Certification has been an obtainable, voluntary credential for legal assistants in the United States since 1975. NALA The Certified Legal Assistant ("CLA") Program is administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants, consisting of a comprehensive two-day examination covering general and substantive portions at the federal and common law level - no state laws or procedures are tested. As of 1997, over 8,600 legal assistants have achieved the CLA designation, and 690 have CLAS designation.
The areas covered include: Communications, Ethics, Human Relations and Interviewing Techniques, Judgment and Analytical Ability, Research, Legal Terminology, Substantive Law subjects such as General (American Legal System), Administrative Law, Bankruptcy, Contract, Business Organizations, Criminal, Litigation, Probate & Estate Planning and Real Estate.
Eligibility to take the exam requires meeting one of three categories:
In addition, NALA has a Specialty Certification Program which involves successful completion of a four-hour examination; Specialty area exams offered include: Bankruptcy, Intellectual Property, Civil Litigation, Probate & Estate Planning, Corporate and Business Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, and Real Estate. The only eligibility requirement for the specialty examinations is that an applicant must be a CLA in good standing.
There is also a requirement for maintaining CLA Status which includes five units of Continuing Legal Assistant Education every five (5) years.
NFPA
In October of 1994, NFPA member associations voted overwhelmingly to develop an exam to test the competency level of experienced practicing paralegals. This was a conscientious effort to direct the future of the paralegal profession and in direct response to states that were considering regulation of the paralegal profession and are seeking a method to measure job competency. While NFPA believes in the criteria set to take this exam, it recognizes any state can adopt the exam and modify the criteria.
The Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) has been developed in tow states, called tiers. Tier I, comprising general and ethics questions, is available; state-specific modules will be developed within particular jurisdictions as the need arises. Tier II will comprise specialty sections. PACE is a four-hour, computer-generated test and is offered at over 200 Sylvan Technology testing sites throughout the country. One approved, each applicant can schedule the date and time to take the test at his or her convenience on any day except Sundays and holidays.
PACE is being developed in cooperation with the independent test development firm, Professional Examination Service (PES). PES was selected through an extensive request for proposal process and a personal interview with the NFPA Board of Directors.
PES has developed professional exams for ore than 50 years for groups such as the Federal Reserve System, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics. PES currently works with more than 75 professional associations and more than 300 licensing boards in 62 jurisdictions in the United States and Canada.
PES is not working alone. An independent task force of paralegals, paralegal educators, attorneys, and other content specialists are assisting in every step, from the preparation of the job analysis for paralegals through creation of the initial exam. All profits received from the exam will be passed to the "Foundation for the Advancement of the Paralegal Profession, " an independent foundation, and will be used to further the entire paralegal profession.
Eligibility to take the Tier I exam requires meeting following criteria:
Eligibility to take the Tier II exam requires meeting the following criteria:
The global grandparenting period for currently practicing paralegals to make application to take the exam expires June 30, 1999. This means that if practicing paralegals want to substitute work experience for the educational requirements, they must make application to take the test by June 30, 1999. During the grandparenting period, practicing paralegals will have time to learn about PACE and understand the option of substituting extensive work experience for the educational requirements. After June 30, 1999, the educational standards originally established for PACE will be mandatory.
Loretta S. Nesbitt holds a B.S. degree in Education from Louisiana State University and a paralegal certificate from the National Center for Paralegal Training in Atlanta, Georgia. She is board certified in Civil Trial Law through TBLS. She has been a paralegal for 13 years and is currently working as a contract paralegal. In addition to serving on the Long Range Planning Task Force, she has served since 1989 as an instructor at Southeastern Paralegal Institute in Dallas and has held several positions with both the Dallas Area Paralegal Association and with NFPA. She has also written extensively on paralegal issues.
Michele M. Boerder is currently the Administrator
at Davis, LeClair, Loegering & Daniel, a Dallas specialty litigation
boutique, and also continues to perform paralegal work. She is a Board Certified
Legal Assistant in Civil Trial by TBLS, and also holds the CLA designation
through NALA. Michele is a Past Chair and Board Member of the Legal Assistants
Division, Past-President of the Dallas Area Paralegal Association, and currently
serves on the State Bar Legal Assistants Committee.