There's never been a better time to think about becoming a paralegal or legal assistant.
The field is expected to grow by 22% over the next decade, and the average salaries of experienced legal support professionals are expected to easily reach the $50,000/year mark. In addition, you don't need to attend law schools or attend paralegal certificate programs in colleges to work as a paralegal or legal assistant – you can pursue a career in this field with an associate's or bachelor's degree in paralegal studies, or you can attempt to transition into the field with relevant experience or education.
Paralegal Certifications
However, if you want to really boost your earnings potential as a paralegal, you may want to pursue one of the existing paralegal certificate programs from one of the ABA certified paralegal schools. Two of the most popular options are the paralegal training programs offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA).
NALA's Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) and Certified Paralegal (CP) programs
NALA has been conducting its certification programs since 1976, and has since awarded over 12,000 legal professionals the right to use the CLA and CP designations. To be eligible to take the exam, paralegals must meet one of three criteria relating to the applicant's education and experience.
It is possible to take the exam if you don't have a degree in paralegal studies, as long as you have a certain number of years of experience working in the field.
The exam itself takes two days to complete and is made up of five sections, including questions on communications, ethics, legal research and the specific areas of legal practice. The test is given three times a year at approved testing centers around the country, and the fees to take the test are approximately $250-$275. Once you register to take the exam, preparation is crucial as only 40% of all test takers pass all five sections on their first sitting. For more information on the exam or to register for an upcoming test, visit www.nala.org.
NFPA's Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) program
Similar to the CLA and CP programs offered by NALA, the NFPA offers the PACE Registered Paralegal (RP) credential that legal assistants can use to demonstrate experience and competency in the field. The PACE program has similar restrictions in terms of who can take the exam – paralegals who register for the test must have two years of professional experience and must meet certain educational requirements laid out by the NFPA. If you don't have a degree in paralegal studies or any type of paralegal training courses, you can still take the exam if you have a minimum of four years of substantive paralegal experience.
The PACE exam is conducted entirely on the computer in a four-hour period and is composed of two sections – general legal issues and questions on the different legal specialties. To register, you'll need to submit an application that includes details on your education and work experience, along with a $25 fee. The actual fee to take the exam is either $225 or $250, depending on whether or not you're a member of the organization. Once your application is approved, you can schedule the test for any day within a three month period, at one of the 200 test centers around the country. In addition to the exam requirements, you'll be expected to complete a certain number of continuing legal education credits each year to keep your certification current.
Generally, the two certification programs are interchangeable – you don't need to have both and neither one is more popular than the either. Certain law firms may prefer one certification over the other, so it's best to check with your employer before you register. In addition, it's a good idea to check and see if your employer will pay for your exam fees – many firms offer compensation for employees who pursue additional education and designations such as paralegal certificates.
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