SECTION 9:

PROFESSION DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS

9.1: ABA APPROVAL COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVE (REVISED 10/15/2011)

9.1A REPORTING:

Reports to the Vice President and Director of Profession Development.

9.1B AUTHORITY:

The Approval Commission Representative's authorization is outlined by Resolution Nos.

83-19, 85-11, 89-4 and 11-3.

9.1C DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Approval Commission Representative will:

1. Be accountable to NFPA and Education Coordinators;

2. Attend and participate in all meetings and other Commission activities,

including but not limited to on-site visitations of paralegal education programs as

requested by the Commission;

3. Obtain and review ABA approval guidelines in light of NFPA, COPA and U.S.

Department of Education policies on accreditation;

4. Monitor the effectiveness of the Guidelines and suggest improvements that

would make the Guidelines more responsive to the education needs of paralegals

a. Encourage the Commission to move toward a more broadly based

autonomous structure and increase more paralegal participation in Commission

activities

b. Serve as an ex-officio member of any education related committees

c. Serve on Student Association Membership Committee

9.1D TERM OF OFFICE:

The term of office will be commensurate with the term for NFPA's appointment by the

ABA President for its seat on the Commission. NFPA's participation will be reviewed

upon expiration of that term. Upon expiration, each region of NFPA will nominate one

candidate (not necessarily from their respective region) to represent NFPA on the

Commission. Said nominees' name and credentials will be submitted by each Region

Director, to the President by January 1 of the year in which appointment is considered

by the membership.

A vote of the member associations will be taken at the Annual Meeting before time of

expiration to determine the candidate preference by ranking the nominees. The

nominee with the most votes will be the NFPA's choice as representative to the

Commission.

9.1E INTERNAL DUTIES AND REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Approval Commission Representative will prepare the following reports which will

be directed to the Vice President and Director of Profession Development:

  1. A report summarizing the proceedings of each Commission meeting which

will be circulated to the Board within two weeks following any meeting

(scheduled for May and November). These reports on Commission activities

will be circulated to the member associations through the next issue of the

INSIDE published following receipt of the report by the Board. Reports will

include current information on changes in the approval guidelines or changes

in their interpretation or application, as well as the procedures and activities of

the Commission. Information regarding evaluations of specific educational

programs by the Commission are understood to be confidential and as such

will not be reported to NFPA.

b. The Approval Commission Representative will submit to the membership

proposed changes to the ABA Approval Guidelines for review and comment.

c. The Approval Commission Representative will be included on the Primary

Representative mailing list.

Expenses incurred in connection with speaking engagements to NFPA member

associations to explain the ABA Approval process will be borne by the member

association unless the approval of the Board has been obtained. The following

resolution was adopted by the primaries at the Midyear meeting in 1992.

RESOLUTION 92-M5

WHEREAS, NFPA recognizes the importance of having a qualified representative

appointed to the ABA Approval Commission; and

WHEREAS, NFPA recognizes that the representative to the ABA Approval Commission

should be well versed in NFPA history and philosophy; and

WHEREAS, NFPA believes that a representative must have a solid educational

background; and

WHEREAS, the ABA Approval Commission requires the names of three (3) individuals

to be submitted for consideration of appointment to the Commission;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the following minimum requirements for

the position of ABA Approval Commission Representative, and the nominating

procedure for said position be established:

A. Requirements of position:

1. A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university;

2. A background in paralegal education evidenced by having served on a

paralegal program advisory board or teaching in a paralegal program;

3. Having been a member of NFPA's Board or held the position of NFPA

Primary or Secondary Representative for a collective total of three years;

4. Agrees to comply with the duties and responsibilities as listed and

outlined in Section 9.1 of the NFPA Procedures Manual, attached hereto as Exhibit A;

and

5. Must have ability to travel.

B. Nomination procedure:

1. Commencing with the election of 2013 and every third year thereafter,

NFPA shall seek candidates for an ABA Approval Commission Representative Elect for

appointment to the Commission, whose appointment shall be made in August of the

following year, in accordance with ABA practice.

a. Member Associations will elect an ABA Approval Commission

Representative from the list of nominees at the Annual Convention;

b. Once an ABA Approval Commission Representative is chosen

by the member associations, the President of NFPA will timely submit the nominee’s

name to the Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals for final approval and

appointment by the ABA President;

c. If the ABA Approval Commission Representative elected by the

member associations is declined by the ABA, then the nominee receiving the second

highest number of votes will be submitted to the ABA Chair of the Standing Committee

on Paralegals for final approval and appointment by the ABA President.

i. If the election was uncontested, the NFPA Board, after

requesting interest forms and the submission of resumes, shall appoint a person until

the next Annual Convention, when an election shall be held for a Representative.

ii. If the ABA Approval Commission Representative resigns

prior to the end of the term, the NFPA Board will seek interest forms and the submission

of resumes, for appointment of a new ABA Approval Commission Representative to

complete the term.

