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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!
 To download the 2012 Job Analysis Report. This major study of the paralegal career field was released by the NALA Certifying Board June 15, 2012.
 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.
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 35 years of experience in this area, and nearly 17,000 paralegals attest to the professionalism of the program.
.gif) CLE Look Up for Certified Paralegals
Click this link to review the CLE credits recorded on your account. This information includes the expiration date of your certificate, the total credits awarded, as well as the credits that are classified as non-substantive credits, and ethics. This information is updated every 24-48 hours during the business week.
Members need to log in with their NALA Net User name, and member number as the password. Non-members will be provided login information in an electronic newsletter. Click here to request this information from NALA Headquarters.
Need to pay an exam fee?
here for a payment window.
Want to file a request for CLE credits on-line?
to save time and energy!
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News & Upcoming Events |
Real Estate-Principles Released
The NALA Advanced Paralegal Certification Board has released the much anticipated Real Estate Principles course! Real Estate Principles is now available online . . .
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New Advanced Certification Course - Child Custody
A new Advanced Paralegal Certification (APC) course in Family Law – Child Custody, Support and Visitation is now available to paralegals seeking advanced certification in this specialty practice area ...
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Limited Practice Rule for Nonlawyers Approved June 15
June 15, 2012 Washington Supreme Court Order #25700-A-1005
Consistent with GR 25 (the Supreme Court rule establishing the Practice of Law Board), the rule establishes a framework for the licensing and regulation of non-attorneys to engage in discrete activities that currently fall within the definition of the "practice of law" (as defined by GR 24) and which are currently subject to exclusive regulation and oversight by this Court. The rule itself authorizes no one to practice. It simply establishes the regulatory framework for the consideration of proposals to allow non-attorneys to practice.
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Certifying Board Releases Job Analysis Report
The report is used by the Certifying Board to validate and update the Certified Paralegal exam as needed and ensure NALA has current information about the roles and responsibilities of paralegals.
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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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Alternative Dispute Resolution
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This page summarizes the Alternative Dispute Resolution 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 dispute resolution, from pre-dispute agreement clauses to settlement contracts. The course reviews:
- the interaction of federal law, state statutes, and ADR
- strategies, such as methods of negotiation
- legal and human aspects of ADR
The Alternative Dispute Resolution APC course relies on student participation through case studies, and internet research. Upon completion of the course, paralegals will have completed exercises involving:
- Types of ADR procedures
- Comparison of state statutes to uniform acts
- Application of ADR law in scenarios
- Online resources to use for further research
- Enforceability of DR contract clauses
- Selection of resolution strategy
- Drafting Pre-dispute Agreements
- Out of state requirements for attorneys
- Selection of law, forum, and rules
- Client interviewing skills
- Right to compel arbitration
- Court-annexed ADR process
- Special Masters, Referees, and Magistrates
- Non-binding arbitration
- Discovery, jurisdiction and arbitrability issues
- Preparing for arbitration and mediation sessions
- Participating in ADR sessions
- Challenges to arbitration awards
- Ethics
Reading and listening exercises include review and analysis of current articles on:
- History and need for ADR
- Effective settlement conferences
- Preparing for arbitration and mediation
- Role of the arbitrator
- Special masters
- Judge's perspective of effective settlement conferences
- Ethics resources
Course Modules
The Advanced Paralegal Certification course on Alternative Dispute Resolution consists of successful completion of 10 modules of text, assessments, and assignments. The modules and their objectives are as follows:
| 1. |
Overview
A look at the history of ADR, types and selection of methods of ADR, compulsory and mandated ADR, and laws and significant cases regarding ADR. |
| 2. |
Laws, Rules and Regulations in ADR
This module discusses laws, rules and regulations involving ADR. It also looks at contract law and describes how this intersects with ADR. The module also continues looking at the history and development of ADR. |
| 3. |
Issues in Particular Disputes
This modules reviews legislation affecting particular disputes and common issues and motivations in several types of cases. This modules provides exercises to gain practical experience recognizing the motivations of using ADR, determining the issues and applying ADR laws. |
| 4. |
Pre-Dispute Strategies
This module discusses pre-dispute agreements, the elements of the initial interview, and the what-when-why of dispute types. |
| 5. |
Post-Dispute Strategies
This module discusses dealing with a dispute after it has started. The material includes tips for handling clients and the initial interview. In addition, the right to compel arbitration is reviewed. |
| 6. |
ADR and the Courts
This module discusses jurisdictional issues, stays of arbitration and other powers of the court, court ADR programs, settlement conferences, and special functionaries. |
| 7. |
Arbitration v. Mediation
In this module, we follow two cases that demonstrate the differences and similarities in preparing cases for arbitration and mediation. This includes research, the case binder, initiating ADR, selecting a neutral, discovery and witnesses. |
| 8. |
ADR Procedures
This module discusses the procedures of arbitration and mediation and the differences between litigation, arbitration and mediation. |
| 9. |
Post ADR Procedures
This module discusses what happens after the arbitration hearing or mediation session. This includes award - confirming and enforcing them, and seeking to correct, modify, challenge and vacate awards. |
| 10. |
Ethical and UPL Issues
This final module looks at arbitrator immunity, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, impartiality, inequality, and the unauthorized practice of law. |
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