Transcript The Plan for Certification of Paralegals A Program of the

The Plan for Certification
of Paralegals
A Program of the North Carolina State Bar
Presented by the
North Carolina State Bar Board of
Paralegal Certification
What is the purpose of the Plan?
• Self-funded, voluntary certification program
• Provides incentives to North Carolina paralegals
to meet minimum education and continuing
education requirements
• Does not restrict the use of the term “paralegal”
nor differentiate the services between a certified
and non-certified paralegal
• Identifies individuals who have met the Plan’s
requirements and work under the direction and
supervision of a licensed lawyer
What was the impetus for
creating the Plan?
• To establish a recognized, professional standard
for the paralegal profession in North Carolina
• Chapter 84 was amended in 2004 to authorize
the State Bar to regulate and enforce the Plan
• Plan was approved by the State Bar and North
Carolina Supreme Court in 2004
How does the Plan benefit
attorneys?
• Benchmark to assist attorneys in their
hiring practices
• Enhance the attorney’s practice
• Reduce ethical violations, UPL violations
and malpractice claims
How does the Plan benefit
paralegals?
• Establishing minimum education and continuing
education standards enhances the quality of
legal services that paralegals can provide to
attorneys and indirectly to their clients
• Lends credence to the paralegal profession by
emphasizing the importance of paralegals in the
practice of law
• Provides much deserved recognition of the
paralegal profession in North Carolina
Who administers the Plan?
• Board of Paralegal Certification (a standing
Board of the State Bar)
• Board composed of 9 members (5 NC licensed
attorneys, one of which must be a program
director of a qualified paralegal studies program,
and 4 certified paralegals)
How do you become a
certified paralegal?
You must fulfill the educational
requirements of Rule .0119(a) and
successfully pass an examination.
What are the requirements of Rule
.0119(a)?
• You must have received your associate’s,
bachelor’s or master’s degree from a
qualified paralegal studies program
OR
• You must have an associate’s or
bachelor’s degree in any other discipline
PLUS have received a certificate from a
qualified paralegal studies program.
What is a Qualified Paralegal
Studies Program?
A program of paralegal or legal assistant
studies that is approved by the American
Bar Association, or that offers at least the
equivalent of 18 semester credits of
coursework in paralegal studies as
prescribed by the American Bar
Association Guidelines for the Approval of
Paralegal Education, and is an institutional
member of the Southern Association of
Colleges and Schools or other regional
accrediting agency recognized by the
United States Department of Education.
Note:
Determination that a paralegal studies
program is qualified under this
section does not constitute an
approval or an endorsement of the
program by the Board or the North
Carolina State Bar.
How Do I Choose a Paralegal
Program?
• The American Bar Association
(www.abanet.org) provides a list of ABAapproved programs
• Review the brochure “How to Choose a
Paralegal Program” from the American
Association for Paralegal Education
(www.aafpe.org); this document was
created with the ABA, NALA and NFPA.
What designations can be
used by a certified paralegal?
• North Carolina Certified Paralegal (“NCCP”); or
• North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal
(“NCSB/CP”); or
• Paralegal Certified by the North Carolina State
Bar Board of Paralegal Certification.
NOTE:
The plan does not preclude an
individual from calling himself or
herself a paralegal. It only restricts
you from using the designations
above unless you have complied with
terms of the Plan.
NOTE:
The plan does not expand the duties
of paralegals. Paralegals are still
required to be supervised by a
licensed attorney unless authorized
by law to provide services directly to
the public.
What is the fee to apply to sit for
the certification exam?
$125.00
What is the fee to take the
certification exam?
$50.00 which will be required once an
applicant is approved to sit for the
certification exam
What are the CPE
requirements?
• Six (6) total hours of annual CPE
• One (1) hour must be in professional
responsibility (ethics)
What is the annual renewal
fee?
$50.00
When are renewals due?
Renewals are due annually on either July 1
or January 1, depending on your original
date of certification.
What is the Certification
Committee?
•
Composed of seven members appointed by the
Board (two members must be lawyers and two
members must be paralegals).
•
Responsible for developing and administering
the exam.
When and where is the
examination given?
• Exam will be offered twice a year - once in the
spring and once in the fall.
• The examination is administered at a number of
sites throughout the state.
How long is the exam and
what topics are covered?
• The exam consists of 150 multiple choice
questions.
• Examinees are given three hours to complete
the exam.
• Topics covered are civil litigation; commercial
law; criminal law; ethics; family law; legal
research; real property; and wills, trusts, and
estate administration. (Exam questions may not
be equally distributed among the different areas
of law.)
Who is ineligible to qualify
under the Plan?
• Individual whose certification or license is under
suspension or revocation
• Individual whose license to practice law is under
suspension or revocation
• Individual who has been convicted of a criminal
act
• Individual who is not a legal resident of the
United States
Where can I find more
information about the Plan?
• Visit the North Carolina State Bar web site at
www.nccertifiedparalegal.gov or contact the
North Carolina State Bar at (919) 828-4620.