Membership Categories & Requirements

BCPA memberships run from January 1^st to December 31^st and are not pro-rated. Memberships purchased on October 1^st or later will be for the rest of the current calendar year and all of the following calendar year (i.e., October 1^st, 2023 – December 31^st, 2024), apart from student memberships which roll overs start from September 1^st.

    Ready to Join? Follow the Instructions below:

1. Please review the different membership categories offered to determine where you are eligible. 
2. Ensure that you complete and/or obtain the required documents noted for your chosen membership.
3. Once you are ready to apply, click "Join BCPA" and select your membership category and follow the steps as instructed.
4. Following your application, the board will review your submitted documents to determine your eligibility. At this time, you will not have access to membership benefits until review is completed.
5. Once the board determines eligibility, you will be granted with full membership status.

Questions? Email info@bcparalegalassociation.com

Voting Member Qualification and Requirements

Voting  - $120.00

Qualification option 1) The applicant MUST be currently employed as a paralegal in BC and have successfully completed all requirements of a paralegal program at either of the following BCPA recognized institutions:

 a) Capilano University; or

 b) Vancouver Community College.

OR

Qualification option 2) If you do not meet criteria #1, the applicant MUST be currently employed as a paralegal and have a minimum of five (5) years of employment as a paralegal in BC. 

Voting Requirements

Voting 1) Must upload your diploma, certificate or transcript from either a) or b) as noted above to your membership profile during your application process. Must upload signed declaration form (sign bottom portion only) acknowledging that you are bound by the Code of Ethics and the Bylaws of the Association as your secondary membership requirement during application.

Voting 2):  Applicant's supervising lawyer must sign the top portion of the declaration form confirming years of employment at that firm and acknowledging the Code of Ethics and the Bylaws of the Association. If applicant has not been employed at current law firm for over 5 years, must upload a copy of your CV for evidence of 5+ years of employment along with the declaration form. Applicant must sign bottom portion of declaration and upload all documents to profile during application process under Membership Requirement #1 and Membership Requirement #2.

Non-Voting Member Qualifications and Requirements

Student - $30.00

The applicant must be enrolled in a paralegal training program at any educational institution endorsing paralegals in British Columbia
Please do not select this category if you are not a student. 

Student Requirement

Applicant's program director must sign the middle portion of the declaration form acknowledging the Code of Ethics and the Bylaws of the Association. Applicant must sign bottom portion of declaration only and upload it during their application process under Membership Requirement #1 and Membership Requirement #2.

Affiliate - $120.00

The applicant must meet one of the following criteria:

1) Currently employed as a paralegal with less than five (5) years employment as a paralegal in BC; 

2) Successfully completed a paralegal program in BC and is not currently employed as a paralegal; 

3) A member of the Law Society of BC or another Law Society (approval at the discretion of the Board).

AFFILIATE REQUIREMENTS

Affiliate Criteria 1): Applicant's supervising lawyer must sign the top portion of the declaration form confirming the number of years the Applicant has been employed as a paralegal by the firm and acknowledge the Code of Ethics and the Bylaws of the Association. Applicant must sign bottom portion of form only and upload form to profile during application under Membership Requirement #1 and Membership Requirement #2.

Affiliate Criteria 2): Applicant must upload diploma, certificate or transcript to profile. Must upload signed declaration form (sign the bottom portion only) acknowledging the Code of Ethics and the Bylaws of the Association under Membership Requirement #1 and Membership Requirement #2.

Affiliate Criteria 3): Applicant must upload Law Society of BC membership to profile.Must upload signed declaration form (sign the bottom portion only) acknowledging the Code of Ethics and the Bylaws of the Association during application process under Membership Requirement #1 and Membership Requirement #2.

Corporate - $450.00

Corporate membership is for legal industry organizations or corporations that support the purposes of the Association. Corporate membership includes 2 (two) employees such as the company’s legal related businesses’ Human Resources, Administrator, Managing Partner, or Recruiter roles for example, This category is not intended to provide a means for a firm to extend membership privileges to employees who would otherwise qualify as voting, student, or affiliate members. If corporate members would like to add additional employees to their membership, there is a fee of $105 per additional employee.

Your paralegals require their individual memberships, whether they are students, affiliate or voting members. This way, your paralegals will benefit from having their own website access, receive e-mails that are specific to their membership status, benefit from registering for educational courses, annual AGM (if applicable), conferences and spring, summer and fall events at rates that are specific to their membership status.