Details about . . . Florida FCP Program

Established in 1980, the Paralegal Association of Florida Inc.'s Certification program (the FCP) complements NALA's Certified Paralegal (CP) program.   Its purpose is to provide a standard for measurement of advanced skills and knowledge in Florida law of those persons who have already achieved the national Certified Paralegal certification.

The Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc., began administering the FCP (formerly known as Certified Florida Legal Assistant or CFLA) exam in 1983.  As NALA's largest affiliate association in the State of Florida, PAF, Inc., was the first in the nation to administer such an exam for the state level.   There are presently 164 FCPs in the State of Florida.

The FCP examination is administered through the Certifying Board of PAF, Inc. in conjunction with the PAF, Inc. mid-year meeting in the Spring and the annual meeting in September.  The exam takes three hours and is limited to Florida law.  A two-day FCP review course has also been established.  PAF, Inc., has developed a FCP study guide which is available from PAF, Inc. Headquarters at a cost of $85 plus shipping.

Upon successful completion of the FCP examination, a legal assistant becomes authorized to use the designation "FCP" with the "CP" or "ACP" designation.  FCPs are required to have 30 hours of continuing legal education credit over a five-year period to maintain their FCP certification which must be directly applicable to Florida law.  Proof of continuing legal education must be submitted to and is maintained by the Certifying Board.

Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. HEADQUARTERS
www.pafinc.org
800-433-4352

Certifying Board Chair
Margie Averill, ACP, CFLA
PAF-CFLA@hotmail.com
 

Details about . . . Louisiana  Certified Paralegal  Program

October 4-5, 1996 - First Testing Session

At its 1992 annual meeting, the members of the Louisiana State Paralegal Association passed a resolution which endorsed voluntary certification as a means of establishing professional standards and promoting recognition of the paralegal profession. Subsequently, LSPA determined a state voluntary certification credential should be developed and made available to all Louisiana paralegals who desire to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge, a high degree of proficiency in Louisiana Law, and adherence to a Code of Ethics to enhance the quality of paralegal services available to the Louisiana legal community and to the public it serves. The resulting certification program requires the candidate to sit for both the LCP (Louisiana Certified Paralegal) and CLA (Certified Legal Assistant) examinations. The LCP examination is designed to test the examinee's knowledge and understanding of Louisiana legal and judicial system, Louisiana general law, ethics, civil procedure and four areas of Louisiana substantive law. The CLA examination offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants tests the core paralegal skills, knowledge of the American legal and judicial system, and four areas of substantive law based on Federal law and common law principles.

To qualify for the examination, one must either have a valid CLA credential or meet one of the alternate eligibility requirements of the CLA examination.

Testing Sessions:

The examination is offered twice a year - in October and in the spring (March or April).

Subjects:

As a state specific examination, the LCP examination is designed to test a paralegal's knowledge and comprehension of the law in the State of Louisiana. Each examinee will be required to take the General law, Ethics and Civil Procedures sections and must select four law topics, from a list of eight, that will comprise the substantive law section of that examinee's test. The substantive law areas are:

Business Organizations

Contracts/Obligations

Criminal Law and Procedure

Wills/Probate/Successions/Trusts

Family Law

Property

Torts

Evidence

Preparation:

Those individuals who have not had formal substantive law paralegal courses in Louisiana would benefit from study of a current textbook covering the topics selected for the substantive law section. Much of the material covered in this section of the examination is acquired through experience in the legal field.

LSPA offers a review course once a year to assist interested parties in preparing for the examination. Study materials from the review course sessions are available from the Louisiana State Paralegal Association.