9.1.1 Responsibilities and Duties related to the ABA

9.1.1A ABA

The NFPA representative to the ABA Approval Commission represents the Federation

as a voting commissioner. Status as a Commissioner is approved each year in August

by the ABA during the three year term. The NFPA representative is one of 13 voting

Commissioners working with the ABA Approval Commission staff, counsel, and the ABA

Standing Committee on Paralegals (“SCOP”). With that in mind, responsibilities entail

the following:

1. Review and familiarization of the ABA Guidelines for Approval of Paralegal

Programs. (The ABA Commission staff and consultants have compiled detailed

materials to assist with this, as well as offering a two-day seminar called the “ABA

Approval Academy.”)

2. Attend both the spring and Fall Commission meetings every year (April

and November), in Chicago, IL at ABA headquarters (usually two working days in

Chicago).

3. Plan travel to and from Chicago using NFPA forms for pre-approval of

expenses. The ABA also helps arrange all travel, and provides Commissioners with an

inexpensive hotel option, as well as several meals to help keep within amounts

budgeted by NFPA.

4. As a member of the Commission, the NFPA Representative is required to

participate as a site team visitor at three or four schools a year. The site visits are

conducted by a site team chair, generally a commission member, and a site team

member. Once few site visits have been completed, you will be required to chair a site

visit as well. A site team is always made up of an educator/lawyer and a paralegal

member, if possible. Therefore, you will be working with other volunteers around the

country, and not just the voting commissioners.

5. Work with ABA staff to be available for site visits that fit your schedule.

6. Review all materials for upcoming commission meetings and for site visits.

7. Work closely with site team members to review, prepare, conduct and

report on site visits in a timely and professional manner.

8. Work under the guidelines and expectations of the ABA Approval

Commission. You will be provided a statement of conduct to be followed regarding site

visits.

9. Enjoy the art of educating paralegals.

9.1.1B Site Visits

1. As a team member, the NFPA Representative will be visiting schools that

are seeking approval or re-approval of their paralegal programs. These schools work

very hard to get to the point of having site visitors. An actual site visit takes about a day

and a half, and includes a very full first day. Many times team members work late into

the night to prepare for the following day. The purpose of the visit is to see everything

the school has reported in their report and to verify that information. This includes

interviewing school administration, faculty, students, alumni, advisory committee

members and much more.

2. In preparation for a site visit, the Representative works with the visit Chair

or team member to decide which of the seven sections of the Guidelines each will

cover, and what specific items must be verified. There are things that are hard to verify

in writing, and it takes an actual site visit to ensure the guidelines are being met. Each

member of the site team is provided with the application as well as corresponding

exhibits in order to review, prepare and anticipate what will be most important to verify

during the site visit. Travel is arranged in cooperation with the school and conjunction

with the other team member. Schools generally pay as much of the travel expenses as

possible upfront.

3. During the site visit, professional conduct is expected while examining

documents and interviewing people to satisfy each guideline area.

4. After the visit, the team is responsible for completion of a report that in the

end is reviewed by the school and the ABA Approval Commission. The report is a tool

for reporting everything seen, interviews completed and checklists to show the approval

guidelines are being met. Forms and tools are provided by the ABA.

5. Each year on the Commission is different depending on how many

programs are awaiting a site visit. Schools are reapproved every seven years; therefore,

the NFPA representative may be asked to go on several site visits in one year, or only

one or two another year. Having a good working relationship with your employer is

important. Most firms are happy to get their firm name connected to the ABA.

RESOLUTION 11-3

WHEREAS, 92-M5(B)(2) details the nomination procedure for the ABA Approval

Commission Representative;

WHEREAS, the language set out in 92-M5(B)(2) is outdated and not consistent with

Section 12.1 of the NFPA Bylaws;

WHEREAS, because the ABA appoints Representatives to the Commission in August

and NFPA’s elections are in the fall (September or October) at its Annual Convention, it

is necessary to amend the election procedures for 2013 in order to have an NFPA

representative ready for appointment in 2014; and

WHEREAS, the language set out in 92-M5(B)(2) is inconsistent with the ABA’s current

practice for appointment of representatives to the Commission.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Section B of 92-M5 be amended as

follows:

B. Nomination procedure:

1. Commencing with the election of 2013 and every third year thereafter, NFPA

shall seek candidates for an ABA Approval Commission Representative Elect for

appointment to the Commission, whose appointment shall be made in August of the

following year, in accordance with ABA practice.

a) Member Associations will elect an ABA Approval Commission

Representative from the list of nominees at the Annual Convention;

b) Once an ABA Approval Commission Representative is chosen by the

member associations, the President of NFPA will timely submit the nominee’s name to

the Chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Paralegals for final approval and

appointment by the ABA President;

c) If the ABA Approval Commission Representative elected by the

member associations is declined by the ABA, then the nominee receiving the second

highest number of votes will be submitted to the ABA Chair of the Standing Committee

on Paralegals for final approval and appointment by the ABA President.

i. If the election was uncontested, the NFPA Board, after requesting

interest forms and the submission of resumes, shall appoint a person until the next

Annual Convention, when an election shall be held for a Representative.

ii. If the ABA Approval Commission Representative resigns prior to

the end of the term, the NFPA Board will seek interest forms and the submission of

resumes, for appointment of a new ABA Approval Commission Representative to

complete the term.

