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I have fielded numerous questions during my short tenure as Chair of the Legal Assistant Division ("LAD") regarding qualification for membership in the LAD. One of the following
standards must be met in order to qualify for membership:
- Successful completion of an ABA approved program of education and training for legal assistants, and current employment as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly
licensed Utah attorney.
- Successful completion of an institutionally accredited legal assistant training program that consists of a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of which
fifteen (15) are substantive legal courses, and current employment as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed Utah attorney.
- Successful completion of an institutionally accredited legal assistant training program that consists of sixteen (16) semester hours of substantive legal courses, plus forty-five (45)
semester hours (or equivalent quarter hours) of general college curriculum, plus at least one (1) full year of employment experience as a legal assistant under the direct supervision
of a duly licensed Utah attorney, and current employment as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed Utah attorney.
- A minimum of five (5) continuous years of full time employment experience as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed attorney, which experience complies with
the definition of a legal assistant set forth by the Utah Supreme Court, and current employment as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed Utah attorney, and
having completed at least sixteen (16) hours of continuing legal education in the prior two (2) years.
- Having a baccalaureate or higher degree in any field and at least two (2) continuous years of full-time employment experience as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a
duly licensed Utah attorney, and current employment as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed Utah attorney.
- Successful completion of the voluntary certification examination given by the National Association of Legal Assistants ("the CLA Exam"), or a comparable examination which
has been recognized in the industry for at least seven (7) continuous years, and completion of at least six (6) months of full-time employment as a legal assistant under the direct
supervision of a duly licensed Utah attorney, and current employment as a legal assistant under the direct supervision of a duly licensed Utah attorney.
I also note there is a lot of confusion surrounding the terms certified and certificated. I will attempt to clear up some of the confusion.
A you can see from the above, one of the several ways a person can qualify for membership in the LAD is through a voluntary certification exam. This means "successful completion of
the voluntary certification examination given by NALA (National Association of Legal Assistants), or a comparable examination recognized in the industry for at least seven (7) continuous
years." These recognized certification exams are sort of mini-bar exams. The NALA exam takes two days to complete and encompasses certain basic skills common to the legal profession
including written communication skills, judgment and analytical abilities, and an understanding of ethics, human relations, legal terminology, and legal research, as well as substantive
knowledge of law and procedures. There is a lot of study and preparation that goes on before taking an exam. This formal certification bestows a measure of professional recognition to
those who achieve significant competence in the legal field, and authorizes individuals to use the "certified" designation.
Many Utah educational facilities offer legal assistant/paralegal programs. Once the program is completed the graduate is given a certificate. Some refer to this as being certificated.
This is a good starting point for getting your foot into the door, so to speak, and will definitely be helpful if pursuing formal "certification".
As legal assistants, we are an integral part of the legal services team and must strive to improve the profession through continuing education, and practical application of our knowledge
and skills.
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