Empowering paralegals since 1978!

APPLY OR RENEW ONLINE

Welcome to HMPA's online application system! HMPA has been serving paralegals and paralegal students since 1978 and provide more educational, professional and community service programs than any other local association in the state. Our strength comes from our members - the most dedicated paralegals in the Houston area! Whether you are new to HMPA or are renewing your existing membership, we invite you to select the option below and complete your application today!

Don't miss out on HMPA's great benefits such as reduced pricing at our monthly and bi-annual CLE Seminars, Online Job Bank, Membership Directories, FREE Members Night and Socials, CLE Video Library, Burden of Proof Newsletter, Mentoring and Internship Programs and more! These and so many other great benefits are just a few clicks away!

We look forward to spending a great year together.

CHOOSE AN OPTION

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Voting (Paralegal) Member - $75.00 (USD) Subscription period: 1 year, on: January 1st
Your membership renewal date will be: January 01, 2026 No automatically recurring payments Any person who meets the requirements set forth below and such additional standards as the Membership Committee may from time to time prescribe may become a Voting Member.

(1) Shall be currently employed as a Paralegal (regardless of specific title) under the direct supervision of an attorney and performing substantive Paralegal work 80% of the time, have eight (8) hours of substantive continuing legal education, including one (1) hour of ethics credit, within the past 12 months, and meet at least one of the following criteria:

(a) Board Certified Paralegal through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization (“TBLS”) and have been employed as a Paralegal for at least one year.

(b) Certified Legal Assistant, Certified Paralegal through NALA, or a Registered Paralegal through the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (“NFPA”) and have been employed as a Paralegal for at least one year.

(c) Bachelor's Degree or higher degree in any field and have been employed as a Paralegal for at least one year.

(d) Completed an ABA approved program of education and training for a Paralegal and have been employed as a Paralegal for at least three years.

(e) Been employed as a Paralegal for at least five consecutive years.

A Paralegal who has been a Voting Member and is temporarily unemployed may renew their membership and shall continue to retain Voting Member status and all attendant rights and privileges for a period of up to one year following such unemployment. If such person remains unemployed for more than one year, their membership status will be changed to Associate Member. Determination of continued Voting Membership in the Association shall be based upon verification of previous Voting Membership status and signature of an attorney or Voting Member of the Association attached to the membership renewal form.

Voting Members are required to have 8 hours of CLE (1 of which must be Ethics).

Associate (Non-Voting) Member - $75.00 (USD) Subscription period: 1 year, on: January 1st
Your membership renewal date will be: January 01, 2026 No automatically recurring payments Any person who meets the requirements set forth below and such additional standards as the Membership Committee may from time to time prescribe may become an Associate Member.

(1) Shall meet at least one of the following criteria:

(a) Currently employed as a Paralegal under the direct supervision of an attorney and performing substantive legal work 80% of the time.

(b) Currently employed as a coordinator or supervisor of a Paralegal program, or like position (as determined by and at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Association) within a law firm, corporation, or agency, and has previously been employed as a Paralegal.

(c) Presently employed in a role such as a legal assistant, legal coordinator, contracts manager, compliance specialist, supervisor of a paralegal program, or like positions (as determined by and at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors of the Association) within a law firm, corporation, or governmental agency and working under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney but not performing substantive Paralegal work 80% of the time.

PLUS, ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
(a) Presently employed as a Paralegal but has not yet satisfied the requirement of a Voting Membership.

(b) Completed a bachelor’s degree or higher degree in any field.

(c) Completed an ABA approved program of education and training for Paralegals.

(d) Completed a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of which fifteen (15) are substantive legal courses.

(e) Been employed as a Paralegal for at least five consecutive years.

An Associate Member who is temporarily unemployed may renew membership and shall continue to retain Associate Member status and all attendant rights and privileges for period of up to one year following such unemployment. If such person remains unemployed for more than one (1) year, associate membership status will be revoked.

Associate Members cannot vote or hold office.

Student Member - $35.00 (USD) Subscription period: 1 year, on: January 1st
Your membership renewal date will be: January 01, 2026 No automatically recurring payments Any person who is currently enrolled in a formal course of study for Paralegals at a college, university, junior college, or post-secondary school, which course of study requires resident classes or courses for completion of such Paralegal program which would qualify the applicant to meet the educational requirements to take the CLA/CP and/or TBLS examinations, may become a Student Member by meeting such additional standards, if any, as may from time to time be prescribed by the Membership Committee. A Student Member in good standing may fully participate in the affairs of the Association by serving on any standing or special committee as defined in Article VIII of these Bylaws (except where such participation is not granted pursuant to Article VIII of these Bylaws). After the Student Member has graduated from a formal course of study, he or she may remain a Student Member for no more than two (2) years. After the expiration of this two (2) year period of time, the student must upgrade his or her membership to that of Voting or Associate Member by submitting to the Membership Committee the appropriate application and receiving approval from the Membership Committee.

Affiliate Member - $150.00 (USD) Bundle (up to 5 members) Subscription period: 1 year, on: January 1st
Your membership renewal date will be: January 01, 2026 No automatically recurring payments Any law firm, agency, association, educational institution, corporation or other entity interested in supporting the Paralegal profession and the Association may become an affiliate member by meeting such additional standards, if any, as may from time to time be prescribed by the Membership Committee. Note: Paralegals may not apply as an Affiliate Member.

Emeritus/Lifetime Member (Non-Voting) - $35.00 (USD) Subscription period: Unlimited FORMER BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE NO LONGER WORKING AS A PARALEGAL. Any former active voting member of the Association who has served either as an officer, director or as a Committee Chair of the Association, who is no longer working as a Paralegal and has retired from the paralegal profession.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEMBERSHIP LEVEL IS NOT ELGIBLE FOR DRAWINGS OR PRIZES.

APPLY OR RENEW ONLINE

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houston

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HOUSTON METROPOLITAN PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION

APPLY OR RENEW ONLINE

Select membership level

houston

metropolitan

Paralegal

association