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Certification
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This area includes details of the examination program and provides information for those seeking and those maintaining professional certification. In addition, employers may refer to these pages for more details about the certification program and its requirements.
Click learn more about advanced
certification for paralegals!
Established in 1976, the CLA /CP (Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal) program has enabled the profession to develop a strong and responsive self-regulatory program offering a nationwide credential for all paralegals. Today over 15,000 paralegals have achieved this credential.
IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!
Beginning in the Fall of 2010, the Certified Paralegal Exam will move to computer based testing. CLICK HERE for information desribing the new process, just released by the NALA Certifying Board.
Professional certification is a time honored career development tool. It is helpful to employers and those seeking to enhance their career options. Because of the reliance on certification programs for career decisions, it is important a program is professionally managed and administered. NALA's over 30 years of experience in this area, and over 15,000 paralegals attest to the professionalism of the program.
 Current Directory of Certified Paralegals
This link opens a form that may be used to verify one's certification status. Please check the update date if a name is not listed.
Need to pay an exam fee?
 here for a payment window.
Want to file a request for CLE credits on-line?
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News & Upcoming Events |
Florida Case Supports Paralegal Fee Awards as Attorney Fees
This opinion, released on June 28, considers an issue of first impression related to the award of paralegal fees in attorney fee awards.
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Details about CP Exam Computer Based Testing Announced!
Beginning in September 2010, the Certified Paralegal exam will be offered via computer based testing to testing centers throughout the United States. NALA will be using the 200+ ACT testing center network of colleges and universities, and additional sites may be established in schools without ACT testing centers . . .
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Special Membership Program for Employers
NALA has announced a program of offering discounts off annual membership dues to employers with multiple NALA members. Details may be found on the web site under "About NALA & Join" ...
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LEAP Class of 2010 Article Released!
As part of NALA’s LEAP program, the 2010 class was assigned to write an article on “Leadership” for publication on the NALA Web Site.
Read on to learn more and access the article
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Need a product or service for your office?
The NALA Vendor Directory is a terrific place to start. This is a list of legal vendors offering a great range of help including deposition services, document services, and investigations. Click the link below...
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Click here for more news articles
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Business Organizations: Incorporated Entities
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This page summarizes the Incorporated Entities Advanced Paralegal Certification. Use the links below to review the items, register or login to the course. If you have not already registered as a user on the NALA APC web site, click "Register for the Course." If you have already registered for this or another APC course, you have already created a user account, click "Login."
Paralegals who are not seeking the Advanced Paralegal Certification credential are welcome to register and take any APC courses as advanced continuing education programs. CLE credit is available upon completion of the courses from NALA for Certified Paralegals, and from various state CLE programs.
Course Description
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This course covers both general concepts and specific techniques used in corporate law, from incorporation to merger or dissolution. The course reviews:
- Agency law
- Business structures
The Business Organizations Incorporated Entities APC course relies on student participation through scenarios, case studies, and internet research. Upon completion of the course, paralegals will have completed exercises involving:
- Incorporation procedures
- Selecting and reserving a corporation’s name
- Documenting the articles of incorporation
- Comparing state and MBCA incorporation filing
- Creating an agenda and meeting notes for the organizational meeting
- Comparing state and MBCA requirements for organizational meetings, meeting notices, and naming the corporation
- Creating a resolutions
- Distinguishing characteristics of stock and bonds
- Comparing SEC and MBCA definitions of “securities”
- Locating and examining SEC forms on EDGAR
- Comparing state statutes and the MBCA approach for: par value requirements, provisions for issuing additional stock, amending the articles of incorporation, methods of acceptable securities registration, location of state securities regulator
- Comparing state blue sky laws to the Uniform Securities Act
- Determining the life stage of publicly traded corporate stock
- Completing a stock history form
- Computing filing fees
- Determining assets, liabilities, and stockholders equity from the balance sheet
- Determining different types of quorums
- Comparing procedures to file state annual reports
- Identifying the use of forward-looking statements and safe harbors
- Examining annual report to shareholders for format and language
- Researching a nonprofit’s status, registration, and tax exempt status
- Setting up an S corporation
- Exploring virtual data rooms
- Checking MBCA requirements for a plan of merger, articles of merger, and a share exchange
- Examining MBCA requirements to revoke the dissolution of a corporation
Reading exercises include review and analysis of current articles on:
- Section 351 Transfer Forms
- Private equity securities
- Securities industry vocabulary
- Google IPO
- Business structures: LLCs, LPs, LLPs, LLLPs
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Due Diligence
- Business courts
Course Modules
The Advanced Paralegal Certification course on Incorporated Entities consists of successful completion of 10 modules of text, assessments, and assignments. The modules and their objectives are as follows:
| 1. |
Introduction
We start the course with a brief look at the history of corporations, followed by a discussion of agency relationships. Last, we introduce corporations: types, advantages, governance, and power. |
| 2. |
Incorporation
Here, we cover the rights and responsibilities of the incorporators, including drafting the articles of incorporation and corporate bylaws, registering, and filing for incorporation. We also discuss the consequences of defective incorporation. |
| 3. |
The Organizational Meeting
In this module, we discuss and practice creating agendas, meeting notes, minutes, and resolutions, especially as they relate to the Organizational Meeting. Further, we explain the roles of the directors and shareholders and provide background on S corporation election. |
| 4. |
Corporate Securities
Corporate securities fund corporate startups and growth. We describe equity securities, debt securities, and federal and state filing of securities. |
| 5. |
Issuing Stock
The life cycle of stock is the base of this module. We define common, but often confusing, terms. We teach you how to keep a stock transfer ledger and read a balance sheet. |
| 6. |
Corporate Management
Or, “Who Does What?” We detail the rights and responsibilities of shareholders, directors, and officers. You learn to determine voting rights and quorums. |
| 7. |
Annual Reports
We discuss and examine examples of annual reports to the state and SEC, and annual reports to shareholders. Key topics include forward-looking statements and safe harbors. |
| 8. |
Corporate Structures
We outline the characteristics of corporate and hybrid or newer business structures in this module and then challenge you to explore some of the statutes and forms used in these businesses. |
| 9. |
Extraordinary Actions
Extraordinary corporate activities include amending the articles of incorporation, mergers, sale of assets, and dissolution. And that’s what this module is all about. |
| 10. |
Upcoming Issues
In our last module, we look ahead to upcoming changes that may affect the practice of corporate law. We also give tips on how to keep up with those changes and staying organized.. |
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