Florida Paralegal Associations and Information
Statewide Paralegal Associations
Central Florida Paralegal Association
Description: CFPA is an organization for Central Florida paralegals/legal assistants who desire to promote high standards of professionalism in their career field. CFPA offers a wide range of professional and personal benefits to each member, including educational opportunities, continuing education credits, professional development, student development, job referral service, a voice in national affairs, leadership, community service, and community recognition.
Contact:
Central Florida Paralegal Association
P.O.Box 1107,
Orlando,
Florida – 32802
Telephone – 407-672-6372.
Website: http://www.cfpainc.com/aboutus/theassociation.html
Florida Independent Paralegal Alliance (FIPA)
Contact:
Florida Independent Paralegal Alliance (FIPA)
4866 Gandy Boulevard, West
Tampa, FL. 33611
Telephone: (813) 931-7776 or (813) 835-1105
Fax: 931-7907
E-mail: APSTampa@aol.com
Paralegal Association of Florida (NFPA)
Contact:
Paralegal Association of Florida (NFPA
6265 West Sample Road, #297
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33067
Local Paralegal Associations
South Florida Paralegal Association
Description: SFPA began in 1979 as a way to provide a local forum for ideas relating to the paralegal profession. SFPA is an affiliate of National Association of Legal Assistants. The Association works to enhance the competence of professional paralegals through education, active participation in the legal community and forming alliances with local and state bar associations.
Contact:
South Florida Paralegal Association
P.O. Box, 31-0745
Miami, FL 33231-0745
Telephone: 305-944-0204
Website: http://www.sfpa.info/site/
Tampa Bay Paralegal Association
Contact:
Tampa Bay Paralegal Association
P.O. Box 2840
Tampa, FL 33601
Website:http://www.tbpa.org/
Gainesville Association of Legal Assistants
Description: The Gainesville Association of Paralegals, Inc., is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of the legal assistant profession. It is an affiliate of National Association of Legal Assistants.
Contact:
Website: http://www.afn.org/~gala/index.html
Gulf Coast Paralegal Association
Description: The Gulf Coast Paralegal Association, Inc. (GCPA) was founded in 2007 to promote and present quality continuing legal educational opportunities for local paralegals, to encourage the enrollment of students in paralegal programs. The Association also aims to establish standards for certification and practice guidelines for the paralegal profession in the community and statewide. It is an affiliate of National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. (NALA).
Contact:
Website: http://www.gcpa.info/contact_us
Northeast Florida Paralegal Association
Description: The mission and purpose of Northeast Florida Paralegal Association, Inc. is to encourage a high order of ethical and professional attainment, to further education among members of the profession, to cooperate with local, state, and national bar associations and to establish fellowship among its members and members of the legal community.
Contact:
Northeast Florida Paralegal Association, Inc.
221 North Hogan Street, Box 164
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Website: http://www.nefpa.org/contact.shtml
Northwest Florida Paralegal Association (formerly Pensacola Legal Assistants)
Description: Northwest Florida Paralegal Association (formerly Pensacola Legal Assistants encourages a high order of ethical and professional attainment, further education among members of the profession, establish good fellowship among society members and members of the legal community, and cooperate with the bar association. The organization is nonsectarian, nonpartisan, nonprofit, non-union. It is an affiliate of the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.
Contact:
Website: http://www.nwfpa.com/
Southwest Florida Paralegal Association, Inc.
Description: Southwest Florida Paralegal Association, Inc provides local paralegals with a network of legal resource information, educational information, and information on professional opportunities. The primary goals are to uphold the ethical, professional, and personal standards set forth by the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.
Contact:
Website: http://www.swfloridaparalegals.com/
Volusia Association of Paralegals
Description: Volusia Association of Paralegals provides members with resources necessary for success in work place and beyond. The Association is affiliated with National Association of Legal Assistants.
Contact:
Website: http://www.volusiaparalegal.org/4.html
Paralegal Schools and CLE
Broward College ( Broward Community College)
Description: Those graduating from the Broward College Legal Assisting AS degree program are automatically qualified to sit for the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) exam. Though the exam is not required for graduation, those who possess the CLA certification demonstrate competence in legal matters and are therefore more likely to find better employment positions.
Degrees Offered: Associate Degree
Type of institution: ABA approved
Contact:
Broward College (Broward Community College)
Legal Assistant Program
7200 Hollywood/Pines Boulevard
Pembroke Pines, FL 33024
Telephone: 954.593.5074
Fax: 954.201.8990
Website: http://www.broward.edu/legalassisting/
Edison State College
Description: The Paralegal Studies program is designed for students seeking a professional career in a law-related field. The program trains students in many diverse areas of law. Subjects include legal research and writing, real estate law, criminal law, family law, wills and trusts, torts, and litigation. The Edison State College Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association.
Program graduates will be specialists who can manage law office operations, assume certain routine duties of attorneys and directly assist attorneys in handling legal problems. Other roles may include legal research, developing new procedures, and drafting documents.
Graduation from the Edison Associate in Science degree program in Paralegal Studies does not qualify students to practice law, sit for a state bar examination, nor allow them to represent themselves as lawyers.
Degrees Offered: Associate Degree
Type of Institution: ABA approved
Contact:
Edison State College
Paralegal Studies Program
8099 College Parkway, S.W.
Ft. Myers, FL 33919
Telephone: 239.489.9132
Fax: 239.489.9134
Website: www.edison.edu/academics/paralegalstudies.php
Florida Community College at Jacksonville
Description: The Paralegal Studies (Legal Assisting) program is for students who wish to seek employment in the legal or criminal justice field as paralegals or for individuals presently employed who wish to advance in their careers. Florida Community College’s program is structured to meet the needs of the legal profession in the state of Florida, as developed in response to a survey of local attorneys, which showed a great need for trained paraprofessional specialists in the field. Courses are taught by practicing attorneys or other legal professionals. An advisory committee composed of attorneys and other professionals meets regularly to make suggestions and recommendations for the program. The program culminates in a professional internship (PLA 1943 Internship). All other professional core courses must be completed prior to enrollment in the internship. In this course, students will work not less than 120 hours in a law or law-related office. In addition, students will meet to share work experiences and receive final preparation for paraprofessional practice.
