South Dakota Paralegal Association, Inc.
Founded in 1989
An Affiliate of the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
Name:_____________________________________________________________________________
Employer (or college if applying for student membership) _______________________________________
Office Address:______________________________________________________________________
Office Telephone:_________________ Fax:____________________ E-mail Address: _______________
Home Address:_______________________________________ Home Telephone:_________________
Preferred Mailing Address: 
Office Home
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PLEASE CHECK MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATION FOR WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING:
1. Active Member
. Dues $50.00 annually. (please also read the dues structure located at the top of page 1)
An individual who meets at least one of the following requirements, has a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma, has not been convicted of a felony, has not been disbarred or suspended from the practice of law, or has not been placed on temporary suspension from the practice of law is eligible for active membership. This is the only membership classification which carries voting privileges. Active members may serve as association officers, directors, or committee chairpersons. Please check all categories that qualify you for active membership.
a) Successful completion of the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) examination from NALA, Inc. (ATTACH
copy of CLA certificate); or
b) Graduation from an ABA-approved program of study for legal assistants (ATTACH copy of graduation
verification); or
c) Graduation 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 (ATTACH copy of diploma or certificate); or
d) Graduation from a course of study for legal assistants other than those set forth in (b) and (c) above, plus not
less than 6 months in-house training as a legal assistant, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is
qualified as a legal assistant (ATTACH copy of graduation verification and see page 3 & 4 for attestation); or
e) A baccalaureate degree in any field, plus not less than 6 months of in-house training as a legal assistant,
whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant (ATTACH copy of diploma and see page 3 & 4 for attestation);
f) Minimum of 3 years law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney, including at least 6 months
of in-house training as a legal assistant, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant (see page 3 & 4 for attestation), or
g) A minimum of 2 years of in-house training as a legal assistant, whose attorney-employer attests that such
person is qualified as a legal assistant (see page 3 & 4 for attestation).
2. Associate Member
. Dues $25 annually. (please also read the dues structure located at the top of page 1)
An individual who endorses the legal assistant concept or is involved in the promotion of the legal assistant profession and who meets the following qualifications:
a) Membership in the State Bar of South Dakota; or
b) Member of the legal assistant educational field; or
c) Member of the law office management field.
d) Any individual who has qualified in the past for active membership under Article IV, 2, but is not
currently working in the legal assistant field.
3. Sustaining Member
. Dues $50.00 annually. (please also read the dues structure located at the top of page 1)
Law firms, corporations, organizations, legal assistant program representatives and other entities who endorse the legal assistant concept or are involved in the promotion of the legal assistant profession and who contribute dues as set by the Executive Committee
4. Student Membership
. Dues $10 annually. (please also read the dues structure located at the top of page 1)
Student membership shall be open to any individual who meets and submits the following criteria:
a) A student who is enrolled at any university, college, junior college, or other educational institution in a course
of study as a legal assistant/paralegal and who has completed one-half of the required curriculum required for graduation from that program; and
b) Submits:
(1) An attestation from the director of the program that the individual is a student in good standing (see page 4);
(2) Proof of enrollment at their respective educational institution (see page 4); and
(3) Verification of the courses completed (see page 4 & 5).
Student members are required to reapply for membership each year. If a student member is eligible for active membership, he/she may not reapply for student membership.
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STATE BAR OF SOUTH DAKOTA Definition of A Legal Assistant (Source: SDCL 16-18-34) Legal Assistants (also known as paralegals) are a distinguishable group of persons who assist licensed attorneys in the delivery of legal services. Through formal education, training, and experience, legal assistants have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system, substantive and procedural law, the ethical considerations of the legal profession, and the Rules of Professional Conduct as stated in Chapter 16-18, which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the employment and direct supervision of a licensed attorney. This rule shall apply to all unlicensed persons employed by a licensed attorney who are represented to the public or clients as possessing training or education which qualifies them to assist in the handling of legal matters or document preparation for the client. |
AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION Definition of a Legal Assistant (Source: 1997 ABA Annual Meeting) A legal assistant or paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible. |
APPLICANT'S ATTESTATION
I hereby apply for (check one): ACTIVE, ASSOCIATE, SUSTAINING, STUDENT membership in the South Dakota Paralegal Association, Inc., and enclose a check in the amount specified in payment of the initiation fee and
annual dues. I understand that my application is subject to approval by the SDPA. I attest that :
(a) I have read the definitions of a legal assistant as set forth above, and if I am applying for membership as an active member, I am a practicing legal assistant under said definitions;
(b) I qualify for the membership under said definitions;
(c) I have never been convicted of a felony;
(d) I have never been disbarred or suspended from the practice of law in any jurisdiction;
(e) I have not been placed on temporary suspension from the practice of law;
(f) All information I have included in this application is true and complete;
(g) I give my consent to SDPA to investigate my application and contact my present or former supervising attorney(s) and/or school(s) for verification or clarification of my qualifications for membership; and
(h) I have received and read the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility of SDPA and NALA and the bylaws as adopted by SDPA and agree to be bound by the same.
