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| Welcome
to the Mississippi Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. ("MALA") |
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| We are
a professional organization dedicated to the paralegal profession.
We support legal assistants by promoting professional development,
education, and the Certified Legal Assistants ("CLA")
and Certified Legal Assistant Specialist ("CLAS")
examinations. Please contact us concerning membership or for
additional information about MALA. |
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| Purpose
of MALA |
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| The Mississippi
Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. ("MALA") was
founded in 1980 by legal assistants in Mississippi who wished
to encourage a high order of ethical and professional attainment.
The main purpose of MALA is to promote the profession of the
legal assistant or paralegal. MALA supports, encourages and
maintain high standards for the service, conduct and ethics
of legal assistants. MALA members have the opportunity to further
their education through MALA sponsored meetings and seminars.
Members are also able to maintain a close tie with county, state
and national bar associations as well as with other members
of the legal community. MALA is kept abreast of national affairs
and news through their affiliation with the National Association
of Legal Assistants, Inc. |
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| What
is a Legal Assistant? |
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| A legal
assistant is "a person, qualified by education, training
or work experience who is employed or retained by a lawyer,
law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity
who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for
which a lawyer is responsible". (ABA Standing Committee
on legal assistants)
To become a legal assistant, one either receives formal education
or in-house training. In Mississippi, there are several legal
assistant degree programs offered. One may obtain
a Baccalaureate Degree in Paralegal Studies from a four-year
college or university or obtain an Associates Degree in Paralegal
studies from a junior or community college. A legal assistant
that is trained in-house as well as those legal assistants
with a formal education, can take the Certified Legal Assistant
("CLA") examination offered by the National Association
of Legal Assistants, Inc. ("NALA") to distinguish
themselves as trained, successful legal assistants. For more
information about the CLA examination, please click here.
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| MALA
Information |
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If you
would like more information regarding the Mississippi Association
of Legal Assistants, Inc., please send your request to:
Mississippi
Association of Legal Assistants, Inc.
Post Office Box 996
Jackson, Mississippi 39205. |
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