HAWAII PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 674 · HONOLULU, HAWAII 96809
Member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

VOTING MEMBERSHIP $70.00 is open to any person who is employed as a paralegal, as well as any person currently employed as a non-attorney supervisor of paralegals who was previously employed as a paralegal.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP $60.00, non-voting, is open to any person: a) who is presently employed as a paralegal outside the State of Hawaii; b) who was formerly employed as a paralegal; c) who is employed in the legal profession in another position other than that of a paralegal; d) who has completed a formal paralegal program but is not employed as a paralegal or does not substantially perform the duties of a paralegal.
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP $50.00, non-voting, is open to anyone who is enrolled in a formal paralegal program within or outside the State of Hawaii and is not employed as a paralegal. Proof of student status required.
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP $120.00, non-voting, is open to any person, partnership, corporation, association, or entity interested in supporting the purposes and activities of HPA.

First Name *:     Middle Initial:      Last *:

 

Residence Address

Business Address

Street/P.O. Box *:

City:

 State: State:

Zip Code + 4 *:

Telephone *:

FAX Number:

E-Mail:

NEW MEMBER    RENEWING MEMBER (Member since  )

CONTACT INFORMATION

Unless you advice otherwise, notices will be sent to you by email.

Business Residence
For mailings and Membership Directory
Check here if you do not wish to have your address released to other organizations for mailings
I want to volunteer some of my time to the following HPA committees:

Regulation/Certification Elections Standards
Job Bank Newsletter Web Site
Professional Development Membership Pro Bono
Public Relations Other 
Present Employer:
Occupation:
School, if Student:

(Submit proof of registration if applying as a Student Member, to Membership Committee, Hawaii Paralegal Association, P.O. Box 674, Honolulu, HI 96809.)

AREAS OF PRACTICE SPECIALIZATION 
Check three (3) areas of practice in which you have the most experience:

010 Bankruptcy/Collections 020 Civil Litigation 030 Real Estate 040 Corporate
050 Criminal 060 Environmental 070 Family 080 General Practice
090 Immigration 100 Intellectual Property 110 Labor & Employment 120 Pension/ Profit Sharing
130 Personal Injury/Prop.Damage 140 Estate Planning & Probate 150 Medical Malpractice 160 Admin. Law
170 Insurance Defense 180 Maritime & Admiralty 190 Military Justice 200 Public Utilities
210 Banking 220 Other:

By submitting this application, I certify that I meet the criteria of the membership class checked above.

You may either:
1) complete this application now online by clicking the "Submit Online and Pay Now" button below, or
2) print the completed application form now and mail a copy of that with a check payable to: "HPA", AND a photograph of yourself for the membership directory (optional, but recommended), to Membership Committee, Hawaii Paralegal Association, P.O. Box 674, Honolulu, Hawaii 96809.

(Incomplete applications or applications submitted without payment will be returned to sender)

 

Date:  

Dues are assessed on a calendar year basis. HPA members are also members of NFPA; from your annual dues, $25 is paid to NFPA for voting and associate members and $20 is paid for each student member (these rates represent an increase of $5 in NFPA dues effective January 1, 2006).

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
HPA members are entitled to many benefits, including HPA’s quarterly newsletter The Hawaii Paralegal Reporter, informative mailings/brochures from both local and mainland sources, job bank notices, seminars on various legal and business topics, participation in general and annual membership meetings, a membership directory, NFPA affiliation and more.

AFFILIATION WITH NFPA
HPA is a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc. ("NFPA"). NFPA is the largest national paralegal association with 52 member associations representing over 12,000 paralegals across the country. HPA is an active participant in NFPA. HPA members serve on NFPA committees, send representatives to annual and semi-annual meetings, and have hosted a Region I Business and Educational Conference. HPA members receive NFPA’s quarterly magazine, National Paralegal Reporter, have job bank reciprocity with other NFPA member associations and enjoy additional NFPA benefits.

HISTORY AND PURPOSES
The Hawaii Paralegal Association ("HPA") is a non-profit Hawaii corporation that was formed in 1978 to meet the need for a professional association for paralegals. It continues to be the only such association in Hawaii. HPA is an active participant in the legal community and sponsors regular activities, individually and in conjunction with the Hawaii State Bar Association.
The purposes of HPA are:

  • To maintain high standards of performance in the paralegal profession;
  • To inform members of developments in the paralegal profession;
  • To encourage and provide continuing education for paralegals;
  • To promote awareness and educate the community regarding the effective use of paralegals; and
  • To foster communication, education and understanding among members of the legal profession and the community.

STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
HPA is managed by a Board of Directors, comprised of officers and committee directors who are elected annually by the voting membership. The Directors include Committee Directors who are the liaison between the Board and their respective committees.

COMMITTEES
Job Bank Committee serves as a liaison between prospective employers and HPA members, and tracks and maintains market trends affecting the profession.

Membership Committee publishes the annual membership directory, processes applications and renewals, maintains a membership mailing list and recruits new members.

Newsletter Committee publishes the Hawaii Paralegal Reporter on a quarterly basis.

Professional Development Committee arranges educational seminars and general membership meetings and facilitates practice groups.

Pro Bono Committee is responsible for promoting member participation in pro bono and fund raising projects.

Public Relations Committee is responsible for promotional material designed to attract public interest or recognition for HPA and assists as a liaison with the media. The Public Relations Committee also consists of two separate standing subcommittees: The Advertising Committee promotes advertising in our newsletter, membership directory and website. The Fundraising Committee coordinates various fundraising efforts in order to generate additional operating funds in an effort to avoid increasing membership dues.

Regulation/Certification Ad Hoc Committee is responsible for educating the public and the legal community on the benefits of paralegal regulation/certification, as well as monitoring the status and trend of regulation nationwide

Standards Committee researches and proposes standards and guidelines for HPA and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding affairs of the association.

Website Committee maintains, upgrades and updates our HPA website.

Ad hoc committees are created when necessary to deal with specific issues or needs within HPA and the community.