Type of Institution: Public, ABA approved
Degrees Offered & Conditions: Associate of Applied Science
Internships: Mandatory
Contact:
Florida Community College at Jacksonville
Legal Assisting/Paralegal Program
3939 Roosevelt Boulevard
Room D-0263
Jacksonville, FL 32205
Telephone: 904.381.3589
Fax: 904.381.3663
Website: www.fccj.edu/campuses/kent/dept_programs/workforce_dev/legal/paralegal_studi
Miami Dade College
Description: A.S. Degree program that offers excellent learning opportunities in the classroom and beyond — students excel in mock trial exercises, willingly serve as mentors to at-risk youth, and embrace community service opportunities through Lambda Epsilon Chi National Paralegal Honor Society.
Type of Institution: Public College, 2yr., 4yr, ABA approved
Degrees Offered & Conditions: Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Bachelor of Science. Minimum length of time to complete the program: 2 years
Internships: Mandatory
Contact:
Miami Dade College
The Law Center/Legal Assistant Program
300 N. E. 2nd Avenue
Room 3506-21
Miami, FL 33132-2297
Telephone: 305.237.3048
Fax: 305.237.3859
Website: www.mdc.edu/wolfson/academic/lawcenter/
Nova Southeastern University
Description: The goal of the program is to prepare students for entry-level paralegal positions in the common areas of law practice. Benefits of the program includes hands-on application; training in legal software applications used by Florida law firms; training in computerized legal research; Internship opportunities with private law firms and government agencies; convenient classes for working individuals, offering small, evening classes and selected online paralegal classes; and opportunities for court observation.
Type of institution: ABA approved
Degrees Offered: Baccalaureate Degree
Contact:
Nova Southeastern University
Paralegal Studies Program
Department of Behavioral Sciences
3301 College Avenue, Parker Building
Room 228
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
Telephone: 954.262.7948
Fax: 954.262.3760
Website: www.undergrad.nova.edu/divisions/sbs/paralegalstudies
Seminole Community College
Description: The Legal Studies Program is a 64-credit-hour Associate in Science degree program that teaches students to become a valuable member of a legal team. The students are prepared to work for attorneys and judges in all areas of the law and play an essential role in law firms, courts, financial institutions, corporations, government offices, real estate businesses, administrative agencies, and state and court institutions.
Type of institution: ABA approved
Degrees Offered: Associate Degree
Contact:
Seminole Community College
Paralegal/Legal Assisting Program
100 Weldon Blvd.
Sanford, FL 32773-6199
Telephone: 407.708-2191
Fax: 407.708.2383
Website: http://www.scc-fl.edu/legalassist/
South University
Description: Both Bachelor and Associate Degree programs feature a curriculum delivered by a combination of full-time faculty and experienced legal professionals in practice. Introductory and advanced core courses and a broad spectrum of electives prepare graduates to work as paralegals and perform specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.
Type of Institution: Private, 2 yr, 4yr, ABA approved
Degrees Offered & Conditions: Bachelor of Science, Associate in Science
Minimum length of time to complete program: 1.5 yrs for AS; 3 yrs for BS
Internships: Mandatory
Contact:
Director: Beth Marie Vissers
South University
Paralegal Studies/Legal Studies
1760 North Congress Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL 33409
Telephone: 561.697.9200
Fax: 561.697.9944
Website: http://www.southuniversity.edu/Academics/ProgramDetail.aspx?l=&offering=1457
St. Petersburg College
Description: The Associate in Science Paralegal Studies program at SPC is designed to train students for careers as legal assistants, or paralegals, in law firms, governmental entities and corporate legal departments. SPC now offers the only public baccalaureate program in Paralegal Studies in Florida approved by the American Bar Association. SPC’s new post baccalaureate certificate program is designed to add paralegal skills and knowledge to a college graduate’s existing excellent critical thinking, communication and computer skills. This program option, approved by the American Bar Association, includes a review course to prepare a certificate holder to sit for the Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal Examination administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants.
Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies; Associate Degree
Type of Institution: ABA approved
Contact:
St. Petersburg College
Paralegal Studies Program
2465 Drew Street
Clearwater, FL 33765
Telephone: 727.791.2530
Fax: 727.791.2736
Website: http://www.spjc.cc.fl.us/clw/business/paralegal/index.htm
Valencia Community College
Description: Valencia Community College’s Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association. It offers an Associate in Science degree designed to prepare students to work in the legal field for law firms, banks, corporations, and government agencies in the performance of delegated, substantive legal services under the supervision of a licensed attorney. The program stresses practical applications in areas such as civil litigation, real property, legal research and writing, business organizations, and legal technology. Students will understand the ethical framework within which they will work and be able to effectively analyze and communicate in these areas. The paralegal classes are taught by experienced faculty. The program offers classes day and evening. Small class size provides an opportunity for meaningful interaction between student and faculty.
Type of Institution: Public, 2 yr, ABA approved
Degrees Offered & Conditions: Associate in Science
Minimum length of time to complete program: Six semesters, unless student has transfer credits.
Internships: Elective
Contact:
Valencia Community College
Paralegal Studies
701 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Mail Code 3-25
Orlando, FL 32825
Telephone: 407.582.2556
Fax: 407.582.8901
Website: http://www.valenciacc.edu/departments/east/business/paralegal/
