Voting members may participate fully in Paralegal Association of Wisconsin, Inc. activities. To qualify for Voting membership the applicant must have at least five qualified continuing education (CLE) credits in the previous calendar year, perform paralegal duties at least 80% of your time, work or reside in the State of Wisconsin, and pay an annual $105 membership fee. In addition, the following may be considered: (1) applicant holds the State Bar of Wisconsin Certified Paralegal designation; (2) relevant education, training, or work experience.; or (3) training or experience in a specialty area. If you qualify for Voting membership, you are precluded from the other types of membership.

An Associate member is any individual who is interested in furthering his/her knowledge and awareness of, or interest in the preservation, support or advancement of the paralegal profession, but who is not otherwise eligible for membership as a Voting member or Student member. Associate members may not vote or be nominated for the Board of Directors or chair committees, and must pay an annual $85 membership fee. Associate Membership may include: An instructor in the field of paralegal training or anyone connected in an official capacity with a school or college conducting a course for paralegal training; A former Voting Member no longer employed in the field; Paralegals employed in states other than Wisconsin who do not reside in Wisconsin; and other individuals as may be approved by the Membership Committee, including but not limited to lawyers, legal secretaries, legal administrators and law librarians

Student members are the future of the paralegal profession, and the Paralegal Association of Wisconsin, Inc. extends all of its membership benefits to Student members except the authority to vote or be nominated for the Board of Directors and chair committees. To apply for a Student membership, you must be currently enrolled in a paralegal training program, receive a certification of enrollment from an instructor, and pay an annual $5 membership fee. You may also apply for Student membership if you have graduated from a paralegal training program within the past twelve months, but do not have a legal-oriented position.

Emeritus Membership is open to a Voting Member who has been in good standing for at least the preceding five consecutive years and is no longer engaged in the paralegal profession, provided that he/she (1) retired from the paralegal profession; or (2) is disabled or handicapped such that he/she is no longer engaged in the paralegal profession. Emeritus members may attend meetings of the members and directors, may serve on committees, and will receive, via-email, all of the Association’s publications, but shall be excluded from voting, from holding elected office and from appointment as committee chairpersons. The lifetime fee for Emeritus members is $50.