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What are members are saying:

KLPI provides scholarships for students who are enrolled in college and will be going into the legal field. What a wonderful way of showing our support for our own profession.

Mary Gamble, member

*****

I have been a member of KLPI for almost 8 years & have thoroughly enjoyed being involved with such a professional organization. I enjoy the seminars, both for getting to know the other members and for the legal knowledge I gain from them. The speakers offer lots of insight & helpful materials on a vast array of topics. I hope to be able to be an integral part of KLPI for many years to come. It is truly a worthwhile organization. I want to also point out that KLPI has been very active in the lives of its members on a personal level as well, especially during illness or tragedy. The personal element of an organization should never be omitted & I am glad to be a part of such an organization that appreciates its members, as well as nurtures them.

Cynda Conrade, member

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM

Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS)

The ALS is the basic certification for the legal professional and is received after passing a four-hour three-part examination, which is sponsored by the NALS . . . the association for legal professionals. Membership in NALS is not a requirement.

The ALS Examination:

-- Demonstrates ability to perform business communication tasks.

-- Gauges ability to maintain office records and calendars, and prioritize multiple tasks when

given real-life scenarios.

-- Measures understanding of office equipment and related procedures.

-- Denotes aptitude for understanding legal terminology, legal complexities, and supporting

documents.

-- Assesses recognition of accounting terms in order to solve accounting problems, and

appraises knowledge of law office protocol as prescribed by ethical codes.

To sit for the ALS examination, an individual must have completed one of the following:

-- An accredited office curriculum course.

-- The NALS training course.

-- One year of general office experience.

The examination has three parts, and must be taken on the first attempt. If you do not pass the entire examination on the first attempt, you may retake the examination parts you did not pass. All failed parts must be retaken at the same time. You will be charged the full exam fee each time you sit. Those passing the exam will receive a certificate that is valid for five (5) years. Certification may be extended through continuing education, based on NALS guidelines, for one year.

The exam covers:

-- Part 1: Written Communications

-- Part 2: Office Procedures and Legal Knowledge

-- Part 3: Ethics, Human Relations, and Judgment

Examination Dates:

-- March: First Saturday

-- June: First Saturday *

-- September: Last Saturday

-- December: Last Saturday *

Application Deadlines:

-- March: Postmarked by January 1

-- June: Postmarked by April 15 *

-- September: Postmarked by August 1

-- December: Postmarked by October 15 *

* June and December testing are for those who’ve completed the Basic or Advanced NALS Legal Training Course.

Examination Fees:

-- Student/LTC Participant (minimum of 9 credit hours) -- $50

-- NALS member (not a full-time student) -- $75

-- Nonmember (not a full-time student) --$100

Professional Legal Secretary (PLS)

The PLS, an advanced certification for the legal professional, is received after passing a one-day, four-part examination, sponsored by the NALS . . . the association for legal professionals.

The PLS certification demonstrates:

-- A mastery of office skills.

-- The ability to interact on a professional level with attorneys, clients and other support staff.

-- The discipline to assume responsibility and exercise initiative and judgment

-- A working knowledge of procedural law, the law library, and how to prepare legal

documents.

Any person who has three years experience in the legal field may take the examination. A partial waiver of the three-year legal experience requirement may be granted for post-secondary degrees, successful completion of the ALS exam, or other certifications. The maximum waiver is one year. Membership in the NALS is not a requirement.

All four parts of the examination must be taken on the first attempt. If you do not pass the entire examination on the first attempt, but do pass one or more parts, you may retake the part (or parts) you failed. All failed parts must be retaken at the same time. Those passing the exam will receive a certificate, which is valid for five years. Recertification is required every five years and may be achieved through the accumulation of continuing legal education hours and activities.

The PLS Certification Exam covers:

-- Part 1: Written Communications

-- Part 2: Office Procedures and Technology

-- Part 3: Ethics and Judgment

-- Part 4: Legal Knowledge and Skills

Examination dates each year:

-- March: First Saturday in March

-- September: Last Saturday in September

Application Deadlines:

-- March: Postmarked by January 1

-- September: Postmarked by August 1

Examination Fees:

-- For the initial examination: Members - $150; Nonmembers - $200

-- For part retakes: Members - $40 per part; November - $50 per part

Certified Professional Paralegal (PP)

The PP certification was established in 2004 by NALS . . . the association for legal professionals, for paralegals wishing to be identified nationwide as exceptional in all areas of law. The certificate is received after passing a one-day, four-part examination.

