Association

NFPA®

Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE®)

NALA

Certified Paralegal/Certified Legal Assistant Exam

NALS

Professional Paralegal Exam

Certification

PACE Registered Paralegal® (RP®)

Certified Paralegal  (CP); Certified Legal Assistant (CLA)

Professional Paralegal (PP)

Certification

Established

1996

1976

2004

Membership Fees

$25 Association Member

$20 Student Member

$85 Individual Sustaining

       Member

$50 Individual Sustaining

       Student Member

$105 Individual Member

$  90 Associate Member

$  60 Sustaining Member

$  40  Student Member

$135  Individual Member

$  45 Associate Member

$  19 Student Member

$750 Lifetime Member

Eligibility to Test;

Education and/or

Experience

An associates degree in paralegal studies obtained from an institutionally accredited and/or an ABA approved paralegal program and 6 years of substantive paralegal experience;

OR,

Bachelor’s degree in any course of study obtained from an institutionally accredited school and three years of substantive paralegal experience;

OR,

Bachelor’s degree and completion of a paralegal program within an institutionally accredited school (which may be embodied in the bachelor’s degree) and a minimum of two years substantive paralegal experience;

OR

Four years of substantive paralegal experience on or before December 31, 2000.

1) Graduation from paralegal program approved by ABA or associate degree program or post-baccalaureate certificate program in paralegal studies, or bachelor’s degree program in paralegal studies; or paralegal program of 60 semester hours, 15 hours of which must be substantive paralegal  courses.

2)  Bachelor’s degree in any field, plus one year’s experience as paralegal (15 hours of substantive legal courses equivalent to one year’s experience as a paralegal).    

3)  High school diploma or equivalent plus seven years’ experience as a paralegal under the supervision of an attorney, plus a minimum of 20 hours of CLE within a two-year period prior to the exam date.

Five years’ experience performing paralegal duties.

Partial waivers:

1) A two-year waiver for a candidate with a paralegal degree, or

2) A maximum of one-year waiver for post-secondary degrees, successful completion of the PLS exam, or other certification, or a paralegal certificate.

Cost:

Member: $25 Application Fee; $225 Test Fee;

Non-Member: $75 Application Fee; $250 Test Fee.

Member - $250

Non-Member - $275

Member w/ PLS - $150

Non-Member w/PLS - $200

Member w/o PLS - $200

Non-Member w/o PLS - $250

Testing Dates and Locations

Every day except Sundays and Holidays at Prometric Testing Centers across the United States.

Candidates must take the test within 90 days of approval of application

Exam Given:

Three times per year in over 50 cities throughout the US (61 cities for March 2007)

First Saturday of March;

July @ NALS Regional meetings; Last Saturday in September

Retest

$250 fee;  6 month waiting period for retest (changes pending)

Members: $60/section

Retake on next available testing date

Members: $50/section

Non-Members: $60/section

Retake on next available testing date

Testing Time

Four hours

Two days

One day

Composition of Test

Domain I – Administration of Client Legal Matters: conflict checks; develop, organize and maintain client files; develop and maintain calendar/tickler systems; develop and maintain databases; coordinate client services.

Domain II – Development of Client Legal Matters: client interviews; analyze information; collaborate with counsel; prepare, file and serve legal documents and exhibits; prepare clients and witnesses for legal proceedings.

Domain III – Factual/Legal Research: Obtain factual and legal information; investigate and compile facts; inspect, evaluate and analyze evidence; ascertain and analyze legal authority.

Domain IV – Factual/legal writing: communicate with client/counsel; draft legal analytical documents.

Domain V – Office Administration:  Personnel management; acquire technology; coordinate and utilize vendor services; create and maintain library and legal resources; develop and maintain billing system.

Part 1 – Written Communications: Grammar, word usage, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, number usage, composition and expression.

Part 2 – Legal Knowledge and Skill: Legal research, citations, legal terminology, the court system, and ADR, interviewing clients and witnesses, planning and conducting investigations and docketing.

Part 3 – Ethics and Judgment: Ethical situations involving contact with clients, the public, coworkers, and subordinates; other ethical considerations for the legal profession; decision-making and analytical ability; and ability to recognize priorities.

Part 4 – All areas of substantive law: administrative, business organizations, contracts, civil procedure and litigation, criminal, family, real property, torts, wills, trusts and estates, admiralty and maritime, antitrust, bankruptcy, environmental, federal civil rights, employment and discrimination, immigration, intellectual property, labor, oil and gas, pension and profit sharing, taxation, water, and workers compensation.

Certification Renewal

Every Two Years

Every five years

Every five years

CLE

12 hours (includes 1 hour of ethics)

50 hours (includes 5 hours of ethics)

75 hours (includes 5 hours of ethics)

Cost of Renewal

$25

$70

$75

Number Certified

561 (eff. 12/06)

13,958 (eff. 2/07)  Certified Paralegals

1,264 ACP (advanced paralegal certification credentials awarded; available to all Certified Paralegals; individuals may hold more than 1 credential)

243 (eff. 12/04)