Active

Any resident of the State of Texas who has, through education, training, or experience, demonstrated knowledge of the legal system, legal principles and procedures; works as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed Texas attorney; has attended at least one meeting of the Association; and who has satisfied at least one of the criteria for active membership established by this Association, as set forth below, shall be eligible for active membership.  An Active Member of this Association is eligible to vote and to hold office.

A.         Any individual who has successfully completed the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) examination of NALA and has maintained certification.

B.         Any individual who has graduated from an ABA approved program of study for legal assistants, plus not less than one year of in-house training as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed attorney.

C.         Any individual who has graduated from a course of study for legal assistants which is institutionally accredited but not ABA approved, and which requires not less than the equivalent of 60 semester hours of classroom study, plus not less than one year of in-house training as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed attorney.

D.         Any individual who has graduated from a course of study for legal assistants other than those set forth in B and C above, plus not less than one year of in-house training as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed attorney, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant.

E.         Any individual who has received a baccalaureate degree or higher in any field, plus not less than one year of in-house training as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed attorney, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant.

F.          Any individual who has a minimum of four years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney, including at least one year of in-house training as a legal assistant, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant.

G.         Any individual who contracts with a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity to perform substantive legal work under the ultimate direction and supervision of an attorney who (i) has valid proof of completion of a full course of studies prescribed for training as a legal assistant at an institutionally accredited college, university or other post-secondary school, or (ii) has previously been employed as a legal assistant for minimum of   one year and who executed an affidavit of such employment on a form approved by this Association.

Associate

Associate membership may be granted to a person who has satisfied at least one of the criteria for Associate Membership established by this Association as set forth below.  An Associate Member of this Association is not eligible to neither vote nor hold office but may serve on a committee(s).

A.         A legal assistant who has not yet attended a meeting of the Association, but who otherwise satisfied the criteria for active membership.

B.         A student in a legal assistant program.

C.         A legal assistant who has successfully completed the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) examination of NALA ans has maintained certification but currently is not working in a legal position.

D.         A legal assistant who has graduated form an ABA approved program of study for legal assistants, or a course of study for legal assistants which is institutionally accredited but not ABA approved, or a course of study for legal assistants other than those set forth above, with less than one year of in-house training as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed attorney.

E.         A legal assistant who has obtained a CLA designation from NALA and who is working in the legal field, but who is not performing substantive legal work 80% of his time, is eligible and may apply for associate membership in the Association.

Honorary

A person who has performed distinguished service to this Association, or to the legal community in general, and who is not a member of this Association, may be designated as an Honorary Member upon two-thirds vote of the eligible voting membership present at a regularly called meeting of this Association.  An Honorary Member of this Association may attend regular meetings of this Association but shall not be eligible to vote nor hold office.  An Honorary Member shall be exempt from paying dues to this Association.

Life

An Active Member who has performed outstanding work for this Association, or to any State or National legal assistants’ organization, or to the legal community in general, may be designated a Life Member by a two-thirds vote of the eligible voting membership present at a regularly called meeting of this Association.  Upon reaching this status, a Life Members shall be exempt from paying dues to this Association.  A Life Member of this Association is eligible to vote and to hold office.

Sustaining

Any attorney, law firm, business, corporation, school or educator who supports the legal assistant profession and the goals, objectives, and programs of this Association may become a Sustaining Member of the Association upon approval by the Membership Committee.  A Sustaining Member of this Association shall not be eligible to vote nor hold office but may serve on a committee(s).

Active

$20.00

Associate

$20.00

Honorary

$0.00

Life

$0.00

Sustaining

$100.00