Chapter Four
Paralegal Certification: Is It Really Necessary?
Currently, certification is not required, by any state in the United States, to work as a paralegal. However, many paralegals opt for certification as a way to increase their marketability in the job market.
The National Association of Legal Assistants has offered certification since 1976, and according to the organization, “As of February 1, 2006 there are 13,325 Certified Legal Assistants and 1126 CLA Specialists in the United States.”
The Certified Legal Assistant exam is significant and is administered over a period of two days at testing centers across the United States. In many cases, the testing center is a local university, college, or community college.
The certification exam, which focuses on legal procedures and federal law, covers several major subjects, including:
Legal research
Legal terminology
Ethics
Communications
Human relations and interviewing techniques
Judgment and analytical ability
Substantive Law
The National Association of Legal Assistants offers study materials, and it also periodically holds review sessions in a chosen city in the United States. To learn more, click here.
Next: Chapter Four: Eligibility and test dates 2008
Previous: Chapter Three: Costs of Becoming a Paralegal
Table of Contents for the Paralegal Career Guide:
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