9.2: EDUCATION COORDINATOR

9.2A AUTHORITY:

The Education Coordinator shall be the Co-Chair of the Education Committee along

with the ABA Approval Commission Representative, authorized by Resolution 91-9.

9.2B REPORTING:

Reports to the Vice President and Director of Profession Development.

9.2C PROCEDURE FOR SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT:

Candidates for Education Coordinator will be nominated prior to the Annual Meeting.

The nominees' names and credentials will be submitted and presented to the

membership. A vote of the member associations will be taken at the applicable Annual

Meeting to elect the Education Coordinator.

9.2D TERM OF OFFICE:

The term of the Education Coordinator will be three years, staggered with the term of

the ABA Approval Commission Representative.

9.2E DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Education Coordinator will:

a. Be accountable to NFPA;

b. Carry out the duties and responsibilities as contained in the timetable of the

original resolution and any subsequent resolutions of the delegates.

c. Provide assistance to NFPA's representative to the ABA Approval

Commission.

d. Coordinate the paralegal scholarship award program.

9.2F INTERNAL DUTIES AND REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES:

a. The Education Coordinator will prepare quarterly and annual reports.

b. The report will include recommendations to improve the quality of paralegal

education.

9.2G RESOLUTION 99-F-6 STATES:

WHEREAS, pursuant to Resolution 86-8, an ad hoc Education/Accreditation Task

Force, co-chaired by a Task Force Coordinator and NFPA s ABA Approval Commission

Representative, was created by NFPA to assist in studying educational issues

impacting upon the paralegal profession and in establishing NFPA educational policy;

and

WHEREAS, under Resolution 91-9 all prior resolutions pertaining to the Education

/Accreditation Task Force were rescinded, the Task Force was established as a

Standing Committee, the qualifications for the Task Force Coordinator were modified,

and a one-year term and the annual election of the Task Force Coordinator were

established; and

WHEREAS, the provisions of Resolution 94-9 changed the name of the Task Force to

the Education Committee and provided that the term of the Education Committee Chair

(aka Education Coordinator) run concurrently with the three-year term of the ABA

Approval Commission Representative; and

WHEREAS, Resolution 96-3 rescinded the provision that the term of the Education

Committee Chair run concurrently with the three-year term of the ABA Approval

Commission Representative and also established that the Chair (Coordinator) was to be

appointed annually by the Board of Directors, such provision being contrary to Article

XII, Sec. 12.1 of the NFPA Bylaws which mandates the Education Coordinator be

elected by the delegates; and

WHEREAS, it is the recommendation of the Board of Directors that the term of

Education Coordinator (Chair of the Education Committee) be re-established as three

years, however, instead of running concurrently with the term of the ABA Approval

Commission Representative, the term be staggered; and

WHEREAS, it is the further recommendation of the Board that the various provisions of

existing Resolutions affecting the Education Coordinator and structure of the Education

Committee be consolidated into a single Resolution;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Education Committee shall be cochaired

by the Education Coordinator and the ABA Approval Commission

Representative, and the Education Committee shall be further comprised of NFPA

members interested in furthering the development of NFPA educational issues and any

projects or charges established by Board or the delegates;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that pursuant to Article XII, Section 12.1 of the NFPA

Bylaws, the Education Coordinator and the ABA Approval Commission Representative

shall be elected at the appropriate Annual Convention;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the term of office for the Education Coordinator shall

be three (3) years and shall be staggered with the term of the ABA Approval

Commission Representative which is three years and is set by the ABA Approval

Commission;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in order to immediately accommodate the staggering

of the terms of the Education Coordinator and the ABA Approval Commission

Representative whose current term expires in April 2000 and upon the adoption of this

Resolution, the initial term of the Education Coordinator shall be two years;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any candidate for the position of Education

Coordinator shall meet all of the following qualifications:

1. Possess a four-year degree from an accredited college or university;

2. Possess a background in paralegal education, i.e. teaching experience

within a paralegal program or service on an advisory board for a paralegal program;

3. Demonstrate articulate, professional, assertive and imaginative skills and

abilities;

4. Be well-versed in NFPA history and policy;

5. Make the commitment to support NFPA s ABA Approval Commission

Representative; and

6. Possess the ability to travel to conventions, conferences and other

activities required by and affecting the duties and responsibilities of Education

Coordinator.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all provisions of existing policy resolutions which are

inconsistent with the provisions herein, are hereby rescinded.

9.2H RESOLUTION 96-3 STATES:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the resolved paragraph 1 of Resolution 94-9 reading:

"Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that the Education/Accreditation Task Force be renamed

the Education Committee and be comprised of one member from each region

plus the Chair and Co-Chair. The committee will be chaired by the Education