Santa Clara County Paralegal Association

Paralegal Association of Santa Clara County
PASCCO

Keeping You Informed

PASCCO Home Page Affiliations Board Members Committees Sections Contact

Paralegal Resume Posts Post a Job

Educational Conference Upcoming Events Past Events Sponsorship Opportunities Affiliated Associations

Join! Lost Your Password? Member Classifications Activities Services

Definition of Paralegal Certified Legal Assistant Advanced Certifications Continuing Education (MCLE)

Sustaining Members

Members Benefits
Jobs - Law Firms Jobs - Companies Jobs - Government Jobs - Educational Institutions Other Employment

2010 PASCCO Salary Survey Members Want Ads

PASCCO Archived Newsletters Res Ipsa Loquitur Tech Tips & Pointers RECAP (CAPA Publications) CAPA Directory Other Associations Newsletters

CLA/CP Certification Program

NALA (National Association of Legal Assistants) began developing the CP/APC (formerly the CLA/CLAS certification) certification program for paralegals shortly after its inception in 1975. Offered by professional associations, certification programs are voluntary and provide career development tools for those who have completed formal training. The CP/APC (Certified Paralegal/Advanced Paralegal Program) program has enabled the profession to develop a strong and responsive self-regulatory program offering a nationwide credential for legal assistants. The CP program establishes and serves as

National professional standard for legal assistants.

Means of identifying those who have reached this standard.

Credentialing program responsive to the needs of legal assistants and responsive to the fact that this form of self-regulation is necessary to strengthen and expand development of this career field.

Positive, ongoing, voluntary program to encourage the growth of the legal assistant profession, attesting to and encouraging a high level of achievement.

In order to pass, a legal assistant must successfully complete all five sections of the CP examination. Approximately 40% of the examinees pass all sections on the first sitting; over 60% of the examinees pass four or more sections of the examination on the first sitting.

Use of the CP credential signifies that a legal assistant is capable of providing superior services to firms and corporations. National surveys consistently show Certified Paralegals are better paid and better utilized in a field where attorneys are looking for a credible, dependable way to measure ability. The credential has been recognized by the American Bar Association as a designation which marks a high level of professional achievement. The CP credential has also been recognized by over 47 legal assistant organizations and numerous bar associations.

For more information on the CP/APC program, visit www.nala.org/Certification.aspx .