Membership :: Benefits & Qualifications :: Application Forms

Membership in NeALA

(See Standing Rule No. 3 for complete descriptions of membership categories, privileges, and the membership application process.)

Membership in the Nebraska Association of Legal Assistants is open to legal assistants, students in legal assistant programs, attorneys or paralegal educators, and individuals or firms endorsing the legal assistant concept or involved in the promotion of the legal assistant profession. Applications for prospective members are subject to approval of NeALA through its Board of Directors. A new member must qualify for membership in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Standing Rules of NeALA. Although NeALA is affiliated with NALA, NeALA sets its own requirements for membership.

Membership in NeALA does not confer membership in the National Association of Legal Assistants. Membership in NALA is not required for a member of NeALA. The requirements for membership in NALA are set out in the Bylaws and Standing Rules of NALA.

If you are interested in becoming a member of NeALA, please complete the applicable application form and submit it to Vice President at P.O. Box 24943, Omaha, Nebraska 68124. Your application must be accompanied by the proper dues (and initiation fee for active members only).

  1. Application for membership shall be submitted to NeALA on forms approved by NeALA. The forms should clearly state that NeALA is an affiliated association of NALA and that all members are bound by the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility in addition to any code adopted by NeALA. Such application form must be properly completed, including signature by the applicant and any attestation required, or a copy of the appropriate certificate attached, and must be accompanied by correct payment of dues and initiation fee, if applicable. The initiation fee is paid only upon initial application for active membership.
  2. The application is submitted to the Vice President, who is in charge of membership for NeALA, and who shall verify the contents of the application, determine if the application is properly completed and if the applicable fee is correct. The application for membership is then submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.
  3. Voting for approval of each membership application is necessary because NeALA must maintain ultimate discretion in assessing qualifications of applicants. Since any one person’s actions may be construed as representative of NeALA, any applicant who does not qualify should not be granted membership.
  4. If a portion of a registration fee to a meeting or seminar is offered as a discount to apply to membership dues, such discount shall apply only prior to or during the meeting at which it is offered.
  5. If the application is incomplete or if the applicant does not meet the requirements for membership as set forth in Article VI of the Bylaws and in these Standing Rules, the Vice President shall contact the applicant for further information. In the event of a question as to the eligibility for membership, the matter shall be presented to the Board of Directors for determination.
  6. Immediately upon approval of the application, the Vice President shall:
    1. send cards for approved members to the President for signature;
    2. update the membership roster; and
    3. notify the applicant that he/she has been accepted for membership, enclosing membership card and other material.
  7. Application for membership shall be rejected if the applicant does not meet the qualifications set forth herein. The Vice President shall notify the applicant of such rejection.

  1. Application for membership shall be rejected if the applicant does not meet the qualifications set forth herein. The Vice President shall notify the applicant of such rejection.

    Any individual who is actively employed as a legal assistant and who meets one of the following shall qualify for active membership:
    1. Any individual who has successfully completed a curriculum of training as a legal assistant or who is certificated by a university, college, junior college or other approved school as having successfully completed a full course of studies prescribed for training as a legal assistant, plus not less than six months of in-house training as a legal assistant, whose attorney/employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant; provided, however, that all such schools, curricula and certifications shall be subject to the approval of NeALA; or
    2. Any individual who has a minimum of three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney, including at least six months of in-house training as a legal assistant, whose attorney/employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant; or
    3. Any individual without prior law-related experience who has a minimum of two years of in-house training as a legal assistant whose attorney/employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant; or
    4. Any individual who has successfully completed the CLA examination administered by NALA whose attorney/employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant.

  2. Qualifications for Associate Members (nonvoting status).

    The following shall qualify for associate membership:
    1. Those members of bar associations, law firms, corporations or other individuals endorsing the legal assistant concept or involved in the promotion of the legal assistant profession;
    2. Those members of the educational field and legal assistant program representatives endorsing the legal assistant concept or involved in the promotion of the legal assistant profession; or
    3. Those persons directly involved in the supervision of legal assistants.

  3. Qualifications for Student Members (nonvoting status).

    The following shall qualify for student membership:
    1. Those individuals who are students in good standing in any university, college, junior college or other school pursuing a course of studies as a legal assistant enrolled with a minimum of six (6) credit hours per semester; provided, however, that all such schools, curricula and certifications shall be subject to the approval of NeALA.
    2. Each year, student members must have a school official sign an attestation that said member is qualified for student membership status as outlined above.
    3. If a student member ceases attending a school or ceases to be enrolled in a legal assistant program, or transfers to another program, the student membership may continue until the end of the fiscal year, if dues are paid, or until such time the student member qualifies for active membership within that fiscal year.
    4. Student membership may not be renewed if eligible for active membership.
    5. If a student membership is not renewable at the end of a fiscal year, and such student member does not qualify for active membership, such member may transfer membership to associate membership, provided written request for such transfer membership is made and the applicable fees paid.

  4. Qualifications for honorary members (nonvoting status).

    The following shall qualify for honorary membership:
    1. Any person who has performed some distinguished service to NeALA, NALA or the community in general, and who is not a member of NeALA, may be elected as an honorary member and shall have all the privileges of active members for a period of two years, except the right to vote and hold office.

  5. Qualifications for Sustaining Members (nonvoting status).

    The following shall qualify for sustaining members:
    1. Any law firm, corporation or legal assistant program representative who endorses the legal assistant concept or is involved in the promotion of the legal assistant profession and who contributes dues as set forth in the Bylaws or Standing Rules of NeALA.

  6. Application for individual membership.

    1. Application for membership shall be submitted to NeALA on forms approved by NeALA. The forms should clearly state that NeALA is an affiliated association of NALA and that all members are bound by the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility in addition to any code adopted by NeALA. Such application form must be properly completed, including signature by the applicant and any attestation required, or a copy of the appropriate certificate attached, and must be accompanied by correct payment of dues and initiation fee, if applicable. The initiation fee is paid only upon initial application for active membership.
    2. The application is submitted to the Vice President, who is in charge of membership for NeALA, and who shall verify the contents of the application, determine if the application is properly completed and if the applicable fee is correct. The application for membership is then submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.
    3. Voting for approval of each membership application is necessary because NeALA must maintain ultimate discretion in assessing qualifications of applicants. Since any one person’s actions may be construed as representative of NeALA, any applicant who does not qualify should not be granted membership.
    4. If a portion of a registration fee to a meeting or seminar is offered as a discount to apply to membership dues, such discount shall apply only prior to or during the meeting at which it is offered.
    5. If the application is incomplete or if the applicant does not meet the requirements for membership as set forth in Article VI of the Bylaws and in these Standing Rules, the Vice President shall contact the applicant for further information. In the event of a question as to the eligibility for membership, the matter shall be presented to the Board of Directors for determination.
    6. Immediately upon approval of the application, the Vice President shall:
      1. send cards for approved members to the President for signature;
      2. update the membership roster; and
      3. notify the applicant that he/she has been accepted for membership, enclosing membership card and other material.
    7. Application for membership shall be rejected if the applicant does not meet the qualifications set forth herein. The Vice President shall notify the applicant of such rejection.