MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS IN
THE IOWA ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS INCLUDE:

Click Here for Membership Brochure.

Annual subscription to Legal Assistant Today - the association provides an annual subscription to Legal Assistant Today magazine to all active members who renew their membership or join the association during the renewal time period beginning January 1 and ending February 15.

Networking Connections – by using the Membership Directory, attending seminars, and participating in Region meetings, members of the association are able to discuss issues pertaining to the profession and with individuals who share common concerns and interests. Networking is often the most successful avenue for those paralegals/legal assistants seeking employment.

On-line Access to a Membership Directory - Available in the Members’ only section, the association’s Membership Directory helps members locate peers working through out the state.

The Original Notice, a bi-monthly Newsletter – the Original Notice provides a means through which the Board of Directors can update members on activities being conducted in each of the regions and at the state level.  Pictures, awards, announcements, and articles keep members informed.  The Original Notice is e-mailed to members and is also made available in the members’ only section of the association’s website for easy access.

Placement Assistance – in addition to networking opportunities that may lead to employment, the association posts paralegal job openings on the association’s website.

Reduced Costs at IALA Seminars - the association conducts two educational seminars per year.  These seminars typically rotate to various areas of the state from year to year in order to provide ample opportunity for paralegals/legal assistants to obtain continuing education.  Seminars are general in nature in order to provide a wide array of topics.  Members of the association may attend each of these seminars at a reduced cost. Student members of the association are provided a yearly certificate for free attendance at one of these seminars.

Representation at Iowa State Bar Association Events – the association sponsors various Iowa Bar Association events where members have the ability to interact with attorneys in order to encourage the use of paralegal/legal assistant staff.  Board members also collaborate with the Iowa State Bar Association Legal Assistant Committee regarding issues affecting the paralegal profession.

Scholarship Opportunities – the association supports its members by offering scholarships that may be used in furthering their education.

Study Assistance for National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) Certified Legal Assistant (CLA)/Certified Paralegal (CP) Exam – as an affiliated association of the NALA, the association encourages its members to study and sit for the CLA/CP and specialty exams offered by NALA. Members of the association who have achieved the CLA/CP designation serve as mentors, form study groups, and conduct study sessions.  Member CLAs/CPs can also proctor exams within the boundaries of the state, thus allowing paralegals/legal assistants to avoid the stress and expense of travel to other areas of the country for the exams.

Updates on Laws, Rulings, and Activities Affecting the Paralegal Profession - Board and Committee members review issues concerning the paralegal profession and advise members of concerns and significant events.  Members are kept apprised of laws that affect their profession and activities of affiliated associations throughout the country.  Due to the efforts of the association, legal assistants and paralegals in Iowa who have passed NALA’s CLA/CP exam have been granted permission to use the designation of “Certified Legal Assistant or Certified Paralegal” beneath their signature.

Website:  www.ialanet.org

The association maintains a website at www.ialanet.org where members may access information regarding the association and its activities.

Members only List Serve:  the association through its website (www.ialanet.org) has added another resource for its members to network and assist each other in working in the legal profession.

MEMBERSHIP RATES

Membership runs from February 1 through January 31.
Annual dues vary by type of membership. All dues are nonrefundable.

* See below for membership classifications

* See below for membership classificatons

MEMBER CLASSIFICATIONS

ACTIVE: This class is open to any individual who meets the following criteria. This is the only membership classification that carries voting privileges at the state level. Active members are the only IALA members who may serve as state officers. Any individual whose supervising attorney attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant/paralegal AND that this individual works at least 3/4 of his/her total hours as a legal assistant as defined by the American Bar Association.
 

ASSOCIATE: Associate members may vote and hold offices on a regional level, but do not have state voting rights and may not hold a state office. This class is open to any individual who meets at least one of the following criteria:

1. Any individual not currently employed as a legal assistant/paralegal who has successfully   completed a course of study as a legal assistant/paralegal at any university, college, junior college or other educational institution.
    
2. Any individual not currently employed as a legal assistant/paralegal who has successfully completed the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA/CP) examination administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.; or
    
3. Any former active member of IALA not currently employed as a legal assistant/paralegal.

STUDENT: Student members do not have voting rights and may not act as an officer on either the state or regional level. The following qualify for student membership: any individual who is a student at any university, college, junior college, or other educational institution pursuing a course of study as a legal assistant/paralegal and who submits an attestation from the director of the program that the individual is a student in good standing. Read more about the benefits of being a student member (PDF). Click Here for Student Membership Brochure.
 

SUSTAINING: Sustaining membership is open to anyone who meets at least one of the following criteria:  

1. Members of bar associations or the legal profession;
    
2. Members of the educational field endorsing the paralegal/legal assistant concept or involved in the promotion of the paralegal/legal assistant profession, or
    
3. Any person or entity with a viable ongoing interest in the legal profession approved by the Board of Directors of IALA.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

Get the PDF version of the IALA Membership Application Form

If you are a individual applying for your initial membership, please print the application above, complete and mail it with the appropriate membership dues to:

IOWA ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS
PO Box 93153
Des Moines, Iowa 50393

If you are an individual renewing your membership with the association you can either (1) complete the steps above in new membership section or (2) renew by the association’s website www.ialanet.org.  You will be able to renew your dues by use of a Paypal or a credit card when using option 2. 

Please email questions to:

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