Successful completion of the PP examination demonstrates:

-- A mastery of procedural skills and communication skills. An advanced knowledge of

procedural law, the law library, and the preparation of legal documents.

-- A working knowledge of substantive law and the ability to perform specifically delegated

substantive legal work under an attorney’s supervision.

-- The ability to interact on a professional level with attorneys, clients, and other staff.

-- The discipline to assume responsibility and exercise initiative and judgment while adhering

to legal ethical standards at all times.

Working under the supervision of a practicing lawyer or a judge, the Certified PP is expected to possess:

-- The same high standard of ethical conduct imposed upon members of the Bar.

-- Excellent written and verbal communications skills.

-- Knowledge and understanding of legal terminology and procedures, as well as procedural

and substantive law.

-- The ability to assume responsibility, exercise initiative and judgment, and prepare

substantive legal documents within the scope of assigned authority. Attaining this goal

demonstrates dedication to professionalism and acceptance of the challenge to be

exceptional. Personal motivation is necessary to attain such a goal.

To be eligible to sit for the PP examination, an individual must have five (5) years experience performing paralegal/legal assistant duties. A candidate may receive a partial waiver of one year if he or she has a post-secondary degree, other certification, or a paralegal certification. A candidate with a paralegal degree may receive a two-year partial waiver.

The examination covers the following:

-- Part 1: Written Communications

-- Part 2: Legal Knowledge and Skills

-- Part 3: Ethics and Judgment Skills

-- Part 4: Substantive Law

All four parts of the examination must be taken on the first attempt with the exception of current PLS’s in which only Part 4 in Substantive Law is needed. If you do not pass the entire examination on the first attempt, but do pass one or more parts, you may retake the part (or parts) you failed. All failed parts must be retaken at the same time. Those passing the exam will receive a certificate, which is valid for five years. Recertification is required every five years and may be achieved through the accumulation of continuing legal education hours and activities.

Examination dates:

-- March: First Saturday

-- September: Last Saturday

Application Deadlines:

-- March: Postmarked by January 1

-- September: Postmarked by August 1

Examination Fees:

-- For Current PLS: Members $150 Nonmembers $200

-- For Non-PLS: Members $200 Nonmembers $250

-- Retake fees: Members $50 per part Nonmembers $60 per part

Certified Legal Assistant (CLA)

The CLA (Certified Legal Assistant), or CP (Certified Paralegal) certification is received after passing a two-day comprehensive examination sponsored by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). NALA has redesigned the CLA certificate to encourage those who have completed the CLA certification to use either CLA or CP as their professional credential. The certification mark CP was successfully registered on July 20, 2004

Eligibility requirements to sit for the CLA or CP exam fall into three different categories that include the following:

-- Graduation from a legal assistant program.

-- Bachelor’s degree in any field plus one year experience as a legal assistant.

-- A high school diploma plus seven (7) years experience as a legal assistant under the

supervision of a member of the Bar, plus evidence of a minimum of twenty (20) hours of

continuing legal education credit to have been completed within a two (2) year period prior

to the examination.

The major subject areas of the examination are listed below:

-- Communications, Human Relations and Interviewing Techniques

-- Ethics

-- Legal Research

-- Judgment and Analytical Ability

-- Substantive Law

-- Legal Terminology*

*This section consists of five (5) mini-examinations covering (1) the American Legal System and four (4) of the following areas as selected by examinees:

-- Administrative Law

-- Bankruptcy

-- Business

-- Organizations/Corporations

-- Contracts

-- Family Law

-- Criminal Law and Procedure

-- Litigation

-- Probate and Estate Planning

-- Real Estate

Certified Legal Assistant Specialist (CLAS)

The Specialist certification is received after passing a four-hour examination, which is also sponsored by NALA. This is available only to legal professional who have successfully completed the Certified Legal Assistant examination. Specialty certification is available in the areas of probate and estate planning; corporate and business law; criminal law and procedure; real estate; bankruptcy; intellectual property; and civil litigation. You may sit for as many of these specialty exams as you like. The specialty exams are given during the same time frame as the CLA exam.

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Last modified: 2/24/08