Date:_____________________ _____________________________________________________________
(Signature of Applicant)
ATTORNEY-EMPLOYER ATTESTATION
Note: This section must be completed for all applicants applying for membership under requirements
1(d), 1(e), 1(f), 1(g) or 4 on page 1.
I hereby attest that:
(a) I have read the definitions of a legal assistant set forth above, and if applicant is applying for membership as an active member, that applicant is a practicing legal assistant under said definitions;
(b) Applicant has been employed by me for at least the requisite period of time and meets the qualifications for membership in the South Dakota Paralegal Association, Inc., as listed under requirement category _______;
(c) Applicant performs substantial, in contrast to nominal or occasional, legal assistant services for me in my work as an attorney and I supervise the applicant's assistance; and
(d) I recommend the applicant for membership in SDPA.
Date:_____________________ _____________________________________________________________
(Signature of Attorney-Employer)
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PROGRAM DIRECTOR ATTESTATION
(Student Member Applicant Only)
Note: The following sections must be completed for all applicants applying for student membership.
I hereby attest that:
(a) I have read the qualifications for student membership and believe that applicant meets the qualifications for student membership in the South Dakota Paralegal Association, Inc.;
(b) The attached documentation represents proof of the applicant's enrollment in the legal assistant/paralegal program at the following named institution; and
(c) Applicant is a student in good standing in said legal assistant/paralegal program.
Name of Institution:______________________________________________________________________
Date:_____________________ ____________________________________________________________
(Signature and Title)
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REGISTRAR ATTESTATION
(Student Member Applicant Only)
I hereby attest that:
(a) I have read the qualifications for student membership and believe that applicant meets the qualifications for student membership in the South Dakota Paralegal Association, Inc.;
(b) Applicant has completed one-half (1/2) of the requirements for graduation from the legal assistant/paralegal program; and
(c) The attached verification of courses completed by applicant satisfy one-half (1/2) of the requirements for graduation from said legal assistant/paralegal program.
Name of Institution:_____________________________________________________________________
Date:_____________________ ___________________________________________________________
(Signature and Title)
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(To be completed By Active and Associate Applicants only)
1. Years of legal experience:_____ 2. Years as legal assistant:_____ 3. Years at present job:_____
4. Education: For formal education, include name and address of school, date of graduation, and attach proof of graduation or training for present position (i.e., copy of diploma or certificate, and school verification of courses completed for active member qualification section c or student member qualification):
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Your education meets membership qualifications from page 1 under requirement(s): b) c) d) e)
6. NALA member: ____Yes ____ No
7. If CLA, date certified ______________________
8. If CLAS, date certified _____________________
9. Check the most appropriate description of your employer:
law department, nonprofit organization
Judicial agency, court
corporate law department
private law office consisting of __ attorneys, __ legal assistants, and __other non lawyer personnel.
10. Fields of law in which your legal assistance is concentrated. Please check every area in which you have worked.
Administrative/Management Contracts Oil, Gas & Mineral Law
Administrative Law Corporation/Partnerships Personal Injury
Admiralty/Maritime Criminal Law Products liability
Antitrust Employee Benefits Real Estate
Banking/Finance/Investment Estate Planning Securities
Bankruptcy Family Law Taxation
Business Law 
Insurance Probate
Civil Litigation Labor/Employment Trusts
Collections Medical Malpractice Workers Compensation
Commercial Law Municipal Law Other _______________
11. Of the fields you checked above, which three is your present work most concentrated in, and what are your major duties:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
12. Serving on a SDPA Committee is not mandatory, but is the best way to meet other SDPA members who share your same interests. Please indicate the committees in which you have an interest.
Audit Library Parliamentarian
Educational Programs Membership Public Relations
Ethics Newsletter State Bar Liaison (officers only)
Finance Nominations/Elections Other __________________
13. List any other local or national legal assistant organizations of which you are a member:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
14. Why did you decide to join SDPA?
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
15. Current professional or business organizations, other legal assistant organizations, of which you are a member:
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
16. Hobbies and outside interests: ____________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
17. Name of spouse: __________________________ Spouse Occupation: ___________________________
18. Names and birth dates of children: _________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
19. SDPA Sponsor's Name and Address, if applicable:___________________________________________
Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of SDPA. Please return the completed application, verification attachments for qualification, and your check to: Vicki Blake, CP, SDPA Membership Committee Chairperson,
315 S. Phillips Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.
OFFICE USE ONLY:
Date Received:______________ Amount: $_________________ Date Approved: __________________
Authorized Signature:_____________________________________________________________________
Form Revised 10/26/05
Form Restructured 10/24/05
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