voting Membership must agree to complete six (6) hours of CLE in the next fiscal year, two (2) hours of which may be self study.

ASSOCIATE  (Download Application)

Any individual who meets at least one of the following requirements may become an Associate Member. 1. Any individual who is presently employed as a coordinator, supervisor, or instructor of the paralegal program within a firm, company, or agency; or 2. Any individual who meets the criteria for Voting Membership, but does not wish to maintain the required six (6) hours of CLE in the next twelve (12) months; or 3. Any individual who is not employed full-time or does not perform substantive legal work eighty percent (80%) of the time as a paralegal, but has achieved certification by either NALA, NFPA, or TBLS; or 4. Any individual who has been employed as a paralegal but has been employed less than one (1) year required for Voting Membership for those persons who have not completed a formal course of study for paralegals; or 5. Any individual who is not currently employed as a paralegal, but has completed a paralegal training program.

STUDENT  (Download Application)

Any individual who meets at least one of the following requirements may become a Student Member. 1. Any individual who is currently enrolled in an approved program of education and training for paralegals; or 2. Any individual who is currently enrolled in a paralegal program in which the applicant will earn an Associate's or Bachelor's degree. The program consists of a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours of which fifteen (15) are substantive legal courses; or 3. An individual who is currently enrolled in a paralegal program that consists of fifteen (15) semester hours of substantive legal courses.

SUSTAINING  (Download Application)  (Renewal Application)

A Sustaining Member is any person or entity who has an interest in the paralegal pofession and who supports the purposes of South Texas Organization of Paralegals, Inc. An individual sustaining member in good standing or one representative designated by any entity may attend Organization meetings, seminars, and other activities at fees charged to Voting Members. Neither the sustaining members, or their designees, shall have the right to vote, hold any office set forth in STOP's Bylaws, or serve as an officer/director or chairman of a committee.

TO JOIN OUR ORGANIZATION, YOU MAY DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION ABOVE. DUES PAID NOW WILL BE GOOD THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2016.