Certified Paralegals of NALA Requirements

Certified Paralegals of NALA Credits

50 Total Credit Hours
every
5 Years

View All NALA Paralegal Courses

Certified Paralegals of NALA Reporting Deadlines

Deadline to complete CLEs: Anytime during your 5 year certification period

  • Reporting deadline: Anytime during your 5 year certification period
  • Reporting period: 5 years

Certified Paralegals of NALA Continuing Legal Education Rules and Regulations

Who is required to complete CLE for NALA?

Certified Paralegals (CP) of NALA The Paralegal Association
What is the CLE requirement for NALA?

Certified Paralegals (CPs) must complete a total of 50.00 hours of continuing legal education (CLE) programs, including a minimum of five (5) hours of legal ethics, during each five-year certification period. A maximum of 10 hours of non-substantive and three (3) hours of technology credits is permitted during each five-year certification period.
When is the NALA's CLE certification reporting deadline?

Certified paralegals can report hours anytime during their 5 year certification period.

How can certified paralegals fulfill their NALA CLE requirement

All credit hours may be taken as live or self study programs.

IPE seeks pre-approval from the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) for each program.

What is a substantive credit for NALA?

Generally, programs that are from reputable companies, feature attorneys or attorney/paralegal teams, and are on subjects that are of a substantive nature will qualify for CLE credit. For instance, Mock Trials, Contract Law, and The Basics of Trusts all qualify for substantive credit. (All CLE is combined to meet the required 50.00 hours of CLE which includes the 5 hours of legal ethics.)

Difference between substantial and non-substantial categories: https://nala.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-CLE-Categories.pdf
What is the difference between an ethics and Legal Ethics course?

Ethical courses that do not include "in the delivery of legal services" is not legal ethics.

For purposes of CLE, legal ethics is defined as the code of professional responsibility detailing the moral and professional duties required in the delivery of legal services. For example, NALA’s on-demand webinars, Ethics and the Law and Confidentiality and Ethics: Staying on the Right Side of the Line are both legal ethics courses. (Five hours of legal ethics are required per term to qualify for recertification.)
What is a non-substantive credit for NALA?

Non-substantive credit is mediation, law office management, computer programs or applications, communications, office technology, self-help, mental health, or prevention of substance abuse courses. (Up to 10 hours of non-substantive credit per term is allowed for recertification purposes.)

Difference between substantial and non-substantial categories: https://nala.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021-CLE-Categories.pdf
How do I report my NALA CLE credits?

Certified Paralegals (CP) are responsible for entering their CLE through their online NALA portal accounts. Certificates of attendance do not need to be uploaded, but keep them through the certification period as CLE entries are subject audit.

If the CLE requirements have been met, then you may recertify on the first of the month of your certification expiration date either online or submit the PDF Recertification Affidavit via email, fax, or mail.

Recertification FAQs

What are the specialty credit requirements for NALA?

5 hours of Legal Ethics
Additional CLE resources for NALA paralegals