Continuing Legal Education

Continuing legal education for paralegal certification
By D. L. Patrick, Freelance Editor and Writer Continuing legal education for paralegals is easier to pursue due to an increased presence of online programs to obtain credits required for certification. There are a variety of course offerings on DVD, MP3 and iPod format as well as study guides which are downloadable to any computer day or evening. Take the traditional route and sign up for paralegal continuing legal education seminars and conferences nationwide.
 

Often, there are practicing attorneys and law professors teaching many of the paralegal continuing education classes. You can feel confident that you’re getting a valuable legal educational experience with skills that transfer into your career. The advances in programming courses designed for paralegal continuing legal education are comparable to seminars for attorneys. The benefits of continuing legal education for paralegals include:

1. The ability to update your paralegal certificate training as required by many states.

2. Networking gains when you attend legal education seminars for paralegals.

3. Participation in programs for certified paralegal training in live web casts.

Locate your state requirements for paralegal continuing legal education

Certified paralegals are required to complete a set amount of credits such as professionalism and ethics. Find program credits to maintain certification in your state.
Try: National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) provides information on specific state CLE/CLA credit requirements and study courses. Review a list of online classes and resources at ParalegalGateway.com.

Complete continuing legal education programs in a variety of online formats

Paralegal continuing legal education programs offer online courses for additional training and resources. Take advantage of online courses, live webcast or purchase DVDs. Course information is also available in MP3 or iPod access or download courses to your computer to satisfy paralegal continuing legal education requirements.
Try: National Federation of Paralegal Association (NFPA) provides a variety of ways to take courses for continuing legal education. Earn participatory CLE credits from your desk at CLEonline.com, or visit the American Bar Association.

Find professional membership organizations that offer continuing legal education courses

Membership with a professional organization also offers professional opportunities. In addition, obtain credits for paralegal continuing education. Many combine seminars for attorneys and certified paralegal training within the same class. Professional membership organizations also tend to create conferences that address the latest issues confronting the profession.
Try: Visit the Association for Continuing Legal Education (ACLE) for conference information and resources. Visit LexisNexis which is a legal profession leader in providing a vast array of conferences and resources to the legal community.

• Some law firms reimburse paralegals for the expense to maintain paralegal continuing education. Check with your firm's Human Resource department, Office Manager or employee handbook for the specific policies governing these costs.