Becoming a certified Paralegal in California
Licensing Requirements:
In California as of today, there are no licensing of certification requirements to be a legal assitant. So that you can get a job as a paralegal in California over the other applicant you might go ahead with voluntarily getting a certification. You’re options are:
• Certified Legal Assistant (CLA)
• Registered Paralegal (RP)
You may choose, like most, to take part in becoming a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA). If this is your goal, then to start, you will need to take and pass an exam lasting two days that is given by the Certifying Board of Legal Assistance, as well as meeting the guidelines established by the National Association of Legal Assistants. Then, after duration of 5 years, your certification has to be renewed or you will lose your certificate and will restart the whole certification process.
You can become certified as a California Advance Specialist (CAS).
If you so choose to get take the PACE you can become a Registered Paralegal (RP). The National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) makes this examination. Every two years, you need to renew your certification by showing that you have completed 12 hours, in the last two years, of approved continuing legal education credits.
