REGISTER
TODAY TO TAKE A NALS CERTIFICATION EXAM! DEADLINE TO
APPLY IS JANUARY 1, 2007
Not Enough, Too Much, Not Me Certification
Kathy Sieckman, PP, PLS, NALS Certifying Board
Perhaps
you think you do not have enough experience or you think
you have too much experience or you think you are not a
secretary. Well, when it comes to professional certifications,
NALS has thought of all of that. We all know that
NALS membership is open to those “engaged in work of a
legal nature,” and NALS offers certifications to nearly
all legal professionals.
You
think you do not have enough experience? The ALS
certification requires only completion of an accredited
business/legal course, completion of the NALS Legal Training
Course, or one year of general office experience. Receptionists,
file clerks, document clerks, and other nontraditional
support staff could make themselves more valuable to themselves
and to their firms by studying for and taking the ALS exam. If
you want a career in the legal field and are interested
in moving to another position or developing the position
you have into your dream job, the ALS exam could be the
first step. You will prove to your employer and yourself
that you are in it for the long haul—that the legal field
is your career. The ALS certification can also be
used as a stepping stone to the PLS certification. A
baby step, if necessary, for those who meet the criteria
for the PLS certification but feel they are out of practice
studying, are really not ready, or just want to start slow.
You
think you have too much experience? Although the
legal field is ever-changing and no one can ever have too
much experience, the PLS requires three years of experience
in the legal field. Some of that experience may be
waived for post-secondary degrees, successful completion
of the ALS exam, or other certifications. This exam
is geared toward those career legal support staff working
as secretaries, legal assistants, junior paralegals, and
others who are on a constant quest to improve themselves. Even
with 20 years of experience, you are guaranteed to learn
something just by studying for the PLS exam.
You
say you are not a secretary? If you are working as
a paralegal or legal assistant, NALS has thought of you,
too. The Professional Paralegal certification is
available for any person who has five years of experience
performing paralegal/legal assistant duties. A partial
waiver is available for a post-secondary degree, other
certification, or a paralegal certificate. What better
way to prove to yourself, your employer, and potentially
your employer’s malpractice insurance carrier that you
take your career seriously and that you are keeping up
with changes in the law? As you may know, some states
are working toward the possibility of licensing paralegals. Ohio,
for instance, recently implemented a voluntary credentialing
program for Ohio paralegals who must meet certain education
and experience criteria, have 12 hours of accredited CLE,
three professional references, and pass a written examination. California
is currently the only state that actual regulates paralegals
through a regulation adopted in 2000 requiring persons
using the title “paralegal,” “legal assistant,” and the
like to meet certain educational and experience qualifications
and CLE requirements. Changes are coming. What
better way to keep ahead of possible paralegal regulation
than to be certified now?
NALS
certification has something for everyone. Whether
you are ready to be certified for any legal career in the
comprehensive ALS and PLS certifications or you are ready
for something geared specifically to paralegal duties in
the Professional Paralegal certification, you will find
it at NALS. Even if you do not think certification
fits your present specific legal career, the act of studying
for a certification exam will increase your knowledge,
give you more self-esteem, and make you more valuable than
you can imagine. You never know where your career
will lead you, and it pays to be prepared. If you
are working in one position and there is an opening in
a better position, you may well be the most capable person
around, and your certification will prove that you are
willing and able to meet the challenge.
Meet
the NALS certification challenge!
REGISTER TODAY TO TAKE A NALS CERTIFICATION EXAM! DEADLINE
TO APPLY IS JANUARY 1, 2007
