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A paralegal is a legal assistant who helps with research and document preparation, but cannot attend court or charge for legal services. To become certified, one must complete an ABA-approved program or have legal experience and pass an exam administered by NALA. Certified paralegals must complete continuing legal education every five years.
A paralegal or legal assistant is a person with a legal background who works for a lawyer or law firm. Although a paralegal will help with legal research and prepare legal documents, he or she may not attend a court of law or charge for legal services. There are many ways to become a certified paralegal in the United States. In general, most certified paralegals complete a two- or four-year college curriculum approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) and also pass a certification exam.
Several post-secondary education programs qualify a person for the exam to become a certified paralegal. A popular route is to receive an accredited two- or four-year degree in paralegal studies. Other students choose to pursue a certificate program in paralegal studies after completing another type of college degree. A final option is to complete a 60-hour non-degree paralegal program. It is important to verify that a program has been approved by the ABA before submitting an application.
A person can also sit for the exam if they have completed a bachelor’s degree in any discipline and have at least one year of legal experience. Working as a paralegal for seven years, in addition to possessing a high school diploma and 20 credit hours of continuing legal education, will also qualify a person to take the exam. Documentation of education and work history is required to become a certified paralegal.
The certification exam is administered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and is offered three times a year. As of 2011, the exam fee is $250 for NALA members and $275 for non-members. The exam can be repeated in a two-year window for $60 per session. After the two-year window expires, the examinee must resubmit an application.
The exam to become a certified paralegal is administered over two days. A candidate must score at least 70% in each of the five sections. These sections are: Legal Research, Ethics, Judgment and Analytical Skills, Communications, and Substantive Law.
Upon passing the exam, certified paralegals must complete at least 50 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) credits every five years. These credits can be earned by taking legal courses – online or in the classroom – or by attending various seminars and conferences that provide learning opportunities. Before enrolling in one of these programs, however, anyone hoping to earn CLE credits from a specific course or conference must confirm that all credits earned will be accepted by the NALA. Proof of CLE credit must be submitted to NALA in a timely manner to remain certified.
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