How to Become a Certified Paralegal: A Step-by-Step Guide

Summary

A certified paralegal is an individual with specialized legal education, knowledge, and experience who can perform legal tasks and services under the direction of an attorney. Becoming a certified paralegal involves meeting educational and experience requirements, passing an examination, and maintaining professional credentials.

To become a certified paralegal, individuals must meet certain educational and experience requirements. These requirements vary by state, jurisdiction, and organization that governs certification, but commonly include completing a college program in paralegal studies, having work experience in legal field, or both.

The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) offers a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) certification upon completion of the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE). This exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions that cover basic core legal knowledge, as well as specialty topics such as civil litigation, property law, family law, and bankruptcy law. To maintain certification status, NALA requires that CLAs earn continuing legal education (CLE) credits each year.

The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) provides the Paralegal Advanced Certification (PAC) examination. This exam is an academic-based exam that covers six different legal topics and requires a passing score of 60%. To maintain certification status, the NFPA requires paralegals to earn continuing education credits each year.

Individuals who become certified paralegals receive certain benefits, including recognition for their knowledge and skills in the legal field, more job opportunities, higher salaries, and more respect from employers and peers. Becoming a certified paralegal is a demanding, but rewarding process. Those interested in pursuing this career should research the certification requirements and prepare for the exam by studying relevant topics in the legal field.

In order to become a certified paralegal, individuals must meet educational and experience requirements, pass an examination, and maintain professional credentials. The National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) both offer certification exams and require continuing legal education (CLE) credits to maintain certification status. Becoming a certified paralegal provides individuals with recognition, job opportunities, higher salaries, and respect. Thus, those interested in certified paralegalism should research certification requirements, and study relevant topics in the legal field.
 

Preparing to Become a Certified Paralegal

Becoming a certified paralegal is a career ladder that requires you to take several steps. You must meet certain educational and experience requirements, as well as pass an exam, in order to become certified. This article will discuss the steps necessary to become a certified paralegal.
 

Educational Requirements

In order to become certified, you must possess either an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in paralegal studies. If you possess a Bachelor's degree, it must be from an accredited college or university. Your degree must show that you have completed courses in legal research, legal writing, contracts, civil procedure, and other legal topics. There are also some colleges and universities that offer non-degree paralegal programs. In order to be eligible for certification, you must prove that you have successfully completed at least a minimum of 225 hours of study in a paralegal program. If you have any questions about the educational requirements for certification, you should consult the American Bar Association (ABA).
 

Experience Requirements

In addition to the educational requirements, you must also possess a minimum of two years of paralegal experience. This experience must be directly related to the legal field and must include hands-on experience, such as working with a law firm or a government agency. If you possess a Bachelor's degree, you may substitute one year of paralegal experience for one year of your degree program. If you are currently employed as a paralegal and have at least two years of experience, you may use your current position as proof of your experience. Again, if you have any questions about the experience requirements for certification, you should consult the ABA.

The paralegal profession is one of the fastest growing today, as more and more companies and firms are looking for qualified paralegals to expand their services to their clients. In your role, while you don't practice law, you participate in many of the same activities that lawyers do, such as interviewing witnesses, assisting at trials, or conducting investigations or doing research for cases or legal reference. Paralegals also assist with legal documents and support lawyers in other professional ways.

The First Step

According to the American Bar Association, the only state that regulates paralegals directly is California, but many other states are currently considering regulations. The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) reports that 85% of all paralegals have some formal paralegal education, usually a two-year or four-year program that allows a candidate to earn an associate or bachelor degree. You can choose from more than 1,000 paralegal education programs in the United States.

Associate degree programs split their courses between paralegal- and general-education-type courses. If you decide on such a program, you may want to check to see if credits from that program are transferable to a four-year college program, in case you decide later that you would like to continue your education. Programs offering a baccalaureate degree let you choose between having a paralegal studies major, minor, or concentration. "Getting a degree however, does not mean that you are certified," explained Anita G. Haworth, RP, Treasurer and Director of Finance for NFPA, "but having a degree or the RP, CP, or CLA designation is a good idea, since these designations are recognized nationwide."

Ms. Haworth suggested that if you already know what area of the law you'd like to specialize in, a four-year degree makes the most sense, because you can minor in that area. For example, if you are interested in pursuing finance law, you could take finance classes.

RP and CP/CLA (Registered Paralegal and Certified Paralegal or Certified Legal Assistant, respectively) certifications are available through the NFPA and National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Fees for the CP/CLA exam are $250, while the CALE review course for PACE costs $350, the PACE Application and Handbook cost $25, and PACE (RP) costs $225.

Working as a paralegal

The largest employer for paralegals still remains law firms (70%), but many corporations and financial institutions also hire paralegals. In addition, you may find opportunities at nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and even in the court system itself. Salaries vary, depending on where you work, what field you're in, and what part of the country you live in, but the U.S. Department of Labor notes that in 2003, the average paralegal earned almost $41,000 annually. The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) reported a slightly higher average from its 2003 survey, listing the average salary at over $44,000. Large law firms or corporations tend to pay more, while government or nonprofit groups may provide better benefits.

Salary, however, is only one criterion. Small- and medium-size firms give you more opportunities to work on a variety of cases, while large firms and corporations tend to expect you to specialize in just one area. Paralegals working with trial lawyers may find their jobs very stressful and requiring a great deal of overtime to get ready for the trial or during the trial, whereas probate is less stressful and time consuming.

Back to law school?

"There used to be a perception that being a paralegal was a steppingstone to becoming an attorney," Ms. Haworth said, "but that is not the case anymore. Some paralegals do go on to law school, but Ms. Haworth noted that those who have experience and seniority in their current positions may find it difficult to start over again. "New associates are at the bottom of the heap," she explained. "They usually don't get the good cases."

Sidebar:

For more information on choosing the right educational program for you, the American Association for Paralegal Education, along with several other legal associations, has posted a guide at the following web address: www.aafpe.org/choose.html