MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES

There are five categories of membership in DPA:

Charter:
Those paralegals who have established their membership in the DPA by September 24, 1976. Charter members shall not have voting, elective or representative privileges unless they meet the requirements for Full membership but shall be entitled to participate in the activities of the DPA. Yearly dues are $60.

Full:
Any person who possesses a paralegal certificate from an American Bar Association-approved paralegal studies program and has six months of work experience as a paralegal, OR has graduated from a two- or four-year accredited educational institution and has six months of work experience as a paralegal, OR has three years of work experience as a paralegal. Full members shall have all voting, elective and representative privileges. Yearly dues are $60.

Associate:
Any person who has completed an American Bar Association-approved paralegal studies program leading to a position as a paralegal, OR has at least one year of work experience as a paralegal but who is not employed as such at the time of application for membership, OR is employed full-time as a paralegal but who has not yet met the work experience requirements for Full membership. Associate members shall not have voting, elective or representative privileges but shall be entitled to participate in the activities of the DPA. Yearly dues are $45.

Student:
Any person who is enrolled in an American Bar Association-approved paralegal program leading to a position as a paralegal. Student members shall not have voting, elective or representative privileges but shall be entitled to participate in the activities of the DPA. Yearly dues are $35.

Sustaining:
Any firm, association, corporation, educational institution or other entity that is interested in supporting the objectives and purposes of the DPA as stated in the Bylaws. No member that provides any paralegal or legal assistant studies program shall use the DPA name or logo, or identify itself as a member of DPA, unless the program has been approved by the American Bar Association. Sustaining members shall not have voting, elective or representative privileges but shall be entitled to participate in the activities of the DPA. There are three levels of Sustaining membership and the dues range from $100 to $350.

Join Us!
Click here to complete and print a DPA individual membership application.
Click here to download a DPA Sustaining membership application via pdf.

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

Lecture Luncheons:
Monthly lecture luncheons are held on a variety of topics of interest. For the 2007-2008 term, Wilmington luncheons will be held at the Sheration Suites Wilmington on Delaware Avenue. Most luncheons will be held on the third Thursday of the month. Monthly luncheons and dinners are also held in Dover, Georgetown and Lewes. Please check the calendar for dates, time and locations for all luncheons.

Continuing Legal Education:
DPA sponsors various seminars and programs of interest to paralegals in all fields.

Job Bank:
DPA publishes employment opportunities it receives from law firms, corporations and placement agencies in Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Newsletter:
Members receive DPA's newsletter, The Reporter, 10 times per year. To view the current issue, please click here.

Special Projects:
DPA holds annual paralegal-attorney events throughout the state.  The focus of these high-attendance events changes yearly, but previous highlights have included political comedians and impersonators, Monte Carlo nights, murder mysteries, art tours and wine tastings.  DPA donates partial proceeds from each event to a local law-related charity, organization or program.   The Association also holds other social functions (usually meet and greets) several times during the year.

Mentoring:
Seasoned paralegals are available to all new members to answer questions relating to DPA or other issues affecting paralegals in the workplace and the community.

Pro Bono:
DPA works with a number of courts and agencies to provide pro bono activities to its members.  The programs include the Administrative Office of the Courts (volunteering at the Family Court Self Help Center), the Justice of the Peace Court (assisting the public in the Educational Program for Self-Represented Landlords and Tenants), the Delaware's Court Interpreter Program (helping non-English speaking litigants and defendants in court proceedings), the Court Appointed Special Advocates (working with victims of domestic violence through Family Court), Child, Inc. (volunteering with the Victim Advocacy Program) and Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (interviewing clients at Family Court and assisting them with obtaining Protection from Abuse orders).

The Association is also involved in a number of community service activities.  They include Habitat for Humanity (working side-by-side building homes in partnership with families in need), Modern Maturity Center (preparing, serving and delivering meals and assisting with activities and meals at the Adult Daycare Center), Sunday Breakfast Mission (sorting food for distribution in the community), Volunteers in Police Service (assisting law enforcement with fingerprinting children for identification cards), Read Aloud Delaware (reading aloud to children one-on-one in child care centers, shelters and other sites), Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Annual Beach Grass Planting (planting beach grass which helps build and protect the State's sand dunes) and Toys for Tots (donating new, unwrapped toys to this longstanding U.S. Marine Corp volunteer effort).

Blood Bank:
The DPA offers free membership in the Blood Bank of Delaware to all Full members. Associate and Student members pay only $5.00 for membership through DPA.

Forget to renew your membership?
Click here to complete and print a DPA individual membership renewal.
Click here to download a DPA Sustaining membership renewal via pdf file
For questions regarding our membership levels and benefits, contact the
Membership Director, Kristine Winner, at (302) 777-3500 or via e-mail.