PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SCHOLARSHIP

Our association encourages its members to attain the distinction of Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) and/or CLA Specialty (CLAS). In order to help with the cost of taking the CLA or CLAS exam, SWFPA offers a professional development scholarship each year to a qualified applicant. The possible scholarship awards are as follows:

CLA Exam
• $225.00 award to a member of NALA
• $250.00 award to a non-member of NALA

CLAS Exam
• $100.00 award to a member of NALA
• $125.00 award to a non-member of NALA
• Note: Applicant must have the CLA designation prior to taking a specialty exam.

The scholarship award is given when the recipient presents proof of completion of the exam. The scholarship recipient must provide proof of completion of the CLA or CLAS exam to SWFPA within one (1) year from the date of the scholarship award. The following rules apply to applicants for the professional development scholarship:

Rules for Professional Development Scholarship Applicants:

1. The applicant must be an active member of SWFPA.
   
   
2. The applicant must submit the scholarship application, with the required enclosures, no later than October 31st of the current year to the Scholarship Committee, Southwest Florida Paralegal Association, Inc., Post Office Box 2094, Sarasota, Florida 34230-2094. Applications received after the deadline or which lack the required enclosures will not be considered.
   
   
3. The essay portion of the application must be legible (preferably typed and double-spaced). It will be judged on originality, writing clarity, and content.

The recipient of the professional development scholarship award will be selected by the SWFPA Scholarship Committee and approved by the SWFPA Board of Directors. The name of the recipient will be announced at SWFPA's annual meeting. With the recipient's permission, the winning essay may be published in the SWFPA newsletter, Writ of Assistants, and/or a NALA publication.

If you would like to apply for the professional development scholarship, please click on the professional development scholarship form, fill it out, and mail it in. We do not have online application availability at this time.

Photograph of Scholarship Chair, Helen Beggun (L) presenting professional development scholarship award to Angela Best Gundry, (R) at the December 12, 2007 Annual Meeting.

$300.00 STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP

Our association also encourages paralegal students, including its student members, to complete their paralegal education and attain the distinction of Certified Legal Assistant (CLA). In order to help with the cost of taking the required paralegal courses, SWFPA offers a $300.00 student scholarship each year to a qualified applicant. The following rules apply to applicants for the $300.00 student scholarship:

Rules for Student Scholarship Applicants:

1. The applicant must be enrolled in a paralegal program at an accredited school of advanced education and have at least a 3.5 GPA. A certified copy of the applicant's transcript must accompany the application.
   
   
2. The essay portion of the application must be legible (preferably typed and double-spaced). It will be judged on originality, writing clarity, and content.
   
   
3. The two (2) letters of recommendation that accompany the application MUST include one (1) letter from an instructor at the school where the applicant is currently enrolled and one (1) letter from a present or former employer or another personal reference, excluding relatives.
   
   
4. The application must be accompanied by a $10.00 application fee payable to Southwest Florida Paralegal Association, Inc. This fee will be waived for student members of SWFPA. If you are not a student member, each applicant who submits a fully completed application will receive a free one (1) year membeship to SWFPA.
   
   
5. The applicant must submit the scholarship application, with the required enclosures, no later than October 31st of the current year to the Scholarship Committee, Southwest Florida Paralegal Association, Inc., Post Office Box 2094, Sarasota, Florida 34230-2094. Applications received after the deadline or which lack the required enclosures will not be considered.
   
   

The recipient of the $300.00 student scholarship award will be selected by the SWFPA Scholarship Committee and approved by the SWFPA Board of Directors. The name of the recipient will be announced at SWFPA's annual meeting. With the recipient's permission, the winning essay may be published in the SWFPA newsletter, Writ of Assistants, and/or a NALA publication.

There are no restrictions on the number of students who may apply from the same school. Scholarship awards are paid directly to the educational institution of the recipient's choice during the spring or next school term.

If you would like to apply for the $300.00 student scholarship, please click on the student scholarship form, fill it out, and mail it in. We do not have online application availability at this time.

Photograph of Scholarship Chair, Helen Beggun (R) presenting student scholarship award to Leslie Catt, (L) at the December 12, 2007 Annual Meeting.