EDUCATION AND EVENTS
Paralegal certifications are most often sought through colleges and programs which provide an understanding of the foundation for which the legal process and documents are based. Franchise administration is most often learned through the industry as in in-house employee of a Franchisor or a member of a Franchise law firm, or as an independent professional.
The two most prominent organizations which provide learning experiences for franchise paralegals and administrators are the International Franchise Association (IFA) and the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising (ABA). The IFA’s educational foundation promotes and provides numerous opportunities to attend classes and sessions related to the franchise industry. The CFE certification is the professional certification in the franchise industry which represents a compilation of significant industry credits which include legal, general, real estate, marketing, finance and other related areas in franchising.
Other educational sources include Nova Southwestern Institute which features a program in franchise management.
The IFA has several meetings throughout the calendar year in different parts of the country. These include the IFA Legal Symposium, typically held in May and hosted in Washington DC, and the IFA Annual Franchise Convention, which is the industry’s largest convention. Both of these opportunities provide appropriate sessions and specialized classes for applied knowledge in the role of a franchise paralegal or administrator. Additionally, there are Franchise Business Networks active in most major cities, and which conduct quarterly education and networking opportunities for the franchise community, including franchise paralegals and administrators. For more information visit the IFA website at www.franchise.org.
The ABA Forum on Franchising holds its annual Forum event in October, which includes updates on the legal aspects of franchising, state registration, trends in franchise law and much more. At this annual event, the ABA Forum provides a Franchise Paralegal Open House where administrators and paralegals gather to network, discuss challenges, and meet with state examiners to better understand the laws and rules of filing state registration applications. For more information visit the ABA Forum on Franchising web site at http://www.abanet.org/forums/franchising/home.html
The Franchise Administrators Network has conducted research for and about its members, connected members to one another, as well as franchise counsel, and has become an integral part of the franchise legal community.
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