Setting the Standard for Paralegal Excellence in Central Florida since 1983
The Central Florida Paralegal Association, Inc., or "CFPA"
is an organization for Central Florida paralegals/legal assistants who
desire to promote high standards of professionalism in their career
field. Through CFPA meetings, social activities, newsletters and other
means, paralegals/legal assistants are able to keep current with
changing requirements and network with fellow paralegals/legal
assistants, attorneys and other legal professionals.
CFPA
offers a wide range of professional and personal benefits to each
member, including educational opportunities, continuing education
credits, professional development, student development, job referral
service, a voice in national affairs, leadership, community service, and
community recognition.
If you are interested in learning more about us, please feel welcome to join us at any of our EVENTS or SEMINARS. For answers to your questions or to provide feedback, complete the form on our CONTACT US page.
Established
in 1983 as the Orlando Legal Assistants, the purpose was to serve the
local population of paralegals (then referred to as legal assistants)
in continued legal education, professional development and community
service. In 1995-96, Orlando Legal Assistants became CFPA and was the
first paralegal association in the State of Florida to use the term
"paralegal". CFPA was incorporated as a Florida not for profit
corporation in November, 2001 and amended/updated its Bylaws in 2008.
CFPA began publishing a quarterly newsletter in 1983 and is currently
publishing Volume 28 of The Focus. SEE ARCHIVED ISSUES. Approximately
2004-2005, CFPA went online with its website which has expanded to what
you see today and is updated almost weekly with new information,
calendar dates for seminars, mixers and community service events. In
2008, CFPA went paperless and began publishing The Focus in
digital format only. CFPA has established and maintains an active
presence on the web including a Twitter account, Facebook page, My Space
page, and a profile on Linked In. Also in 2008, CFPA expanded the
Executive Committee to incorporate a Second Vice President to oversee
and manage its internet presence.
Professional Development
- CFPA is a NALA Affilitated
Association and as a result, provides continued legal education for its
members through regularly scheduled seminars. CFPA seminars are often
co-sponsored by area law firms and/or patron members and are on a
variety of topics and events such as Law Week
activities, Pathways in Law, weekend seminar retreats, brown-bag lunch
hour seminars, annual CP exam preparation (review course), Super
Saturday daylong CP exam preparation, evening seminars on notary updates, maintaining and updating
interview skills, family law, criminal law, litigation issues, real
estate, probate, construction law, legal ethics, trial preparation and
many other topics that are relevant to the paralegals in this area.
Community Service
- Supporting area charities and events by sponsoring food, toy and
school supply drives, fund raising for area charities. Past and recent
recipients of CFPA's fund raising campaigns have included Walk for
the Trees, Alzheimer's Research, Breast Cancer awareness, Cystic
Fibrosis foundation, Teen Court, a Gift for Teaching, Second Harvest
Food Bank, Loaves & Fishes, Orlando Union Rescue Mission, XL106 Baby
DJ toy drive, the Orange County Adult Literacy League, Habitat for Humanity and our Annual
SUPPORT THE TROOPS drive which sends food and goodies to our soldiers
overseas.
Students & Networking -
CFPA supports legal students (both members and non-members) with free
seminars, guest speaking to capstone classes and a scholarship program. With nearly 200 members in the Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties of
Central Florida, CFPA has a cultivated a strong relationship with area
colleges and universities that offer legal studies programs
including Everest, ITT Tech, Keiser, Seminole State, UCF, and Valencia College as well as many
area attorneys, firms and judges. CFPA supports area programs such as
the Guardian Ad Litem programs in each of the 3 Central Florida counties
served as well as the Teen Court programs in Orange and Seminole
counties. CFPA members enjoy such benefits of membership including job
bank, quarterly luncheons, quarterly membership meetings,
mixers, holiday parties, Yahoo group list serv/web board, Facebook,
MySpace, LinkedIn and continued and regular updates to this website.
Please review the pages of this website and even our BYLAWS. As you learn more about this organization, you should feel free to complete the form on the CONTACT US
page as we welcome feedback from our members and nonmember legal
assistant/paralegals. It is our goal to provide support, outreach to
the community, educational and professional growth opportunities to our
members and the community at large.
