The Indiana State Bar Association empowers members to thrive professionally and personally through advocacy, education, and connections – this includes paralegals.
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PARALEGAL MEMBERSHIP
Benefits of Being an ISBA Paralegal Member
ISBA is Indiana’s only legal association that brings paralegals and attorneys together to connect and learn from each other. Paralegal members benefit from the professional and personal support from the colleagues they meet through ISBA as well as a breadth
of education and law practice management offerings that include:
- Use of Fastcase legal research tool (free with membership)
- Access to ISBA’s law practice management hub and discounts to several pre-vetted endorsed vendors (free with membership)
- Use of ISBA’s headquarters, located in downtown Indianapolis, for meetings or work time (free with membership)
- Receipt of Res Gestae, ISBA’s member journal. The journal is mailed to members ten times per year and addresses topics like the future of allied legal professionals in Indiana, retirement, and the rural attorney shortage (free with membership)
- Receipt of Addendum bi-weekly email newsletter, which curates news from the courts, ISBA sections, bar associations across the country, and neutral news sources (free with membership)
- Participation in ISBA sections, committees, events, workshops, and seminars, which serve as neutral ground where paralegals and lawyers can engage in open discussions, exchange ideas, and
bridge any gaps that may exist between the two professions.
Paralegal members are also invited to participate in ISBA’s annual Paralegal Symposium. This award-winning program has received widespread acclaim for its practical approach, full of immediately applicable takeaways. It includes enough CLE credit to fulfill paralegal
members’ annual minimum requirements. Paralegals also have access to sessions from the prior year, along with dozens of other CLE programs, through ISBA's on-demand CLE library.
How Law Firms and Attorneys Benefit from ISBA Paralegal Members
- Law office management: Improved efficiency and effectiveness, leading to increased profitability.
- Law office professionalism: ISBA paralegal members receive opportunities for networking with peers across the state to learn and experience a higher level of professionalism.
- Free and low-cost training: Law office budgets also benefit from the free and low-cost training for their support staff who are ISBA members.
- Employee benefits: A law office that pays for its support staff to be ISBA members is providing an attractive employee benefit. Providing this benefit signals to support staff and clients that a law office respects and is willing to invest in the
work and professionalism of its support staff.
- Community recognition: A law office with ISBA paralegal members may advertise to the public that its support staff are ISBA members.
How to Become an ISBA Paralegal Member
Paralegals must meet certain requirements for membership. Click here to review these requirements.
To become a paralegal member:
- Visit www.inbar.org/join
- Under “Select Your Member Type,” select Paralegal
- Follow the prompts, including a prompt to join ISBA sections
Dues for paralegals: $137/year
With questions about the requirements or becoming an ISBA member, contact Carissa Long at clong@inbar.org or Julie Gott at jgott@inbar.org.
How to Maintain ISBA Paralegal Membership
To maintain membership, paralegals must complete continuing legal education (CLE) by June 30 each year. CLE requirements consist of a minimum of 3.0 hours, including 1.0 hour of Ethics.
INDIANA REGISTERED PARALEGAL (IRP) STATUS
The Indiana Registered Paralegal (IRP) status is a voluntary paralegal registration program adopted by the Indiana State Bar Association.
For paralegals who aspire to a higher goal, the Indiana Registered Paralegal status will both recognize and convey a person’s commitment to competence with the emphasis on professional education and minimum standards for the profession. An applicant seeking
the ISBA’s Indiana Registered Paralegal status must meet certain education or credential criteria. Upon approval, the paralegal will become an Indiana Registered Paralegal and identify said
status with the initials “IRP” following his or her name.
To maintain the IRP status, a minimum of 6.0 hours of CLE, of which 1.0 hour must be an Ethics Component, must be completed by June 30 each year. An annual renewal fee of $50 is also required.
How to Achieve IRP Status
- Meet the requirements.
- Gather the documents required for application:
- Resume outlining experience and job duties as defined above
- Proof of education, if applicable, as defined above
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one letter must be from a current supervisor)
- Certificates of completion from any continuing legal education courses completed since July 1, if applicable
- Complete and submit your application and $125 application fee here.
- Applications will be accepted during an open enrollment period of July 1 – September 30 each year.
Once approved, IRPs must also continue meeting the education and renewal requirements to maintain their status.
Paralegals are not required to be members of the ISBA to apply for IRP designation. Please note that applying to become an IRP does not automatically also include ISBA membership. Information about paralegal membership and its benefits can be found in
the "Paralegal Membership" section at the top of this page.
Frequently Asked Questions About IRP Status
Do you have to be a member of ISBA to become an IRP?
While ISBA membership is not a requirement to hold IRP status, it is an excellent way to stay in-the-know about upcoming connection and learning opportunities. Paralegal members
also receive a reduced registration rate for ISBA’s annual Paralegal Symposium. This award-winning program has received widespread acclaim for its practical approach, full of immediately applicable takeaways. It includes enough CLE credit to fulfill
your IRP annual CLE requirements. Paralegal members also have access to dozens of hours of CLE through ISBA's on-demand CLE library.
What is the cost associated with becoming an Indiana Registered Paralegal?
The cost is $125 to become an Indiana Registered Paralegal, plus an annual renewal fee of $50. Note: If you are an ISBA member, this renewal fee
is in addition to your annual ISBA dues payment.
How do I apply to become an Indiana Registered Paralegal?
To view requirements and to apply, click here.
If I am not a "registered paralegal," can I still call myself a paralegal?
Yes, if you are otherwise qualified under prevailing Indiana law. The IRP program is a voluntary registration program.
Are there requirements for maintaining the Indiana Registered Paralegal status?
To
maintain the IRP status, a minimum of 6.0 hours of CLE, of which 1.0 hour must be Ethics, must be completed by June 30 each year. CLE is only required to be completed after being approved as an IRP, not prior to application. An annual renewal fee of $50 is also required.
What CLE courses count toward my certification, and when should they be completed?
All
CLE must be completed between July 1 and June 30. It is anticipated that registered paralegals will take CLE courses that have been approved for attorneys, such as those available on ISBA's on-demand library.
LIST OF INDIANA REGISTERED PARALEGAL MEMBERS
The Indiana State Bar Association recognizes the following paralegals for becoming an Indiana Registered Paralegal through the Association's voluntary program.
