Profile: Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association

                    HMPA established 1978

Today in my profile series I put the spotlight on Houston’s oldest and Texas’ largest regional paralegal association: Houston Metropolitan Paralegal Association (hereinafter HMPA).

HMPA, a non-profit organization, is one of the largest paralegal associations in the entire United States. In was founded in Houston back on August 30, 1978. HMPA's stated goal is "the promotion of the professional advancement of paralegals in the Houston metropolitan area. As a non-partisan, non-bargaining association, HMPA strives for a heightened standard of excellence in the profession through the implementation of minimum education standards for its members, and the creation of the advanced Professional Houston Paralegal [PHP] designation. Although HMPA is not a regulatory board, our goal is to remain on the forefront of regulation, certificate and licensure issues facing the profession during the coming years.”

Joining HMPA is easy, and there are many benefits to membership, such as outstanding networking opportunities, a members’ only job bank, CLE seminars (continuing legal education), an annual gala and career symposium, quarterly Burden of Proof newsletter, scholarships, PHP certification, an annual Certified Paralegal Review Course (definitely helped this author pass the grueling two-day exam on the first attempt!), and more:

HMPA's monthly CLE luncheon at the Houston Club,
               811 Rusk, in downtown Houston

• Mentoring and Internship programs for students
• Career Enhancement Seminars
• CP/CLA Review Course
• Salary Surveys and Membership Directories
• Student Scholarships
• CLE Video Library
• Monthly Updates on the State of the Profession
• Quarterly Networking Socials
• Annual GALA
• Volunteer Opportunities
• Online Job Bank access

Members and nonmembers alike are invited to HMPA’s monthly CLE seminars. The luncheons, pictured at right, are held on the second Tuesday of each month at the Houston Club, located at 811 Rusk in downtown Houston. Every month, an exciting new speaker takes the luncheon crowd on a tour of his or her area of expertise, and the luncheons typically count as one hour of CLE credit. You can find out more about the luncheons, and register to attend, on HMPA’s web-site here.

A great way to network and enchance your career, and that of other paralegals as well, is to become actively involved in HMPA. There are many such opportunities to serve on HMPA’s Board of Directors, or on one of its numerous committees. You may also submit articles to the Burden of Proof. 
 

HMPA 2009/10 President
Mel Glina of Bracewell &
 Giuliani LLP in Houston

HMPA’s current president is Mel Glina, a TBLS and NALA Certified Paralegal in the Energy, Finance, Infrastructure and Real Estate Section of Bracewell & Giuliani LLP in Houston, Texas, specializing in all phases of commercial real estate and energy transactions. She is currently serving as president of Texas’ largest local paralegal association and has been published in, and interviewed for, various national and state publications such as the Texas Paralegal Journal. Mel is a frequent guest speaker at many paralegal CLE programs and forums on many topics of interest to paralegals, including ethics, commercial real estate, and the role of paralegals in today's economically conservative legal market.

When I asked Mel about the paralegal field in general, and HMPA in particular, she responded:

The time has come when attorneys, firms AND CLIENTS have gotten the message. Paralegals are here to provide substantive services in all areas of legal practice, and NOT simply perform ancillary tasks. Our profession is one of the fastest growing in the country for one reason - ECONOMIC NECESSITY PRODUCING CLIENT DEMAND. Clients have become wise to the potential economic value of paralegal inclusion. They realize that paralegals can perform virtually all tasks that an attorney can perform, under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney, save the setting of fees and other tasks that attorneys only may perform, with one important difference - IT COSTS LESS!

Attorneys who do not, or have not yet, seen the value of such a relationship is not much of a visionary, unfortunately at their clients' expense. The reason why I am a member of HMPA and why I have served on the Board of Directors for more than ten years is really quite simple: HMPA was founded in 1978 to further the professional and educational development of paralegals in order to provide a more comprehensive approach in the delivery of legal services. They realized then that recognition of our profession was long overdue. The founders of HMPA, and every sitting Board since have been forward-thinking and dedicated to the advancement of Houston-area paralegals. HMPA is dedicated to the success of its members - one paralegal at a time!

Membership in HMPA is open to “any Paralegal (as defined in § 2.03 of the Bylaws) who is an employee of, or self-employed on a freelance basis by, an attorney, a law firm, corporate legal department, government, judicial or legal agency, or any other organization devoted primarily to the practice of law, regardless of the title by which the person is classified within the organization, and meet the following criteria: Voting Members. Any person who meets the requirements set forth below and such additional standards as the Membership Committee may from time to time prescribe may become a Voting Member.

(1) Shall be currently employed as a Paralegal under the direct supervision of an attorney and performing substantive legal work 80% of the time, have eight (8) hours of substantive continuing legal education within the past 12 months, and meet at least one of the following criteria:

(a) Board Certified Paralegal through the TBLS and have been employed as a Paralegal for at least one year.

(b) Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal through NALA and have been employed as a Paralegal for at least one year.

(c) Bachelor's Degree or higher degree in any field and have been employed as a Paralegal for at least one year.

(d) Completed an ABA-approved program of education and training for Paralegal and have been employed as a Paralegal for at least three years.

(e) Been employed as a paralegal for at least five consecutive years."

You may also join as an associate, affiliate, or student member. Find out more here.

As a current member and past board member, I can personally attest to HMPA’s utility. Hope to see you at a luncheon soon!

If you have a school, legal career, or legal organization/association you’d like to see profiled, feel free to email the author at samihartsfield@gmail.com, or leave a comments in the section below.

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