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PLS®...an advanced certification for legal professionals - A Professional Goal
To be eligible to take the PLS examination you must have had three years of experience in the legal field. A partial waiver of the three-year experience requirement may be granted under certain circumstances.
The PLS certification is achieved after passing a one-day examination, which covers four areas:
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Written Communications |
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Office Procedures and Technology |
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Ethics and Judgment |
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Legal Knowledge and Skills |
The purpose of the PLS examination is to certify a legal secretary as a person who possesses:
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A mastery of office skills and people skills. |
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The ability to interact on a professional level with attorneys, clients, and other support staff. |
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The discipline to assume responsibility and exercise initiative and judgment. |
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A working knowledge of procedural law, the law library and how to prepare legal documents. |
Hundreds of colleges throughout the country are making available college credits for those achieving PLS certification. The American Council on Education (ACE) has reviewed the examination and recommended credit hours. Acceptance of the credit recommendations is at the discretion of each institution.
Paralegal Professional Certification (PP)
The Certified PP designation is an attainable goal for paralegals who wish to be identified 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:
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A mastery of procedural skills and communication skills. |
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An advanced knowledge of procedural law, the law library, and the preparation of legal documents. |
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A working knowledge of substantive law and the ability to perform specifically delegated substantive legal work under an attorney’s supervision. |
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The ability to interact on a professional level with attorneys, clients, and other staff. |
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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:
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The same high standard of ethical conduct imposed upon members of the Bar. |
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills. |
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Knowledge and understanding of legal terminology and procedures, as well as procedural and substantive law. |
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The ability to assume responsibility, exercise initiative and judgment, and prepare substantive legal documents within the scope of assigned authority. |
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Attaining this goal demonstrates dedication to professionalism and acceptance of the challenge to be exceptional. Personal motivation is necessary to attain such a goal. |
PP Examination Eligibility:
Any person who has five 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 certificate; a candidate with a paralegal degree may receive a two-year partial waiver).
The Exam Covers:
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Written Communications |
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Legal Knowledge and Skills |
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Ethics and Judgment Skills |
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Substantive Law |
RECERTIFICATION LINKS
For additional information on the above certifications, please visit the national NALS website at www.nals.org.
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