Ohio Statewide Alliance
The Ohio Statewide Alliance is a volunteer collaborative effort of the
five Ohio Paralegal Associations. Since the 1980’s, representatives members
of the alliance associations have gathered to discuss issues that concern
the paralegal profession.
Alliance Meetings
The Statewide Alliance meetings are held twice a year in the Fall and Spring.
The Statewide Representatives bring agenda topics presented to them by their
associations to discuss.
Statewide Forum
The Forum is a day of seminars for paralegals and vendors to network with
paralegals throughout the state of Ohio. It is an opportunity to learn about
upcoming issues, current trends, and expand your legal topical knowledge.
Ohio Paralegal Day
The third Monday in May is designated as Paralegal Day in Ohio. The
Governor issues a Proclamation to each Association proclaiming this day
"Paralegal Day in Ohio" and each Association asks the Mayor of
their City to issue a similar Proclamation. The date was chosen to
mark the date the first paralegal association, PACO, was incorporated in
Ohio.
Regulation
Processes of Regulating A Profession
Regulation is a generic term that encompasses all processes granting authority
for recognition to an individual or institution. NFPA has conducted
considerable research on the issue of regulation. This research has revealed
that there are a number of mechanisms for regulating any profession. Some
forms of regulation include:
Accreditation -- a voluntary process by
which an agency or organization evaluates and recognizes a program of study
or an institution as meeting predetermined qualifications or standards.
It shall apply to its institutions and programs of study or services.
Certification -- a voluntary process by which a nongovernmental
agency or association grants recognition to an individual who has met certain
predetermined qualifications specified by that agency or association. Such
qualifications may include (a) graduation from an accredited program, (b)
acceptable performance on a qualifying examination or series of examinations,
and/or (c) completion of a given amount of work experience.
Licensure -- the process by which an agency or branch of
government (a) grants permission to persons meeting predetermined qualifications
to engage in a given occupation and/or use a particular title, or (b) grants
permission to institutions to perform specified functions.
Limited Licensure -- the process by which
a governmental entity grants authority to non-lawyers to assume roles that
are customarily, but not exclusively, performed by lawyers in a limited
specialty practice area, i.e., real estate or bankruptcy law.
Restricted Licensure -- the process by which a governmental entity grants
authority to non-lawyers to assume roles that are customarily, but not exclusively,
performed by lawyers with a specified restriction, i.e., for a specific
period of time. This license would prohibit assuming roles outside the scope
of the restriction unless the criteria for a plenary license is met.
Specialty Licensure -- the process by which
a governmental entity grants authority to non-lawyers to assume roles that
are customarily, but not exclusively, performed by lawyers in a specialty
practice area. This license can stand on its own or be the second tier of
a two-tiered licensing program to expand the scope of permissible roles
in that particular specialty practice area.
Registration -- the process by which individuals
or institutions list their names with an association or agency. Registration
may be voluntary or mandatory. There usually is no education or training
requirement, although references and/or bonding requirements are sometimes
necessary.
Courtesy of The
National Federation of Paralegal Associations
Statewide Representatives
Each Association elects or appoints a Statewide Representative to attend
and voice the opinions of the Association’s membership. To email PACO’s
Statewide Representative, click here.
The Statewide Representatives also attend the Ohio State Bar Association
Paralegal Committee Meetings. |
