JOIN FCLPA
The first meeting of “Legal Secretaries of Fresno” was held April 2, 1936. Four legal secretaries were present: Helen Drennan, Mary Gilbert, Nellie Osborne and Helen Kawai. These four women had a goal – to share ideas and knowledge so that they, and others like them, could excel in the exciting and demanding world of law.
Over the years, our name changed from Legal Secretaries of Fresno, to Fresno Legal Secretaries Association, to Fresno County Legal Secretaries Association and, in 2004, to our current name, Fresno County Legal Professionals Association.
While our name has changed several times, our core vision has not. FCLPA is here to serve you in many different ways. We keep you informed of new laws, local court rules, and trends in the legal field through our monthly newsletter, Legal Link, and monthly meetings. To further our commitment to educate Fresno County’s legal professionals, we offer California State Bar approved MCLE and LPI California Certified Legal Secretary credits at several meetings and seminars each year.
Networking is a vital component to success in the business world today, and FCLPA and LPI offers you wonderful opportunities to do just that. Access to local and statewide phone directories and opportunities to attend quarterly and annual LPI statewide conferences will keep you connected and informed.
FCLPA also offers several ways our members may perform community outreach to support people in need of assistance. We have provided aid to organizations such as Share Our Strength, Fresno County Employment Resource Center, Fresno County Court Day Care, and the Community Food Bank.
Please join us in our efforts to achieve our objectives: to promote the highest ethical standards, to enrich and cultivate the knowledge of our communities’ legal professionals and to advance the professional interests of our members.
membership details
Chart your own course to success and take advantage of the opportunity to network. Improve your education level, hone your skills and obtain greater access to resources; join the Fresno County Legal Professional Association (”FCLPA”)
Our objective is to join people together to further the education of legal secretaries, paralegals, and other members of the legal community. We cooperate with attorneys, judges, and local bar associations in order to stimulate a high order of professional standards and ethics among those performing duties in the legal field. We encourage friendship, cooperation, and an exchange of ideas among members.
Membership Dues
Annual membership dues vary; see options below. Dues are payable no later than May 31 of each year with a late payment of $5 after June 1. Many attorneys will underwrite the cost of membership as they recognize that this investment in their employees’ careers will benefit the firm and greatly enhance the productivity of their legal support staff.
FCLPA-LPI New Member ($70)
FCLPA-LPI Renewing Active Member ($60)
FCLPA-LPI Attorney Member ($75)
FCLPA-LPI Student Member ($35)
FCLPA-LPI Associate Member ($35)
Membership Categories
Active. Persons directly engaged in work of a legal nature who are (1) licensed to practice law, (2) employed as legal support staff in the office of any attorney engaged in the practice of law, (3) employed by the courts, or (4) employed in any other institution or office providing services of a legal nature are eligible.
FCLPA-LPI Active Member is an Active member who has full membership privileges in FCLPA and LPI, specifically including eligibility for LSI office and LSI-member-only discounts. FCLPALPI Active members have the right to vote, make motions, serve on a committee, and chair a committee in FCLPA. They also are eligible to serve on FCLPA’s Board of Directors and are eligible for LPI office.
Student. Persons enrolled in a course of study leading to employment in the legal profession are eligible and may maintain Student membership while enrolled. Upon graduation or completion of a course of study, Student members may become an Associate member until eligible for Active membership.
FCLPA-LPI Student Member is a Student member who desires LPI membership in addition to membership in FCLPA. FCLPA-LPI Student members have full active membership privileges in LPI, specifically including LPI-member-only discounts. They may serve on a committee and as an appointed officer or committee chair in FCLPA. They are not eligible for LPI office and may not serve as FCLPA’s Governor Pro Tem or as a delegate. They do not have voting privileges in FCLPA and may not serve on FCLPA’s Board of Directors. They are not eligible for the LPI Scholarship.
Associate Membership. Persons actively seeking employment in the legal profession are eligible and may maintain Associate membership for a period of two years.
FCLPA-LSI Associate Member is an Associate member who desires LSI membership in addition to membership in FCLPA. FCLPA-LPI Associate members have full active membership privileges in LPI, specifically including LPI-member-only discounts. They may serve on a committee and as an appointed officer or committee chair in FCLPA. They are not eligible for LPI office and may not serve as FCLPA’s Governor Pro Tem or as a delegate. They do not have voting privileges in FCLPA and are not eligible to serve on FCLPA’s Board of Directors.
Membership in FCLPA Includes Many Benefits:
• Automatic MEMBERSHIP in Legal Secretaries, Inc.
• Monthly EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS with featured special guests.
• NETWORK with legal secretaries, paralegals, and other professionals working in the legal field.
• Access to FCLPA’s JOB BANK.
• Informational PUBLICATIONS:
*Monthly Newsletter – Legal Link
*Quarterly Magazine – The Legal Secretary
*Quarterly Newsletter – Legal Specialization Sections
•Offered at discounted rates:
*Legal Professional’s Handbook
*Law Office Procedures Manual
*Legal Secretary’s Reference Guide
• SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS available through LPI. FCLPA no longer offers scholarships.
• Opportunity to participate in Legal Specialization Sections of LPI – Civil Litigation, Criminal Law, Family Law, Law Office Administration, Probate/Estate Planning, and Transactional Law. Each specialization section offers seminars and newsletters on specific areas of law. Seminars are presented at each LPI quarterly and annual conference without cost to LPI section members.
•COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES benefit local organizations.
• HEALTH-CARE & FINANCIAL RELATED BENEFITS including:
*Individual and Family Medical Insurance
*Dental Plans
*Disablility Insurance
*Financial Planning
*Long Term Care Insurance and Planning
*Life Insurance
*Annuities
*401(k) Plans and Mutual Funds
• Other Benefits:
*Membership in Working Advantage
*First California Federal Credit Union
*Hertz Corporation
*Provident Central Credit Union
*LA Financial Credit Union
To become a member, just download the membership application below, fill it out and email it to one of our members listed below.
Renee Wong – vrwtwin@gmail.com
Nicole Mitchell-Pacheco – pachecolegal444@outlook.com
What Our members have to say
I have been a member of Fresno County Legal Professional Association (FCLPA) for over 15 years both as a member and Board member. FCLPA provides its members with a plethora of benefits: educational seminars, member discounts, job bank, networking opportunities, and keeps its members updated with new Court rules and changes to the law. I believe employers have come to require that their staff be smart, educated and keep current with legal trends and new law. FCLPA provides this to its members all in one great package.
BOARD MEMBERS
President | Leanne Capuchin – leanne@erisalg.com |
First Vice President | Nicole Mitchell-Pacheco – pachecolegal444@outlook.com |
Second Vice President | Liz Contreras – liz@thewagnerlawgroup.com |
Governor | Sean Petersen – spetersen@ch-law.com |
Secretary | Jennifer White – jennifer.white@firstlegal.com |
Treasurer | Renee Wong – vrwtwin@gmail.com |
Director | Pam Eurich – peurich@fennemorelaw.com |
Director | Kristen Neely – kneely@ch-law.com |
Director | Heather Blades – hblades@tysonmendes.com |
Director | Farrah Ahmed – hblades@tysonmendes.com |
GET IN TOUCH!
FCLPA
P.O. Box 25201
Fresno, CA 93729
Accessibility