RE: Paralegal Registration Procedure
Dear Applicant:
Thank you for requesting the Paralegal registration information from the Paralegal Registration Committee of the Spokane County Bar Association ("Committee"). The Committee is responsible for implementing and overseeing this program.
To clarify the various terms used to describe candidates eligible for this registration program, "Paralegal", "Legal Assistant", Contract Paralegal", etc., the Committee uses the term "Paralegal" throughout this registration material. If you work as an employee or as an independent contractor for one law firm, governmental agency, corporation or other entity, you are referred to as a "Traditional Paralegal". If you work on any basis other than a Traditional Paralegal, you are referred to as a "Contract Paralegal". The American Bar Association's definition of a "Paralegal" is as follows:
A legal assistant or paralegal is a person qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.
I. CRITERIA
In order to register as a Paralegal authorized to present ex-parte and agreed orders in Superior and District Courts in Spokane County under both LCR 54(e)(3) and LARLJ 10, you must meet the criteria stated under numbers 1, 2 and either 3a, 3b, 3c, or 3d below:
1. The Applicant must:
a. Have been employed as a Paralegal for at least one year in Spokane County for an attorney licensed to practice in the State of Washington; or
b. In the case of a Contract Paralegal, have been under contract with or under the direction or supervision of at least one attorney licensed to practice in the State of Washington and practicing in Spokane County for whom you have performed paralegal work (either under an existing or prior contract) for one year; or
c. Have been registered under a similar local rule with similar criteria in another jurisdiction; or
d. Have applied in writing for a reduction or waiver of the waiting period, which for good cause, may be reduced or waived by the Committee.
2. Applicant's job description must meet the criteria for working as a Paralegal in accordance with the ABA definition of a Paralegal stated above, i.e., the duties must be substantially comprised of performing substantive legal work which, absent the Paralegal, would be performed by an attorney. The number of hours Applicant devotes to paralegal work (non-clerical work) must total 50% or more of the Applicant's normal working period. A Paralegal who spends less than 50% of his/her time performing paralegal work, but who otherwise may be qualified to participate in this registration program may request a waiver of the 50% test. The SCBA will reject applications that do not include a complete and detailed job description, which provides enough information to evidence that the "paralegal work" requirement has been met. THE SCBA, THROUGH ITS COMMITTEE, WILL RELY ON THE ATTESTATION OF APPLICANT AND APPLICANT'S RESPONSIBLE ATTORNEY THAT THIS CRITERION HAS BEEN MET.
3. The Applicant must:
a. Have an associate's degree in paralegal studies with a minimum of 60 semester credit hours or equivalent (90 quarter credit hours), which includes a minimum of 24 semester credit hours or equivalent (36 quarter credit hours) of paralegal specialty courses; or
b. Have an associate's degree in any subject, plus a minimum of 24 semester credit hours or equivalent (36 quarter credit hours) of paralegal specialty courses; or
c. Have a bachelor's degree in paralegal studies, which includes 24 semester credit hours or equivalent (36 quarter credit hours) of paralegal specialty courses; or a bachelor's degree in any subject, plus 24 semester credit hours or equivalent (36 quarter credit hours) of paralegal specialty courses; or
d. Have a minimum of four years (which may include the one-year initial waiting period set out in 1.a. above) of experience working as a "Paralegal" as that term is defined herein.
4. After the Applicant has received notification of approval for registration from the Committee, the registered Paralegal must attend an orientation session through the Spokane County Bar Association prior to exercising the privileges of registration. The orientation is to familiarize and assist the registered Paralegal with court procedures and to provide an introduction to Court personnel and members of the Judiciary. It is the responsible attorney's duty to insure that the Applicant is familiar with court procedures and is encouraged to attend the orientation session with Applicant.
Students attending law school will not qualify for this program, unless specific written permission is granted by the Dean of the law school, and the student meets all the criteria set out above.
Any person who has had a professional license suspended or revoked may not be eligible for this program. Any person who has had registration under a similar local rule suspended or revoked may not be eligible for this program.
A determination as to eligibility for this registration shall be made based on the explanation attached to the application and any supplemental information Applicant may wish to provide to the Committee.
II. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
1. Traditional Paralegal: The Applicant must submit with his/her initial application, a letter of recommendation from Applicant's responsible attorney, an Affidavit of Responsible Attorney, Applicant's Affidavit and a $50 application fee. This documentation should be submitted to the SCBA Paralegal Registration Committee, 1116 West Broadway Avenue, Suite 404, Spokane, Washington 99260.
2. Contract Paralegal: The Applicant, in addition to the requirements in II.1 above, must submit an affidavit for each law firm (other than the responsible attorney's law firm) under contract with the Applicant, signed by the supervising or managing attorney responsible for the work performed by the Applicant. It will be the duty of each Applicant and/or responsible or supervising attorney, to notify the Committee in writing upon termination of the Applicant's services.
3. Change in Status: If there is a change of responsible attorney, the Applicant must notify the Committee in writing of the change and submit an affidavit of Applicant's new responsible attorney. The Renewal Application may be used for this purpose. No fee shall be charged unless the change occurs simultaneously with the annual renewal procedure, in which case the renewal fee shall be due.
4. Renewal: The Applicant shall renew his/her registration annually by completing a Renewal Application and submitting it with a renewal fee of $50. All changes in status must be disclosed on the Renewal Application. The registration year is a calendar year, and all renewal applications must be submitted to the Committee no later than February 1 of each year. If renewals are not submitted prior to the deadline, a new application must be submitted.
III. SCOPE OF AUTHORIZATION
Upon application approval by the Committee and completion of the orientation session described in 1.4 above, you will be issued a registration card signed by the Chair of the Committee.
Registration with the Spokane County Bar Association entitles you to the following:
1. Use of the Spokane County Law Library in accordance with its policies and procedures; and
2. Presentment of agreed and/or ex-parte orders as authorized under the Spokane County Local Rules, LCR 54(e)(3) and LARLJ 10;
3. SCBA Newsletter, Calendar Call.
4. Authority to withdraw original court files for 48 hours from the Clerk of Court, subject to the clerk’s rules and regulations set forth under LCR 79(h) (1) e (2) e LCRLJ 79 (b) 13);
IMPORTANT: REGISTRATION WITH THE SPOKANE COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION ENTITLES YOU ONLY TO THE ABOVE AND SHALL NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT PURPORT TO LICENSE OR CERTIFY YOU IN ANY FASHION AS A PARALEGAL OR ALLOW YOU TO ENGAGE IN THE UNAUTHORIZED PRACTICE OF LAW.
IV. TERMINATION OF REGISTRATION
You and your responsible attorney share responsibility for notifying the Committee if:
1. You cease employment with your present responsible attorney; or
2. In the case of a Contract Paralegal, you discontinue performing services for your responsible attorney (without substituting a new responsible attorney); or
3. A license under which you or your responsible attorney performs legal services is suspended or revoked.
Upon the occurrence of any of the above events, you must return your registration card to the SCBA office, and all privileges cease until a change of status is processed and approved by the Committee. Upon approval, a new registration card will be issued.
THE COMMITTEE MAY revoke the privileges granted under this program upon a showing of good cause or upon the failure to comply with rules and guidelines promulgated by the Committee in connection with this registration program.
The enclosed application will be processed and, if approved, you will be contacted to schedule an orientation session. After you have completed the orientation, you will be issued a registration card that identifies you to Court personnel and Judiciary as having privileges under this program. You should always present your registration card with all Orders presented to the Court and place your signature, together with your assigned bar number, next to that of the attorney for whom you are presenting the Order. You may not present Orders under this authority until you receive your registration card. Your authority will be in effect for the calendar year for which your registration card is issued.
Your responsible attorney is strongly encouraged to accompany you to Court until you are familiar and comfortable with the routine of presenting Orders under this authority.
Thank you for your interest in the Paralegal Registration Program. If you or your responsible attorney have any questions, please contact the SCBA Paralegal Registration Coordinator at 477-2665 or 1116 West Broadway Avenue, 4th Floor Annex, Spokane, Washington 99260.
Eff. 12/12/07