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  • March 08, 2024 12:10 PM | Anonymous

    In January 2024, Oregon became one of a small group of states licensing paralegals to provide discrete legal services in family and landlord/tenant law (previously only provided by Oregon licensed lawyers). These professionals are called Licensed Paralegals or LPs for short, though you can find them referenced by a myriad of other names across the country and in Canada. This is an exciting step for Oregon in a decades’-long effort to see this initiative move forward through the bar and ultimately, approved by the Oregon Supreme Court.

    Below is a summary of the Oregon Licensed Paralegal Program Application Requirements.

    • Foundational Education or Experience.

    Applicants must have at least one of the following: an associate degree in paralegal studies, a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, a juris doctorate (J.D.) law degree, a paralegal certification, extensive and substantive paralegal experience (which can include military paralegal experience), or an approved education waiver.

    • Pre-Licensure Education Requirements

    In addition, the applicant must complete 20 hours of specifically designated professional education during the 18 months prior to licensure, which includes such topics as: ethics, mandatory reporting, practice specific courses, and others.

    • Recent Substantive Paralegal Experience

    Applicants must complete 1,500 hours of substantive paralegal experience during the 18 months prior to licensure (500 within the last 3 years), verified by their supervising attorney. For JD applicants, the hourly requirement is reduced to 750 hours of substantive paralegal experience. All applicants are also required to obtain specific experience in the practice area they are seeking licensure; 500 hours in family law and 250 in landlord/tenant.

    *Substantive paralegal experience requires knowledge of legal concepts and processes that are customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer and do not include administrative functions.

    • Examinations – A 3-Pronged Assessment

    One of the assessment prongs is the submission of a Portfolio of work, which includes twelve different artifacts (or documents) “substantially completed by the applicant, for the applicant’s education or employment.” The CoPA will assess these artifacts against the program’s core competencies, which include categories such as: document production, negotiation, litigation, client communications, professional responsibility, legal writing, legal research, to name a few.

    Once an applicant has successfully completed the Portfolio Assessment, there are two additional examinations they must complete. One focuses on legal ethics/professional responsibility, and the other on the LP license scope of practice. For the first cohort of applicants, both exams will be held on the same day, though it is possible that some Oregon colleges will develop an approved ethics course, or the National Conference of Bar Examiners could play an exam role. In that case, the ethics/professional responsibility assessment could change in the future.

    Go to the Oregon State Bar Website to find out more or to apply for licensure. - https://www.osbar.org/lp.


  • October 21, 2023 9:14 AM | Jered Brown (Administrator)

    OREGON PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION ("OPA") ANNOUNCES 2023-2024 ELECTED BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    October 21, 2023

    Portland

    Oregon Paralegal Association (OPA), held its annual nominations and elections for the 2023-2024 term.  Results were announced at the OPA Annual Convention and Member Meeting held at the World Forestry Center on October 20, 2023 as follows:

    President - Jennifer Stammer
    Vice President - Brandon Rueda
    Secretary - Yuri Poudayel
    Treasurer - Michael Hostelton
    NFPA Primary (2 year term, serving first year) - Marjorie Machen
    NFPA Secondary (2year term, serving first term) - Samantha Blair
    Board Director Position #1 (2 year term serving second year) - Lisa Cadungug
    Board Director Position #2 (2 year term serving first year) - Sanja Newman
    Board Director Position #3 (1 year term) - David Shur
    Board Director Position #4 (1 year term) - Etsuko Murozono
    Board Advisor - Kelley Chaney

    For outstanding contributions to Oregon Paralegal Association, annual awards were announced to the following individuals:Outstanding New Member - Sadi Magnolia

    Outstanding Member - Michael Hoselton
    President's Award - Jered Brown
    Outstanding Legal Service Provider - LNS Court Reporting & Legal Video


    Best regards,

    Oregon Paralegal Association


  • August 28, 2022 10:28 AM | Jered Brown (Administrator)

    Check out the August 2022 Edition of the Paragram in the Paragram Archives! 


    Paragram


    *This is a member only resource. You will be prompted to log in with your OPA member credentials to access Paragram Archives


  • June 13, 2022 1:35 PM | Jered Brown (Administrator)

    Check out the June 2022 Edition of the Paragram in the Paragram Archives! 


    Paragram


    *This is a member only resource. You will be prompted to log in with your OPA member credentials to access Paragram Archives


  • January 10, 2022 12:16 PM | Jered Brown (Administrator)

    Oregon Paralegal Association recently adopted a position statement in support of Oregon's proposed licensed paraprofessional program.

    The full position statement may be downloaded at the following link:  Paraprofessional Position Statement of Oregon Paralegal Association 01.05.2022.pdf


  • October 06, 2021 4:42 PM | Jered Brown (Administrator)


    Check out the October 2021 Edition of the Paragram in the Paragram Archives! 


    Paragram


    *This is a member only resource. You will be prompted to log in with your OPA member credentials to access Paragram Archives


  • August 06, 2021 3:20 PM | Jered Brown (Administrator)

    Check out the August 2021 Edition of the Paragram in the Paragram Archives! 


    Paragram


    *This is a member only resource. You will be prompted to log in with your OPA member credentials to access Paragram Archives


  • July 20, 2021 10:27 PM | Jered Brown (Administrator)


    REGISTER HERE

    Register by August 22nd for early bird rates!

    OPA Members – Registration is now open for the 2021 NFPA Convention, hosted in Portland at the Downtown Hilton, Thursday October 7 to Sunday October 10.  

    A full day of Continuing Education seminars is scheduled for Thursday. On, Friday, each of the five NFPA regions will convene to discuss current issues, review proposals for the Policy Meeting, and discuss candidates for office. Another highlight on Friday is our Keynote address – this year, Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, Martha Walters, will provide her remarks over lunch. 

    On Saturday and Sunday, the formal Policy meeting takes place, where NFPA member associations meet to determine the future of the organization. 

    A social event will be held on Friday evening at Punchbowl Social where attendees can mingle with paralegal colleagues from across the country. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet and network with other paralegal leaders, and the get a sense of what NFPA is all about. Local members have the special benefit of attending the Policy Meeting as Observers for no cost free (usually $80). 

    For more information on the convention, please visit: https://www.paralegals.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3833

    Have questions? Contact your 2021 NFPA Convention Local Co-Coordinators, Tom Holmes: Holmestc4@msn.com or Joyce Kent: jskent6632@gmail.com

  • October 05, 2020 2:29 PM | Jered Brown (Administrator)

    Check out the October 2020 Edition of the Paragram in the Paragram Archives! 


    Paragram


    *This is a member only resource. You will be prompted to log in with your OPA member credentials to access Paragram Archives


  • September 14, 2020 5:24 PM | nicole harrison

    Join us for NFPA’s first-ever Virtual Convention!

    The Minnesota Paralegal Association is excited to share Minnesota with you – from a distance!

    The Annual Convention provides you an opportunity to attend continuing legal education sessions, network with paralegals from across the country, and set policy during the policy meeting. Meetings, education sessions, workshops, networking opportunities and other NFPA events will take place online. Participate in Convention and return to your local associations and workplaces with fresh ideas, knowledge and excitement.

    Check out the schedule and register to join us!

    Click here for more information.

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Disclaimer: Paralegals are not permitted to practice law in the State of Oregon and may not provide legal services to the public except as permitted by law. Read more from the Oregon State Bar here

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