About the Pittsburgh Paralegal Association

History

The Pittsburgh Paralegal Association ("PPA") is a voluntary, non-profit association formed in 1977 to promote the professional development and continuing education of paralegals. PPA now has approximately 460 members from the greater Pittsburgh area and receives additional support from affiliate members, area law firms, paralegal training programs and the Allegheny County Bar Association. Members are from all areas of the legal community, including law firms, banks, corporations, hospitals, the public sector and educational institutions.

PPA Goals

• To determine standards and guidelines for the growth and development of the paralegal profession.
• To foster communication among its members.
• To maintain professional integrity and promote competence through continuing education programs.
• To educate the legal community as a whole about the benefits of paralegal employment.

National Affiliation

PPA is a member of NFPA, the largest national organization representing over 15,000 paralegals nationwide. NFPA membership provides paralegal organizations with a strong, unified vehicle for presenting paralegal interests on a national level. PPA's Primary and Secondary Representatives serve as liaisons between PPA and NFPA. As a PPA member, you will receive the National Paralegal Reporter , the quarterly NFPA magazine. NFPA also maintains a website at www.paralegals.org that offers a wide variety of information such as on-line seminars, publications, career opportunities, chat rooms, legislative information, and educational information.

Keystone Alliance

PPA is also a member of the Keystone Alliance of Paralegal Associations. Keystone Alliance is a non-partisan, non-profit organization, formalized in 1996, from groundwork laid in the 1980's by paralegal associations in Pennsylvania. The Alliance provides a state-wide voice for paralegals/legal assistants in Pennsylvania, monitors development in the profession and promotes the profession in Pennsylvania.

Scholarships

The Pittsburgh Paralegal Association is very proud to award a $1,000.00 scholarship each year to a student in the area's paralegal training programs

Benefits

The benefits of PPA are numerous and include a bi-monthly newsletter that contains local and national professional news and notification of PPA's activities and events, a directory of PPA members, lunch seminars, half/full day education seminars, a job bank, pro bono programs, networking opportunities with others in the profession and membership in the NFPA.