The Bell County Bar Association Paralegals is a local organization, formed in 2001. The founders of the organization, initially named the Bell County Bar Association Legal Assistant's Division, wanted to make continuing legal education (CLE) both affordable and locally available to para-professionals in Bell County and the surrounding area. Prior to its organization, the only way that legal staff could obtain CLE was to attend an event sponsored by the State Bar of Texas or a law school. Many employers were not willing or able to pay the costs associated with that CLE. Thus, out of that necessity, the BCBAP was formed and has been a strong, vital part of the para-professional careers in Bell County and the surrounding area.

Member meetings are generally held on the third Thursday of every month. Most months, a short business meeting is conducted, and a speaker provides CLE to the attendees. Speakers are usually attorneys or legal professionals from Bell County. The group also participates in and is welcome to attend CLE and social functions sponsored by the local Bell County Bar Association.

What is a paralegal or legal assistant?

"Legal assistants, also known as paralegals, are a distinguishable group of persons who assist attorneys in the delivery of legal services. Through formal education, training, and experience, legal assistants have knowledge and expertise regarding the legal system and substantive and procedural law which qualify them to do work of a legal nature under the supervision of an attorney."
 
Definition from NALA's Code of Ethics & Professional Responsibility of Legal Assistants, July 14, 1995.
 
"A legal assistant or paralegal is a person qualified by 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."
 
Definition from the American Bar Association & adopted throughout the United States by various state legislatures, courts, & bar associations.