CPLs are expected to have a good working knowledge of the law, including its specialties, how a law office functions, the rules and regulations, civil litigation, interviewing, writing, research and citation, and competence in law library and/or on-line research skills. A CPL should be able to initiate any kind of legal action, with a knowledge of the forms and pleadings required, including the management of a lawsuit from start to finish.

Eligibility

To achieve certification, an individual must have completed an educational training course (a minimum of 500 hours) or have 1 year of experience in a legal office providing similar services through on-the-job training (with verification of training/or experience).

Practice and Certification Testing

Cert-blaster: Competency related to knowledge of the law (and its specialties), rules and regulations, English grammar, citation, due process, court filings, rules and procedures, and the ability to research and prepare a court case. The practice test takes about an hour and simulates the type of questions that are on the certification test. The tests are on-line, take about an hour or so, are open book, and when submitted, you are provided the answers to the questions for your review and further study (if needed).

Exam-Guard: The certification test takes 2 hours, is timed, and the results are immediate and reported to you within 48 hours. The test is reviewed by an instructor prior to issuing the final grade and certificate.

Certification Testing Options: