CLE after TBLS Board Certification
By Michele Boerder, CP, Board Certified Paralegal, Civil Trial Law, Texas Board of Legal Specialization,
and Molly Galvez,Certification Analyst, Texas Board of Legal Specialization
The Texas Board of Legal Specialization began paralegal specialty certification in 1994. It was the first such
attorney specialization program in the United States to promulgate specialty certification for paralegals.
TBLS undertook paralegal certification after many years of work by the Paralegal Division and the Paralegal
Committee of the State Bar of Texas to determine a certification program for Texas paralegals.
A certification applicant must have a minimum of 5 years of actual experience as a paralegal by December 31 in
the year of application, and have actual Texas experience in the particular specialty area during each of the 3 years
immediately preceding the application. The paralegal must be working under the direct supervision of a licensed Texas
attorney before qualifying to take the exam.
Substantive areas of law available for paralegal certification by the TBLS are: Criminal, Civil Trial,
Estate Planning & Probate, Family, Personal Injury Trial and Real Estate Law. Visit the TBLS website, www.tbls.org to
obtain an application and to view the requirements to sit for the exam and the requirements to maintain
certification. (After a paralegal is Board certified, 75 hours of CLE in the area of certification is required over a
five year period to maintain the certification.)
Because other paralegal entities (such as the Paralegal Division and local associations) as well as other
certification programs (such as NALA Certified Paralegal, or NFPA Registered Paralegal) also required CLE, it is
sometimes confusing as to what programs will be accepted for TBLS credit (towards the 75 hours over five years).
For TBLS purposes, CLE is calculated on a calendar year basis.
- Certification. A certification applicant must complete 30 hours of CLE in the specialty area within
the 3 years immediately preceding application, through December 31 of the year of application.
- Recertification. A recertification applicant must complete 75 hours of CLE in the specialty area by
December 31 of each 5th year of certification.
Qualifying CLE.
An applicant or board certified paralegal must obtain CLE credit in the specialty area in which certification or
recertification is sought by the following methods:
- Attendance at a live CLE program, including live video conferences.
- Viewing or listening to an online CLE program.
- Participating in a CLE teleconference.
- Attendance at a showing of a CLE video.
Some CLE may be creditable by several TBLS certification areas. For example, there is overlap between Civil
Trial, Personal Injury, and Family Law. If there is a question as to whether a CLE should be accepted for a
particular specialty area, the TBLS staff forwards the CLE information to the appropriate commission for review and
decision.
When keeping track of CLE attended, segregate or note the presentations that specifically relate to your TBLS
specialty area, as those are the only CLE hours that will apply (and may be submitted) for continuing your TBLS
certification. (Only submit your CLE to the TBLS if you are board certified OR have an application pending.)
Many CLE opportunities are available through the State Bar, and the Paralegal Division, State Bar of Texas
(see www.txpd.org at CLE and Events). In addition, the Division website lists many other CLE programs offered at the
local level as well as on-line web-based CLE.
Michele Boerder is a paralegal with the law firm of K & L Gates in Dallas. Michele is a Board Certified
Paralegal in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and a certified paralegal by the National
Association of Legal Assistants. She is a past President of the Paralegal Division and served as District 2 Director.
Michele is a Charter Member of the Paralegal Division.
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