Welcome

Thank you for visiting our site. We welcome your interest. If you're part of the Houston bankruptcy advocacy community, come join us!

HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF BANKRUPTCY PARALEGALS - MEMBERSHIP

HABP has the following types of memberships:

Voting Member – Dues $50
Non-Voting Member – Dues $35
Student Member – Dues $25
Sustaining Member – Dues $50

Membership Application

There is a single membership application that is used for all membership types:

Voting Membership

A person eligible for voting membership shall be a person employed or retained as a bankruptcy paralegal under the ultimate direction and supervision of an attorney, or a person who contracts with a lawyer, law office, governmental agency or other entity to perform substantive legal work in the bankruptcy field under the ultimate direction and supervision of an attorney. This is the only classification of membership which carries full voting privileges, and individuals of this membership classification are the only members who may serve as association officers, members of the board of directors, or committee chairs. Voting members will be required to meet 6.0 hours of CLE credit yearly to maintain their membership status. In addition, the individuals of this classification of membership must meet at least one of the following criteria:

Four (4) years experience as a bankruptcy paralegal; or
A baccalaureate degree in any field, plus not less than one (1) year training as a bankruptcy paralegal; or
Successful completion of the Certified Legal Assistant Exam by the National Association of Legal Assistants; or
Graduation from an American Bar Association approved program of study for paralegals or a course of study for paralegals which is institutionally accredited though not ABA approved, and which requires not less than the equivalent of 60 college semester hours of classroom study, plus one year of employment as a bankruptcy paralegal; or
Successful completion of the Certified Bankruptcy Assistant Exam (“CBA”); or
Graduation from a course of study for paralegals, other than those set out in (3) above, plus not less than one (1) year of on the job training as a bankruptcy paralegal.

Non-Voting Membership

A person eligible for non-voting membership shall be a person who (1) has met the requirements of subparagraph (a) above but who is not currently employed as a bankruptcy paralegal, or (2) has not met either the experiential or education requirements set forth above, or (3) has not met the CLE Requirements for voting membership. A non-voting member in good standing may fully participate in the affairs of the Association, but shall not have the right to vote, serve as officer, member of the Board of Directors or chair of a committee.

Student Membership

A person eligible for student membership shall be any person who is enrolled and actively participating in an accredited baccalaureate, post- baccalaureate, or associate degree paralegal education program. Student members in good standing may participate in the affairs of the Association, but shall not have the right to vote, serve as officer, member of the Board of Directors or chair of a committee. Student members may not serve as members of any standing committees. Student members are required to notify the Membership Committee Chair of any change in their education status which directly affects membership requirements.

Sustaining Membership

A person eligible for sustaining membership shall be a person or entity who has an interest in the paralegal profession and who supports the purposes of HABP. An individual sustaining member in good standing or representative designated by an entity may attend Association meetings, seminars and other activities at fees charged to voting members and serve as a non-voting member. Neither sustaining members, nor their designees, shall have the right to vote, serve as officer, member of the Board of Directors or chair of a committee. Sustaining members may not serve as members of any standing committee.

Definition of a Bankruptcy Paralegal

A bankruptcy paralegal is a person qualified through education, training or work experience, who is employed by a law office, governmental agency or other entity, under the supervision of an attorney on a permanent or contract basis in a capacity or function which involves bankruptcy law, of which at least 30% of his or her time is devoted to bankruptcy law.

Houston Association of Bankruptcy Paralegals