Certified Legal Assistant ("CLA")
Certified Paralegal ("CP")
Advanced Certified Paralegal ("ACP")

The National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. ("NALA"), administers the CLA/CP Examination. Successful completion of this national, comprehensive, two-day written exam entitles paralegals to use the designation "CLA or CP" after their names. This signifies that these paralegals are capable of providing superior services to the law firms and companies who employ them and are eminently qualified to perform those services. As of January 31, 2009, there are 14,965 CLAs/CPs in the country and 3,866 of those are from the State of Florida.

CLA's are required to have 50 hours of continuing legal education credits over a five year period to maintain the CLA/CP certification.  Visit nala.org for more information.

In 2006, NALA initiated a new web-based format for the advanced certification program.  Current specialty certifications include Contracts Management/Contracts Administration, Discovery, Social Security Disability, Trial Practice, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Business Organizations: Incorporated Entities.  Programs scheduled to begin before the end of 2009 include Trademarks, Personal Injury, and Land Use.  See NALA’s ACP Page for more details.

Florida Certified Paralegal ("FCP")

Formerly known as Certified Florida Legal Assistant or CFLA

THE FCP EXAM AND STUDY GUIDE ARE UPDATED!!!!

The FCP Study Guide has been updated and can be obtained directly from PAF by sending $85.00, to

PARALEGAL ASSOCIATION OF FLORIDA, INC., Post Office Box 7073, West Palm Beach, FL  33405

The FCP examination is a three-hour, in-depth examination that covers Florida law. The exam consists of multiple choice, true/false and matching questions. The test will have two sections: (1) Ethics, Civil procedure and Florida General Law that includes Florida’s Court System, basic criminal law, basic property law, basic estate and probate law, basic family law and basic business law/contracts and (2) the choice of either real estate, probate law, business law, family law or criminal law.  Passing grade for each section is 70%. Both sections must be passed to attain the FCP designation. However, retakes of either section 1 or 2 will be available at future exams.   As of December 15, 2008, there are currently 164 FCPs in Florida. 

The cost of the review course is $100.00 for PAF members and $125.00 for non-members. 

The exam is an additional cost of $100 for PAF members and $125.00 for non-members.  See attached Application to take the FCP Exam.

Contact Margie Averill, ACP, FCP, FRP with questions.

Coming Soon for Fall 2009:

FCP Exam Application

FCP Brochure with Study Course Application

USE OF CERTIFICATION MARKS

On July 20, 2004, NALA was successful in its registration of the certification mark CP^®.  To help our members further understand the proper use of the CLA or CP designations, we would like to refer you to NALA’s website, and in particular NALA’s instructions on the use of certification marks.  You can review information, as well as the designation instructions at http://www.nala.org/cert.htm.  For further information, please contact NALA nala@nala.org or phone 918-587-6828.