Most people familiar with the legal profession know that the CLA exam must be passed before employment. However, not all that experience can translate into passing the Paralegal Certification Exam or the test for Legal Assistant. This is because many law firms are looking for paralegals instead of CLAs. Even though most legal assistants work under lawyers, many firms are now looking for paralegals instead.
In addition, most law firms will only hire a specific number of paralegals, so having a certification would be a positive mark against you. Additionally, becoming certified shows potential employers that you have spent some time studying and that you understand what your responsibilities are on a daily basis. Many people who work as paralegals spend the majority of their time preparing cases for attorneys. Therefore, gaining certification is critical for paralegals.
In order to take the examination, you will have to take a number of classes. These classes will cover all of the topics that are studied in the Bar Exam. Students who choose to take these classes should plan to commit about 500 hours to the class. Most law students take only enough classes to meet their state requirements, so they will not be allowed to take the Paralegal Certification Exam until they have met their state requirement. For legal assistants who take this into consideration, they may want to think about taking courses in other states as well, to make sure they have sufficient preparation for the exam in their home state.
If you plan on taking the Certified Legal Assistant Exam, you will need to find a paralegal training school that will allow you to take the test. Most paralegal certification programs will require you to take the Certified Legal Assistant Exam, in addition to a number of other tests. Some states only require that you pass a certified attorney registration. Others require you to be licensed or registered in another state. Before taking the exam, you should make sure that your paralegal certification training school will allow you to take the exam, because if they won’t, you will have to find a school that will allow you to sit for the certification instead.
You will also need to know what your score will be prior to the exam. Most certified legal assistants will receive an evaluation based on the questions that are posed to them and will receive an A or B grade. If you receive an unsatisfactory score, you will need to take the appropriate remedial course to earn back your failing grade. In most states, however, attorneys who receive an unsatisfactory rating for three straight years are required to take a certification class before qualifying for certification. This means that if you fail the first time, you should choose another certified legal assistant training school.
The Certified Legal Assistant Exam is not the only type of exam that you will need to pass if you want to become a certified legal assistant. You will also need to take a number of other mandatory courses, such as pharmacy law, business law, and family law among other classes. While these classes can seem unnecessary, they are very important and will help you succeed in the CLA field.
Becoming a certified legal assistant can be a wonderful experience. This is one of the most popular fields within the United States, and people are sure to look forward to taking the CLA test. If you are ready to start your career as a legal assistant, then take the exam today. You won’t be sorry.
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