Alaska Paralegal Associations and Information
Statewide Paralegal Associations
The Alaska Association of Paralegals (AAP)
Description: The Alaska Association of Paralegals (AAP), formerly known as the Alaska Association of Legal Assistants (AALA) is a non-profit professional membership association. AAP is a member of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). AAP also sponsors educational seminars. AAP’s purposes are to advance and promote the educational and professional standards of paralegals. The association also works to promote employment, advancement and education of paralegals, regardless of race, sex, creed, color, national origin, age, sexual orientation or political ideology. Above all, the association promotes, protects and further public interest.
Contact:
Alaska Association of Paralegals
P.O. Box 101956
Anchorage, AK 99510-1956
Telephone: (907) 646-8018
Email: info@alaskaparalegals.org
Website: www.alaskaparalegals.org
Local Paralegal Associations
Fairbanks Association of Legal Assistants
Description: FALA is affiliated to National Association of Legal Assistants. FALA coordinates and sponsors continuing legal education and professional development programs for the paralegals, legal assistants, and legal secretaries of Fairbanks.
Contact:
FALA
Fairbanks Association of Legal Assistants
P.O. Box 70947,
Fairbanks, AK 99707
Email: info@fairbanksparalegal.org
Website: http://www.fairbanksparalegal.org/
Paralegal Schools and CLE
University of Alaska Anchorage
Description: The Paralegal Studies Certificate Program explores role, responsibilities, and ethics of paralegal activities and relationship of paralegals to lawyers. It studies the responsibilities of paralegal, which include statute and regulation formats, litigation, insurance, probate and real estate. The program also covers interviewing, investigation, writing and application of social science techniques to paralegal problems.
Type of institution: Public, ABA approved.
Degrees Offered: Paralegal Studies Certificate
Contact:
University of Alaska Anchorage
Justice Center,
Paralegal Certificate Program,
3211 Providence Drive,
Anchorage, AK 99508,
Telephone: 907.786.1822,
Fax: 907.786.7777
Website: http://justice.uaa.alaska.edu/academic/paralegal/index.htm
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Description: The paralegal studies program trains students for employment as paralegals to assist in the delivery of legal services under the supervision of a practicing lawyer, and provides continuing education and upgrading of skills for paralegals already employed. In addition, the program offers practical law-related topics for UAF students whose main focus is in other areas of study such as political science and justice.
Paralegals and legal assistants are not authorized to provide direct legal services to the public. However, they are qualified to perform rudimentary legal research and produce drafts of letters, office memoranda, pleadings, contracts, wills and similar documents. Paralegals conduct client and witness interviews, engage in basic fact-finding and investigation, and assist in trial preparation and discovery. At all times they remain cognizant of the ethical responsibilities owed by the supervising lawyer to clients, other lawyers and the court system.
The UAF paralegal studies program does not train lawyers or legal administrators. The associate (A.A.S.) degree is approved by the American Bar Association. The minor is not designed to prepare students to work as paralegals and is not approved by the American Bar Association.
Type of Institution: Public, 2yr, ABA approved
Degrees Offered & Conditions: Associate of Applied Science
Minimum length of time to complete program: 2 years (60 credit hrs) unless student has prior college-level course work that meets some degree requirements
Internships: Mandatory
Contact:
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Paralegal Studies Program,
Tanana Valley Campus Center,
604 Barnette St., Room 103,
Fairbanks, AK 99775
Telephone: 907.455.2835
Fax: 907.455.2912
Website: http://www.uaf.edu/catalog/current/programs/paralegal.html
