Membership Classifications
Membership Information
SNAP’s membership year runs from its fiscal year of July 1 through June 30. To join, please review the membership definitions and select the highlighted membership classification to go to the appropriate Membership Application.
Membership forms and rates are below:
- Active Registration: $50.00
- Retired Registration: $20.00
- Associate Registration*: $30.00
- Student Registration*: $20.00
- Sustaining Registration*: $75.00
- Membership Renewal
* See the discussion below for more information about Associate, Student, and Sustaining membership.
An Active Member is any individual who meets at least one of the following requirements:
- Any individual who has successfully completed the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) examination of NALA; or
- Any individual who has graduated from an ABA-approved program of study for legal assistants; or
- Any individual who has graduated from a course of study for legal assistants which is institutionally accredited but not ABA approved, and which required not less than the equivalent of 60 semester hours of classroom study; or
- Any individual who has graduated from a course of study for legal assistants other than those set forth in (ii) and (iii) above, 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; or
- Any individual who has received a baccalaureate degree in any field, plus not less than six months in-house training as a legal assistant, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant; or
- Any individual who has a minimum of three years of law-related experience under the supervision of an attorney, including at least one year of in-house training as a legal assistant, whose attorney-employer attests that such person is qualified as a legal assistant; or
- Any individual 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.
Active membership carries full voting privileges, and such members shall be privileged to vote in all elections. Active members may serve as Association officers or voting members of the Executive Committee.
Applicants for active membership must attach a copy of the Certification of Legal Assistant or official school transcript showing courses taken and date of graduation, and/or the attestation of their attorney-employer regarding verification of experience as appropriate to the membership class requirement under which they qualify for active membership.
A Retired Member is any individual who has been an Active Member of SNAP or other NALA affiliated association for at least three (3) years at the time of retirement and has either attained the age of 55 years or received mandatory retirement because of a physical disability, subject to review and approval of the Executive Committee. Retired membership carries full voting privileges, and such member shall be privileged to vote in all elections. Retired members may serve as Association officers or voting members of the Executive Committee.
An Associate Member is any individual who does not qualify as an active, retired, sustaining or student member as outlined in these Bylaws, but is employed in a law-related field, subject to review and approval of the Executive Committee. Associate membership has no voting privileges.
A Student Member is any individual, not qualified as an active, retired or associate member, currently enrolled in an educational program which includes legal courses, including, but not limited to, an ABA-approved paralegal program, a non-ABA approved paralegal program, a community college, or a university. The enrollment and participation in such legal courses must be attested to by a representative of the learning institution. Student membership has no voting privileges, except through the Student Liaison, who shall have one vote.
A Sustaining Member is any individual, law firm, corporation or institution interested in supporting the goals of this Association, which shall include judges, attorneys, paralegal educators, discovery masters, court masters, and any other individual involved in the promotion of the legal assistant profession, and endorsing the objects and purposes of this Association. Sustaining membership has no voting privileges. Sustaining Members must submit a new application each year.
See the Amended and Restated Bylaws for more membership information, or contact membership@snapreno.com.