Madison Area Paralegal Association (MAPA) is a non-profit organization affiliated with the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). We are a strong group of paralegals, legal professionals and students who live and work in Madison, Wisconsin and the surrounding areas. MAPA's primary purposes are to provide educational opportunities for professional development and to promote the paralegal profession

Message from the President:

Welcome to Madison Area Paralegal Association. This local association was formed over 20 years ago by four paralegals, Lee Trummer, Bev Potts, Kris Caldwell and Christine Durrow in order to provide a forum for education and networking. The association had 20 members at the time. Currently, MAPA has grown to over 130 members. Although our fields of discipline may vary from State US Attorney’s Office to Family Law Offices to corporation legal counsel offices, we have one thing in common, to encourage and support work in the legal community.

In 2012, for the first time, MAPA offered CLE credits to members and non-members alike at the Lunch & Learns. Many paralegals were able to bring their supervising attorney to MAPA functions in order to meet the educational requirements of their license. This is a substantive contribution to the Madison legal community.

MAPA has supported new paralegals and paralegal programs through the scholarship program, mock interview programs, and student receptions. We hope to increase the interface between experienced paralegals and new graduates through a revitalized mentoring program.

Giving back to our community through charity work has been a hallmark of the holiday season. Each and every year MAPA members partner with Joining Forces for Families, as well as the downtown YWCA, to help children obtain much needed school supplies, or Christmas presents. These are things that we often take for granted.

Access to due process may be a foregone conclusion at law firms, but to the disadvantaged, it can be a foreign concept.  Through participation in pro bono legal clinics such as the Small Claims Assistance Center at the Dane County Court House, and more recently, the new Veteran’s Law Center in partnership with the UW Law School Pro Bono Programs Department, MAPA members have supported and participated in access to justice.

There are countless avenues to become involved in MAPA. We encourage you to join, become active in a committee, attend an educational function, read the newsletter, and above all- network! Contact a committee chair to learn more. Through all of these activities we in MAPA support our local legal community and strive to improve the Madison area community for the good of many.