Foreword

Pages1-2
foreword
The American Bar Association, through its Standing Committee on Paralegals,
has promoted the role of the paralegal as a vital member of the legal services
delivery team for over forty years.
Promulgating guidelines for paralegal education programs and recommending
ABA approval for those that meet these guidelines are the means by which the
Standing Committee furthers its goal of assisting attorneys in utilizing paralegals
to improve the delivery of legal services and the American system of justice.
The House of Delegates of the American Bar Association initially adopted
Guidelines for the Approval of Legal Assistant Education Programs in August
1973. Supporting evaluative criteria and procedures for implementing the
Guidelines were developed during the next year and the House of Delegates
approved the first eight programs in August 1975. Currently, there are 268
approved programs nationwide. In applying the Guidelines, the ABA adheres to
the philosophy of promoting and recognizing quality in many different kinds of
educational offerings. The Guidelines fit a wide variety of institutions offering
paralegal education programs that serve the needs of lawyers who work in
diverse practice areas and settings and that accommodate the differing work,
educational and life experiences of those who choose to become paralegals.
The Guidelines describe the requirements a paralegal education program must
meet to obtain and retain ABA approval and are implemented through
application of interpretative criteria and procedures developed by the Standing
Committee and its Approval Commission. The approval process consists of
several stages, including the preparation of a self-evaluation report and
supporting documents, review by educational consultants, a site visit to the
program, and consideration by the Standing Committee on Paralegals Approval
Commission. The recommendations of the Approval Commission are thereafter
considered by the Standing Committee, which forwards its recommendations on
the program’s approval to the ABA House of Delegates. Under the Guidelines,
only the House of Delegates, the ABA’s policymaking body, is vested with the
authority to approve programs.
The Guidelines and supporting evaluative criteria are reviewed and revised
regularly to ensure that they are current, appropriate, and focused on standards of
quality in paralegal education. Further information on applying for approval and
reapproval is available from the Committee staff and on its website at
www.abaparalegals.org.
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