Trends
Notice: Due to site maintenance on the National Federation of Paralegal Associations website, external links may not be operational while maintenance is in progress.
NFPA provides a Comparison Chart of the paralegal regulation and certification programs currently in place; as well as whether the jurisdiction has enacted a definition of the practice of law. The document may be downloaded from NFPA using the following link: https://www.paralegals.org/files/REGULATION_CHART_10-14final.pdf
NFPA Models
NFPA provides direction for paralegal regulation and licensure. Below are links to NFPAs models:
- NFPA's Model Act for Paralegal Licensure
- Model Plan for Voluntary Paralegal Regulation
- Guide Concerning Legislative Issues
Additionally, the American Bar Association approved a resolution for model regulatory objections for non-attorneys. The resolution may be reviewed at the following link: ABA Model Regulatory Objectives for the Provision of Legal Services
Regulation Programs by State
The following chart provides a quick overview of programs currently in place over paralegals.
| Through State Bar | Through State Statue or Administrative Rules | Through Local Paralegal Association |
| Florida Registered Paralegal Program (FRP) | Arizona Legal Document Preparer (LDP) *Note - Through AZ Codes of Judicial Administration | Delaware Certified Paralegal Program (DCP) |
| Indiana Registered Paralegal Program (IRP) | California Legal Document Assistant | Florida Certified Paralegal Program (FCP) *Note - must be NALA CP to sit for exam |
| North Carolina Certified Paralegal Program | Utah Limited Paralegal Practitioner (LPP) *Note - Utah Supreme Court approves LPP (December 2015) | Certified Kentucky Paralegal Program (CKP) |
| Ohio State Bar Association Paralegal Certification Program | Louisiana Certified Paralegal Program (LCP) *Note - must be NALA CP to sit for exam | |
| South Carolina Supreme Court approves Rule 429, SCACR creating voluntary certification of paralegals (to be administered by state bar) | Minnesota Certified Paralegal Program (MnCP) | |
| Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization Programs (TBLS) | New Jersey Certified Paralegal Program | |
| Washington State Limited License Legal Technician Program (LLT) | Oregon Certified Paralegal Program (OCP) | |
| Washington State Limited Practice Officer (LPO(through the state bar) | Pennsylvania Certified Paralegal Program | |
| Wisconsin State Bar Board of Governors approves Voluntary Certified Paralegal credential (June 15, 2016) | Virginia Registered Paralegal (VARP) |