Who We Are
The Standing Committee on Paralegals develops and promotes policies relating to the education, employment, training and effective use of paralegals. The Standing Committee, through its Approval Commission, continues to serve as the body to set standards for paralegal education. The Standing Committee monitors trends in the field and recommends for approval and reapproval to the House of Delegates (the ABA's policy-making body) those paralegal training programs that have met the standards and guidelines set by the ABA for quality paralegal education.
In addition to overseeing its approval program, the Standing Committee also monitors trends in the field. The Standing Committee maintains an information service for those persons interested in becoming paralegals. In an average year, the staff office processes more than 6,000 requests for information and responds to numerous requests for help.
New and of Interest
Student Associate Enrollment
A new membership category is available for students in college or university level post-secondary educational studies who have an interest in the work of the American Bar Association. Join now as a Student Associate.
Associate Enrollment
Already working as a paralegal/legal assistant? Join the ABA as an Associate
Economic Recovery Resources
Are you a paralegal who has recently lost their job? Want to know how to market yourself in today's economy? The ABA's Economic Recovery Resources portal contains resources and tips on a variety of topics for lawyers and paralegals. Gain access to invaluable information and resources for job search/networking, stress management, professional development and much more. Visit the new ABA Job Board to search for jobs, create a profile and upload your resume.
Resources and Publications of Interest
Here you will find information on preparing for a career as a paralegal, where to get training and what it means to graduate from an ABA-approved paralegal education program. Read past articles from our Update newsletter.
Your ABA: Ethics training for paralegals: a winning situation for clients
2005 Survey of Approved Paralegal Education Programs
Economic Benefits of Paralegal Utilization
ABA Model Guidelines for the Utilization of Paralegal Services
Information for Lawyers: How Paralegals Can Improve Your Practice
Guidelines for the Approval of Paralegal Education Programs (PDF 93K)
New: this publication of the Standing Committee on Paralegals contains the revised Guidelines, interpretative evaluative criteria and procedures. The Guidelines include all amendments adopted since September 2003.
If you are associated with an educational institution interested in seeking approval for a new or existing paralegal education program, we have our guidelines, reapproval application and reporting materials posted.
For lawyers and law firm administrators, we offer the:
ABA Model Guidelines for the Utilization of Paralegal Services.
We also offer you access to our publications and calendar of meetings and events to keep you informed on what's going on. Please feel free to
at any time if we can be of help.
Contact Us
If you need additional information or have comments concerning the Standing Committee on Paralegals, please
ABA Definition of Legal Assistant/Paralegal
"A legal assistant or paralegal is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible"
Read more about the ABA definition of Legal Assistant/Paralegal adopted by the ABA House of Delegates in August 1997.
Mission
The Standing Committee has a 30 year history within the ABA. The mission of the Standing Committee on Paralegals is to improve the American system of justice by establishing ABA standards for the education of paralegals and by promoting attorneys' professional, effective and ethical utilization of paralegals.
(Adopted by the Standing Committee on Paralegals February 16, 2007.)
Latest Legal News
Publications
The Standing Committee's publications pertain to all aspects of the paralegal field—from guidelines for establishing quality educational programs to certification issues. The Committee has also developed a reference manual to help paralegal program directors submit applications for approval and reapproval that are acceptable to the ABA.
National Conferences
The Standing Committee participates throughout the year in national conferences that bring together paralegals, lawyers, educators, and consumers of legal assistant services. The Standing Committee lends its support to the American Association for Paralegal Education, the national trade association of paralegal educators, and maintains close contact with national and local paralegal associations and other law-related associations.
