Join Us

We welcome you to join The Tampa Bay Paralegal Association ("TBPA")!

There are many ways to become a member of TBPA. See below for information regarding the membership category levels and criteria for each level.

WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING ONLINE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS AND PAYMENTS. You may select the Membership Level below to start the online application process.

If you prefer to mail your membership application to TBPA, you may download an application here.

NOTE: Memberships run on a calendar year basis expiring December 31^st of each year. All membership applications approved between January and September will expire on December 31st of the year approved. New membership applications approved during the months of October, November or December will run through and expire on December 31st of the following year.

RENEWALS: Annual Membership Renewals are due on or before January 1st of each year. After making any changes online to your Membership Profile, including any changes with employer and/or membership category, please record those changes on the Annual Renewal Form and email to membership@tbpa.org. Note: Any changes to membership category will require a new invoice with updated dues. If there are no changes, then you may renew by paying the dues online or mailing a check with invoice, and payment shall be used as your "affirmation" of continuing membership category qualifications for the ensuing Renewal period.

If you need more information regarding membership or have any questions regarding any of the above, please email the TBPA 2nd Vice President/Membership Chair via membership@tbpa.org.

We thank you for your interest in membership with TBPA!

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Active - $95.00 (USD) Subscription period: 1 year, on: January 1st
Your membership renewal date will be: Thursday, January 01, 2026 No automatically recurring payments To qualify as an Active Member, an individual must be employed or retained as a paralegal as currently defined by the Florida Supreme Court, and reside or work in Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas or Polk Counties and consistent with one of the following criteria:

Successful completion of the Paralegal Advanced Competency Examination (?PACE?) of the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, Inc., or the achievement of any certification through the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.;

Graduation from an ABA approved program of study for paralegals;

Graduation from a course of study for paralegals which is institutionally accredited but not ABA approved and which requires not less than the equivalent of sixty (60) semester hours of classroom study;

Graduation from a course of study for paralegals, other than those set forth in items (ii) and (iii) above, plus not less than six (6) months of in-house training as a paralegal, and whose attorney attests that such person is qualified and currently working as a paralegal;

A baccalaureate degree in any field, plus not less than six (6) months of in-house training as a paralegal, and whose attorney attests that such person is qualified and currently working as a paralegal;

A minimum of three (3) years of law-related experience under the supervision of any attorney, including at least six (6) months of in-house training as a paralegal and whose attorney attests that such person is qualified and currently working as a paralegal; and

Two (2) years of in-house training as a paralegal, and whose attorney attests that such person is qualified and currently working as a paralegal.

Only "Active" Members will be qualified as Voting Members of this Association.

BY SELECTING THIS "ACTIVE" MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY, YOU ARE MAKING THE FOLLOWING AFFIRMATION: "I hereby affirm that I have not been convicted of a felony, that I am not a disbarred or suspended attorney and that I have not been found to have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. Further I understand that once approved as a member of the TBPA, I am subject to all of the provisions contained in the NFPA and NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Further, I hereby affirm that I am eligible to apply for active membership consistent with the eligibility requirements as set forth and indicated above and also as outlined by the Bylaws and Standing Rules of TBPA. I hereby acknowledge that the information contained on this Application for Membership to the TBPA is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge."

Associate - $95.00 (USD) Subscription period: 1 year, on: January 1st No automatically recurring payments Any one of the following shall qualify for Associate membership:

Those members of the Bar Associations endorsing the paralegal concept or involved in the promotion of the paralegal profession;

Those members of the educational field endorsing the paralegal concept or involved in the promotion of the paralegal profession;

Those persons involved in the supervision of paralegals;

Non-residents of Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas or Polk Counties who would otherwise qualify for membership; and

Individuals who have graduated from or completed a paralegal program but who have not been employed full-time as a paralegal for at least six (6) months or are not currently employed full-time as a paralegal.

BY SELECTING THIS "ASSOCIATE"
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY, YOU ARE MAKING THE FOLLOWING AFFIRMATION: " hereby affirm that I have not been convicted of a felony, that I am not a disbarred or suspended attorney and that I have not been found to have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. Further, I understand that once approved as a member of the TBPA, I am subject to all of the provisions contained in the NFPA and NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Further, I hereby affirm that I am eligible to apply for Associate Membership consistent with the eligibility requirements as set forth above. I hereby acknowledge that the information contained on this Application for Membership to the TBPA is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge."

Student - $35.00 (USD) Subscription period: 1 year, on: January 1st No automatically recurring payments Student Membership ($35.00/yr)

The following educational requirements must be met by the educational facility at which the applicant is obtaining his/her paralegal education. The paralegal program must consist of at least 18 semester hours (approximately 250 clock hours) of paralegal coursework and appropriate general education, consisting of legal specialty courses with the material presented in depth over an extended period of time for development of theoretical, analytical and practical skills from a either a proprietary school, community college, four-year college or university in the form of an associate degree, a baccalaureate degree, a certificate, or master’s degree. These standards include the following:

Post-secondary coursework in substantive and procedural law, the American legal system, law offices and related environments, the paralegal profession, legal research and writing, ethics and areas of legal practice such as those described in AAfPE’s Core Competencies for Paralegal Programs;

No fewer than 18 semester credit hours (or the equivalent) of substantive paralegal courses;

The completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours (or the equivalent) of total post-secondary study prior to graduation. A semester hour is equivalent to 15 classroom hours of at least 50 minutes in duration;

The paralegal education program must be offered by an institution that is:

(a) An institutional member of the American Association for Paralegal Education; or

(b) A paralegal educational program approved by the American Bar Association; or (c) A paralegal program offered by an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the United States Department of Education and offering courses at the post-secondary level.

Individuals who are currently enrolled in a paralegal program of study as identified above, taking at least six (6) semester hours or the equivalent of law related courses; or

Individuals who are currently enrolled in paralegal program of study as identified above, taking at least three (3) semester hours or the equivalent of law related courses and are employed full-time in a law-related field.

BY SELECTING THIS "STUDENT" MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY YOU ARE MAKING THE FOLLOWING AFFIRMATION: "I hereby affirm that I have not been convicted of a felony, that I am not a disbarred or suspended attorney and that I have not been found to have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. Further, I understand that once approved as a member of the TBPA, I am subject to all of the provisions contained in the NFPA and NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Further, I hereby affirm that I am eligible to apply for Student Membership consistent with the eligibility requirements as set forth above. I hereby acknowledge that the information contained on this Application for Membership to the TBPA is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge."

TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION, SUBMIT YOUR TRANSCRIPTS TO MEMBERSHIP@TBPA.ORG

Sustaining - $125.00 (USD) Subscription period: 1 year, on: January 1st No automatically recurring payments Sustaining Membership ($125.00/yr)

Available to law firms and those corporations or other businesses who endorse and promote the paralegal profession.

BY SELECTING THIS "SUSTAINING" MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY, YOU ARE MAKING THE FOLLOWING AFFIRMATION: "I hereby affirm that I have not been convicted of a felony, that I am not a disbarred or suspended attorney and that I have not been found to have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law. Further, I understand that once approved as a member of the TBPA, I am subject to all of the provisions contained in the NFPA and NALA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. Further, I hereby affirm that I am eligible to apply for Sustaining Membership consistent with the eligibility requirements as set forth above. I hereby acknowledge that the information contained on this Application for Membership to the TBPA is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge."

TBPA is a voluntary professional association and does not make any representation, endorsement or guarantee as to the quality, reliability, competency, accuracy, business practice/standards/ethics, or professionalism of any member of TBPA. TBPA does not conduct background checks or any other form of due diligence on any person or business applying for membership with TBPA.