Our Mission. 

Striving to Attain the Goals Established in 1976.

DAPA was formed on October 23, 1976 as the Dallas Association of Legal Assistants, and changed its name in 1996.  DAPA is a voluntary non-profit corporation composed of paralegals working in all areas of the law, who are interested in furthering their own professional development and who are dedicated to the advancement of the paralegal profession as a whole.  The goals and purposes of DAPA are to:

• Promote the professional objectives and goals of paralegals;
• Encourage, promote and conduct programs of continuing legal education and professional development;
• Adopt codes of ethics and standards of conduct governing its members; 
• Promote the advancement of professionalism for paralegals; 
• Promote the professional development of the paralegal profession;
• Foster creative expansion of paralegal roles;
• Offer continuing legal education to paralegals;
• Educate employers and consumers about the utilization of paralegals as an integral part in the delivery of legal services;
• Maintain relationships with local, state and national bar associations and other paralegal associations; and
• Provide services to the legal community and the community at large by performing pro bono and community service activities.

DAPA may award annual scholarship(s) to students enrolled in paralegal programs at local schools. Additionally, DAPA members are often selected to speak at seminars, teach in local paralegal programs and serve on the boards of directors of various corporations serving the paralegal community. DAPA continues to strive to attain the goals established in 1976.