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Paralegal -
A paralegal is a non-lawyer working under the direction and supervision of a licensed attorney performing substantive legal work that would be performed by an attorney absent the paralegal. A paralegal's work is delegated by and supervised by a licensed attorney and it is the supervisory condition that the client is protected through the confidentiality, work product and attorney-client privilege doctrines.
 
Freelance Paralegal -
a freelance paralegal is a paralegal that contracts only with attorneys or law firms for specific client matters. This individual is not an employee of an attorney or law firm, but simply a contractor for specific projects. The freelance paralegal may or may not work in the attorney's office. The freelance paralegal is an independent contractor whose work product is supervised and reviewed by the contracting attorney. The contracting attorney retains full responsibility for the freelance paralegal's work product.
 
  Paralegal Ethical Guidelines
Paralegals and Freelance Paralegals are bound by the Canons of Ethics of the American Bar Association ("ABA") as codified in the Code of Professional Responsibility of the ABA, and the California Rules of Professional Conduct. CAPA and OCPA, by its affiliation, have adopted a Code of Ethics (the "CAPA Code"), a copy of which is available upon request. As an affiliate association, all OCPA members are bound by the NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility (the "NALA Code") that is provided with the membership application.
 

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I am applying for:

  Voting Membership      $60.00
A VOTING MEMBER is a paralegal who meets the definition of California Business & Professions Code Secion 6450 et seq. and Article III, Section 3 of the Association's bylaws, who resides or is employed in California, and who has worked as a paralegal for at least the six months previous to the date on his/her membership application. Only Voting Members shall be "Members" as defined in Section 5056 of the California Corporations Code. Voting Members have the right to vote on all matters brought before the membership of OCPA, and have the right to hold office within the Association.

  Associate Membership   $60.00
An ASSOCIATE MEMBER is a paralegal who has not performed paralegal duties within the previous six months, attorney, or other legal professional who do not meet the qualifications of Voting Membership, but who are interested in and support the mission, goals and purposes of OCPA and the paralegal profession. An Associate Member does not have voting privileges and may not hold office within the Association. An Associate Member is entitled to serve on any Association Committee and is entitled to all other benefits of the Association. The board of directors reserves the right to deny Associate membership to any individual it deems to be in contradiction with OCPA's bylaws, policy, mission, goals and purposes.

   Student Membership   $40.00
A STUDENT MEMBER is an individual enrolled in any educational program which will lead to employment as a paralegal as defined by California Business & Professions Code Section 6450. A Student Member may serve on any committee within the Association, or may participate on the board of directors as a student liason, as appointed by the board of directors. A Student Member is entitled to all other benefits of OCPA but does not have voting privileges and is ineligible to hold any office or position voted upon by the general OCPA membership. A Student Member who does not find paralegal employment within six months of graduation must convert his or her membership to Associate status.

Paralegal Training Program:
Paralegal Employer:


MEMBERSHIP RUNS ON A CALENDAR YEAR BASIS. THE MEMBERSHIP YEAR EXPIRES DECEMBER 31st

   Renewal     New Member

MEMBERSHIP DUES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE

Name (required)
Title
Years of Practice
Employer
Job
Address
City zip
Phone
   
Home Address
City zip
Phone
   
E-mail (required)
   
 Paralegal school or program graduated from:
 

Year Graduated

  I have earned the following designations:
 
CLA CLAS CAS CP ACP
 
Mailing Options:
Send all OCPA mail to my home address
   
 I am interested in the following Committees:
Advertising Mentor Publicity
Conference Newsletter Salary Survey
Hospitality Promotions Web site
Membership Pro Bono  
   
 I am interested in the following specialty sections:
Bankruptcy/Fed. Practice Immigration
Corporate/Real Estate Intellectual Property
Criminal/Family Law Labor Law/Employment   
Estate Planning/Probate Litigation
Ethics Student
Freelance Technology
   
 Please check your three (3) specialty areas:
Bankruptcy Estate Probate Intellect. Property
Business Lit. Ethics Personal Injury
Civil Litigation Family Law Products Liability
Construction Federal Practice Real Estate
Corporate Immigration Tax
Criminal Insurance Defense Technology
Environmental  Insurance Plaintiff  
Other:
ALL MEMBERS HEREBY CERTIFY THAT:
1. IF EMPLOYED AS A PARALEGAL, I WORK UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED ATTORNEY
2. I DO NOT OFFER LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTLY TO THE PUBLIC WHICH IS IN VIOLATION OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE 6125 AND 6126(a)
3. I UNDERSTAND THAT OCPA IS AN ASSOCIATION OF PARALEGALS, WHICH DOES NOT RECOGNIZE LEGAL TECHNICIANS, FORM PREPARERS, LEGAL DOCUMENT PREPARERS OR COMMUNITY ADVOCATES AS MEMBERS OF THE PARALEGAL PROFESSION
4. I UNDERSTAND THAT OCPA IS AFFILIATED WITH NALA AND AS SUCH I AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE NALA CODE WHICH I HAVE READ; AND
   

Select the appropriate membership type below and enter your name and date in the box provided.

5a. As a VOTING MEMBER or ASSOCIATE MEMBER, I further certify that I have read the definition of a Paralegal or Freelance Paralegal as defined by OCPA on this web site and that my job description is included within either definition
 Signed
 (type name)
Dated
   
 
 5b.
As an INACTIVE MEMBER, I further certify that I meet all of the qualifications for a Voting Member except that I have not worked as a paralegal within the last six (6) months
Signed
 (type name)
Dated
   
  5c.
As a STUDENT MEMBER, I further certify that I am currently enrolled in a paralegal training program or receiving training as a paralegal from a law firm, legal department, or other paralegal employer.
Signed
 (type name)
Dated
   
***
ONLY MEMBERS WHO'S APPLICATIONS ARE RECEIVED PRIOR TO FEBRUARY 15TH WILL APPEAR IN THE MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
 

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