The legal field is comprised of a wide variety of people filling roles necessary to the success of the legal system. From attorneys to paralegals and legal secretaries, legal professionals are integral to the functioning of modern society. This resource guide is for paralegals and prospective paralegals seeking resources to enhance their knowledge of the legal profession. The list features top paralegal organizations, publications both targeted at paralegals specifically and publications that deal with law in various respects that can be of use to paralegals even if they are not specifically designed for them, as well as the major conferences held for paralegals throughout the year that provide new and exciting professional development opportunities.
Organizations
National Federation of Paralegal Associations was the first national professional association for paralegals, founded in 1974. The membership consists of over 9,000 professionals with varying degrees of experience. The association both advocates for the best interests of its members, and provides them with professional development opportunities.
Featured Programs
National Association of Legal Assistants is a nonprofit professional organization for paralegals. The membership reflects a broad range of experience within the field. The organization provides its 18,000 plus members with extensive resources designed to help them achieve success in the workplace.
National Paralegal Association has several membership tiers including pre-student, student, regular, and associate/paralegal school membership. The organization provides resources and networking opportunities relevant to all aspects of the field.
American Bar Association Standing Committee on Paralegals is an important organization to paralegal professionals. The ABA provides resources, eLearning opportunities, and more. The ABA is also the primary private regulatory authority in the legal field and is instrumental in determining ethics, and improving the legal profession.
Mississippi Paralegals is an example of a state level paralegal organization. Most states have a state specific organization dedicated to helping paralegals navigate the intricacies of operating in that particular state.
Philadelphia Association of Paralegals is an example of a metropolitan paralegal organization. Major metropolitan areas often have their own associations designed to support paralegals operating within the context of that specific city.
American Paralegal Alliance Inc. is focused on helping improve the paralegal profession by paying special attention to each individual member, helping them advance in the field and providing them with opportunities to learn, and help other professionals in turn.
International Paralegal Management Association was founded in 1984 with the intention of promoting the interests of paralegal management professionals on a global scale.
National Association of Legal Secretaries operates with the goal of bringing together every kind of legal professional so that they might learn and work together to help advance themselves individually and collectively.
American Association for Paralegal Education is committed to its mission to improve and increase access to the legal system. This organization promotes high quality paralegal education standards. The AAfPE seeks to facilitate professional growth starting with students and continuing with paralegal professionals.
Publications
Paralegal Reporter is a bi-monthly publication that features contributions from a broad spectrum of legal professionals. The magazine is considered a valuable resource not just by paralegals but by educators, state and local bar associations, and attorneys.
Law Technology News is a valuable resource to any legal professional that uses the technology associated with the field on a regular basis. Technology is constantly improving and innovating. LTN focuses on harnessing that technology, taking advantage of innovation for the improvement of the legal profession.
Digital Paralegal Services is designed to provide paralegals with a wide range of resources including blog posts, case studies, services, and collections of articles important to the legal profession.
Administrative Law Review is a quarterly journal published by the students of the Washington College of Law. The journal features articles written by a wide variety of legal scholars and practitioners on the subject of administrative law.
American Journal of Criminal Law is one of the longest running legal journals on the subject of criminal law. Published by law school students at the University of Texas School of Law, the journal provides insights into the intricacies of criminal law relevant to both lawyers and legal professionals in a supporting role.
Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics is a publication of the American Society of Law, Medicine, and Ethics. Ethics is a hot button issue in both the legal and medical field as changes to ethical standards have been forced to evolve with technology. Being up to date on ethical standards is crucial to successful practice at every level of the legal field.
Construction Law Review is focused on construction law. The journal reviews developments in the field with the goal of keeping its readership up to date on the most important developments in the field.
Federal Courts Law Review is an electronic journal focused on legal scholarship related to federal law and the federal courts. The articles featured are written by some of the foremost scholars and practitioners. The subject matter is useful to legal professionals that interact with the federal system.
Havard Law Review is the foremost law review journal in the United States and one of the most respected legal publications worldwide. The Harvard Law Review covers important issues that face the legal field as a whole.
Human Rights Law Review is devoted to providing legal professionals and the global community as a whole with a forum for the discussion of international human rights law and policy.
Industrial Law Journal is one of the leading publications focused on employment law. The journal targets both legal professionals at all levels, and laypersons working in positions such as HR that deal with employment law on a regular basis.
Intellectual Property and Technology Law Review is focused on intellectual property law and policy in the United States. One of the fastest growing concerns in the legal field is the development of intellectual property law and policy. As technology develops, the field changes and legal professionals with an understanding of both the IP law and the way IP and technology interact become more important. This journal seeks to ensure that legal professionals have the most up to date understanding of current IP law and policy.
International Journal of Law, Policy, and the Family is a comprehensive resource for theoretical articles dealing with the interactions of law, policy and the family regardless of jurisdiction.
Journal of Law and Religion is an international multidisciplinary journal focused on understanding the tense relationship between law and religion in a variety of contexts.
Medical Law Review is designed to serve as a comprehensive source of information for all legal professionals and medical practitioners that interact with medical law on a regular basis, or anybody that is interested in medical law.
International Legal Studies Program Law Journal is a journal of the Washington College of Law at American University. The journal’s goal is to provide a quality resource to legal professionals working in the field of international law.
Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy is an online peer-reviewed journal focused on the ethical, social, and legal philosophy.
Law and Ethics of Human Rights seeks to clarify and analyze the differences between ethical and legal rights with the ultimate goal of contributing to the conversation surrounding international human rights law.
Studies in Ethics, Law, and Technology explores the ethical and legal challenges presented by innovative technology. Society has reached a point where technological innovation happens so fast, it often leaves even recent laws in the dust. This journal seeks to explore problems as they emerge with technological innovation.
Journal of Philosophy of International Law is a peer-reviewed open source journal. Published twice per year, the journal seeks to provide readers with a critical examination and legal analysis of the foundations of international law.
Conferences
NALS 62nd Annual Education Conference and National Forum is designed to bring together legal professionals from across the country to participate in professional development opportunities featuring tracks for many different areas of specialization.
LegalTech Trade Show showcases cutting edge technologies either designed specifically for legal professionals, or that stand to make an impact on the legal field.
IPMA 29th Annual Conference and Expo is a professional development and networking conference that features both general sessions and workshops focused on a broad range of topics pertaining to legal professionals in a variety of contexts.
NALS Professional Development & Education Conference is another conference held by the National Association of Legal Secretaries, this one is even more tightly focused on professional development and enhancing the process of education for legal professionals.
AAfPE 32nd Annual Conference is for paralegals and paralegal educators alike. The conference brings together the foremost minds in paralegal education theory and practice for the purpose of advancing the field of paralegal education as a whole.