Central Florida Paralegal Association, Inc.

Setting the Standard for Paralegal Excellence in Central Florida since 1983

Home

About Us

Board of Directors

Committees

President's Award

Affiliations

Paralegal of the Year

Membership

Students

Apply for Membership

CFPA Scholarships

Patron Members

Events

CLE Seminars

Public Relations

Community Service

NALA Info

CP/ACP Certifications

CFPA Testing Center

NALA News

Paralegal Regulation

National Organizations

State Organizations

Paralegal Designations

Legal Ethics

CFPA & Ethics

NALA Code of Ethics

ABA & Fla Bar

CFPA on the Web

Support Our Troops

Resources & Links

Members Only

CFPA Bylaws

Calendar

Newsletter

Job Bank

CLE Archives

Newsletter Archives

Contact Us

State & Local Organizations
Florida's only statewide paralegal association is the Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. which about 1000 paralegal members with 10 local chapters around the State.  The association was incorporated in 1976 as Florida Legal Assistants, Inc, but as the industry has changed, it was determined that "paralegal" was the term that best defined its members.  As such, it was renamed PAF in 2000.   PAF administers a state-law- specific examination for Florida Paralegals who seek to further distinguish themselves as specialists in Florida law.  A day-long seminar to prepare for this examination held at the University of Central Florida in October.  The examination takes place afterward online.  Successful completion of this Florida-law specific certification examination entitles the paralegal to include the designation of Florida Certified Paralegal (FCP) after his/her name to distinguish them as obtaining an advanced level of competence of Florida law.  A prerequisite to taking the FCP examination is national certification by NALA or NFPA. 

For more information about the PAF, see FLA PARALEGALS

For more information about the PAF examination for Florida Certified Paralegals, see FCP


Big Bend Paralegal Association
 NALA Affiliate - Chapter of PAF serving
Leon, Gadsden, Liberty, Wakulla, Jefferson and Franklin Counties

Boca Raton Chapter of PAF
Serving Boca Raton, FL

Brevard Paralegal Association
Chapter of PAF
Serving Brevard County

Broward Chapter of PAF
Serving Broward County

Central Florida Paralegal Association
NALA Affiliate - Serving Osceola, Seminole and Orange Counties
Orlando, FL

Gainesville Association of Paralegals

Serving Gainesville, FL

Gulf Coast Paralegal Association
NALA Affiliate 
Serving Ft. Myers, FL

Hillsborough County Chapter of PAF
Serving Hillsborough County

 Northeast Paralegal Association
 NALA Affiliate - FAPA Member
Formerly Jacksonville Legal Assistants, inc.
Serving Jacksonville, FL

  Northwest Paralegal Association
NALA Affiliate
Formerly Pensacola Legal Assistants
Serving Pensacola, FL


Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc.
NALA Affiliate
Serving statewide with 10 chapters

Palm Beach County Chapter of PAF
Serving Palm Beach County

Pinellas County Chapter of PAF
Serving Pinellas County

South Florida Paralegal Association

NALA & NFPA Affiliate - FAPA Member
Formerly Dade Assn of Legal Assistants
Serving Miami-Dade, FL

Southwest Chapter of PAF
Serving Collier and Lee Counties

Southwest Paralegal Association
NALA Affiliate - FAPA Member
Formerly Legal Assistants of SW Florida
Serving Bradenton & Sarasota, FL

SunCoast Chapter of PAF
Serving Sarasota County

Tampa Bay Paralegal Association
NFPA Affiliate - FAPA Member
Serving Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk Counties
Tampa, FL

Tampa Independent Paralegals
NALA & NFPA Member
Serving Tampa area law firms

Treasure Coast Chapter of PAF
Serving Martin, Okechobee, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties


Currently comprised of 4 associations (see links above), the Florida Alliance of Paralegal Associations leads the charge in professional recognition for paralegals in the State of Florida.  The FAPA has been instrumental in the formation of the Florida Registered Paralegal Program (FRP) and continues to work toward licensing for paralegals.  Certification is a recognition of education and experience through testing competence.  Registration with the Florida Bar has set a minimal acceptable standard of education and experience for competence as a paralegal.  Licensing is the requirement of a professional license  in order to function as a paralegal.  Mandatory state licensing of paralegals with oversight not provided by the Florida Bar Association - but through the Fla Supreme Court -  is a goal of FAPA.  To find out more about their work toward paralegal regulation, see FAPA.

CFPA was formerly a member of FAPA but is no longer, effective 2009.  CFPA was supportive of FAPA's efforts as they related to getting Rule 20  in place.  Once that was accomplished, it remains  CFPA's position that the  stated FAPA goals may be somewhat contradictory to CFPA's mission of serving paralegals in the Central Florida area.  It is important to recognize that CFPA is an all-volunteer association of individual paralegals and each member may have a different view of licensing, certification and regulation.  It is not within CFPA's stated purpose to pursue licensing of paralegals.  As such, while CFPA does not actively support FAPA by remaining a member, we salute its efforts to establish and maintain excellence within the paralegal profession in the State of Florida.

Page Revised 11/07/2018

©  2019  Central Florida Paralegal Association, Inc.     All Rights Reserved
Post Office Box 1107  Orlando, Florida  32802     407-672-6372