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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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Personal Injury-Core Course
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This page summarizes the Advanced Paralegal Certification course on Personal Injury. 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.
Personal Injury Practice Area Certification
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The Advanced Paralegal Certification Program for Personal Injury paralegals offers a variety of certifications to paralegals based on practice areas. Paralegals may earn multiple certifications in practice areas. If a Certified Paralegal (CP) successfully completes the Core Course and all 8 practice area courses, the paralegal is eligible for the ACP Personal Injury Credential.
The following is required of Certified Paralegals (CP) for ACP certification in a practice area:
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- CP certification in good standing
- Successful completion of PI Core Course Pre-Test
Note: This is requirement is waived for paralegals with the Discovery and Trial Practice ACP Certifications.
- Successful completion of PI Core Course including submission of the Learning Contract and Statement of Completion
- Successful completion of a PI practice area course including submission of the Learning Contract and Statement of Completion
Click here to visit the descriptions of the practice area courses.
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Fees: The Personal Injury Core Course registration fee includes ONE practice area course. Subsequent practice area courses are $150 for members and $200 for non-members of NALA.
Personal Injury Core Course Description
The PI Core Course is required for all Certified Paralegals seeking an ACP credential. This course combines substantive and procedural personal injury law with the essential steps and elements of pursuing or defending a claim for personal injury damages - from client intake and case evaluation to settlement or trial. The core course reviews:
- the essential elements of a personal injury case: parties, liabilities, damages, forms, documents, and witnesses;
- obtaining police, medical, and employment records necessary for calculation and proof of liability and damages;
- locating, retaining and preparing experts and their reports for case evaluation, assistance, and trial testimony;
- gathering information and preparing settlement proposals and demands; and
- preparing and presenting witnesses, exhibits, and documentation to support or defend a case at trial.
Personal Injury Core Course - Method of Teaching and Objectives
The Personal Injury APC course relies on student participation through analysis of fact scenarios, compilation of witness statements that apply course concepts to practical, real-world challenges, and internet research. Upon completion of the core course, paralegals will have completed readings and exercises involving:
- Types of personal injury cases
- Elements of a personal injury case
- Liabilities
- Compensable damages
- Defenses
- Sovereign immunity and the Federal Tort Claims Act
- Client intake and interviews
- Case assessment
- Information gathering, investigation and case evaluation
- Use of practice and procedure forms - releases, consents, and powers of attorney
- Gathering records, documents, and statements
- Case timelines
- Researching parties, cases, and the law
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- The role of insurance companies and subrogation
- Finding and retaining experts for case evaluation and assistance
- Admissibility and use of expert testimony under the Federal Rules of Evidence and Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- Negotiation strategy and objectives
- Drafting settlement proposals and demands
- Documentation of damages and other elements
- Trial theme, strategy and preparation
- Pleading and discovery
- Discovery of expert information
- Demonstrative exhibits
- Presentation at trial
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Reading exercises include review and analysis of current articles on:
- Outlining, mapping, charting and note-taking
- Insurance and subrogation issues
- Client screening interviews and questionnaires
- Using consent and release forms
- Gathering and summarizing witness statements
- Resources for finding and retaining expert witnesses
- Research of variations in different jurisdictions
Prerequisite Knowledge
The Personal Injury Core Course and Specialty Area Courses are written for paralegals with a working knowledge of the following:
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
Federal Rules of Evidence
Statutes of Limitations and Repose
Burden of Proof
Damages and Remedies
Insurance Policies and Subrogation |
Practice & Procedure Forms
Power of Attorney
Release and Consent
Liens
Agency
Witness Statements and Affidavits
Internet Research |
Course Modules
The Personal Injury Core Course consists of five modules. The modules and their subjects are as follows:
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Elements of a Personal Injury Case
An overview of the basic components of a personal injury case, including types of cases, case timelines, liabilities, damages, defenses, witnesses, documents, records, and forms. |
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Investigating the Personal Injury Case
This module discusses the process of evaluating a case, beginning with the initial phone and office interviews; use of consent and release forms to gather information and records; research of the client and legal issues; identification of parties and subrogation interests; case evaluation; and case acceptance. |
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Experts
This module discusses the various uses of the expert in the personal injury case, including locating, evaluating and retaining experts; the criteria for admission of expert testimony at trial under the FRCP and Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; preparation of experts' reports; discovery of expert information in litigation; and the paralegal's role in working with the expert during the case and in preparation for trial. |
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Negotiation and Settlement
This module discusses negotiation strategies and objectives; preparations, and summaries of witness statements; facts, legal issues, and damages; and the purposes and elements of settlement proposals and demands. |
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Presenting the Personal Injury Case at Trial
This module discusses the elements of preparing a case and presenting it at trial, such as the development as trial strategies and themes; preparing pleadings; consideration of jurisdiction and venue; pretrial discovery issues and motions; use of experts and demonstrative exhibits; final preparation before trial; and the paralegal's assistance at trial. |
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