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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS IN
THE
IOWA ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS INCLUDE:
| Membership Application |
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Get the PDF version of the IALA
Membership Application Form.
Please print, complete and
mail this form with the appropriate membership dues
to:
IOWA ASSOCIATION
OF LEGAL ASSISTANTS
PO Box 93153
Des Moines, Iowa 50393
Please email questions
to:
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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
| Month of Application |
Active
|
Associate
|
Student
|
Sustaining
|
| February - July |
$90.00
|
$60.00
|
$25.00
|
$150.00
|
| August - November |
$45.00
|
$30.00
|
$25.00
|
$150.00
|
| December & January (Includes renewal fee for next membership
year.) |
$90.00
|
$60.00
|
$25.00
|
$150.00
|
* 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:
- 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.
- 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
- 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:
- Members of bar associations or the legal profession;
- Members of the educational field endorsing the paralegal/legal
assistant concept or involved in the promotion of the paralegal/legal
assistant profession, or
- 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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