CLA Review Course - Metropolitan Community College
Click here for further information regarding the Metropolitan Community College Review Course for the CLA/CP Exam. Don't miss this opportunity for a terrific review course for the exam!!!! Contact Loretta Phillips at 402-444-5122 or Janie Boswell, ACP at 402-351-2733 for questions regarding the review course.
Nebraska Paralegal Association Certified Legal Assistant/Certified Paralegal Scholarship Policy
Download CLA/CP Application
Download CLA/CP/ACP Reimbursement Form
CLA Scholarship Application Reminder
Purpose
To encourage and assist men and women in their pursuit to obtain the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) or Certified Paralegal (CP) or Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) designation.
Selection Committee
The Selection Committee shall consist of the Certified Legal Assistant Scholarship Committee chairman, the Nebraska Paralegal Association (herein “NePA”) president and one or more NePA members.
Applicant and Eligibility Requirements
The following criteria must be met in order to apply for the scholarship:
Applicant must be a Nebraska or Iowa resident working as a full-time paralegal/legal assistant;
Applicant must be employed as a paralegal/legal assistant for at least one year prior to making application for the scholarship;
Applicant must complete the application procedure herein on or before the stated deadline;
Only one scholarship award will be made to any one applicant; and
Applicant must be an active status member of the NePA at the time of the application.
CLA/CP/ACP Scholarship Funds
Scholarship funds may used to cover only the following approved expenses, up to the amount of the available scholarship:
CLA/CP Scholarship:
One of the Following:
Metropolitan Community College Preparation class held in Omaha, NE;
NALA Sponsored CLA/CP Short Course;
NALA Campus Live online courses designated as CLA Exam/Review categories;
and both of the following:
CLA Review Manual and CLA Study Guide and Mock Examination book;
Registration fee for the CLA/CP Exam.
ACP Scholarship:
Scholarship funds may be used to cover only the registration fee for one ACP exam.*
*If you are seeking the Personal Injury designation (or any future NALA-offered multi-course-required designations), the scholarship funds may be used to cover only one line item fee. The scholarship will not cover fees for all of the practice area courses.
The scholarship is not retroactive. The applicant will not be reimbursed for the above items if the scholarship is awarded after the applicant has already completed the certification exam or the advanced certification process and merely wishes to be reimbursed for their past expenditures. The scholarship will cover either the CLA/CP certification OR the ACP designation, not both.
Amount of CLA/CP/ACP Scholarship
The scholarship amount shall be recommended annually to the Board of Directors by the Scholarship Committee based on available budgeted funds and submitted to the membership for vote.
CLA/CP/ACP Scholarship Application Procedure
Each applicant must complete the following procedures to apply for the scholarship:
Each applicant shall complete and submit the Certified Legal Assistant Scholarship Application Form;
Each applicant shall submit a professional resume that includes the applicant’s name, address, telephone number, employment address and telephone number, educational background and employment history;
Each applicant shall submit a separate list of extracurricular and/or community activities, a summary of career plans, memberships, honors and accomplishments, if they are not already contained in the professional resume;
Each applicant shall provide a typed writing sample that describes why the applicant is pursuing the CLA/CP or ACP certification, why they want the CLA/CP or ACP certification, and how the applicant believes a CLA/CP or ACP certification will help them with their career;
Each applicant shall provide two letters of recommendation; one from their employing supervisor and one from a former instructor, employer or community leader. Family members of the applicant may not submit a letter of recommendation for the applicant; and
A personal interview may be required at the discretion of the CLA Scholarship Committee.
CLA/CP/ACP Scholarship Criteria
Applications submitted will be judged based on the following criteria: - Content of essay, documentation, and recommendation;
- Adherence to scholarship application requirements;
- Extent and type of community activities, career plans, honors and accomplishments; and
- Presentation and delivery of self at the personal interview (if necessary).
Current members of the CLA Scholarship Committee will not be eligible for a scholarship.
CLA/CP/ACP Scholarship Application Deadline
The deadline for submission of a CLA/CP or ACP scholarship application to the CLA Scholarship committee shall be postmarked on or before August 1, of each year. Any application postmarked after the scholarship application deadline will be disqualified.
Once a member has been awarded one scholarship through the CLA/CP/ACP Scholarship program of NePA, they will not be eligible for any additional scholarships through the CLA/CP/ACP Scholarship program of NePA.
Notification of the CLA/CP/ACP Scholarship Award and Announcement
Announcement of the CLA/CP or ACP scholarship award shall be made in writing to the recipient no later than thirty (30) working days following the scholarship application deadline. Applicants not awarded a scholarship shall receive written notice of the same no later than thirty (30) days following the scholarship application deadline. Public recognition and announcement of the recipient’s name shall be made at the NePA District Luncheon Meetings immediately following the selection of the recipient, at the NePA Recognition Breakfast, and at the General Membership Meeting.
Payment of Scholarship
Payment of the scholarship award may be made directly to the course of study, the study course materials, or the National Association of Legal Assistants for payment toward the application fees for sitting for the CLA/CP or ACP exam OR directly to the scholarship recipient with proper verification of expenses (original receipts will be required). When possible, the scholarship recipient should hold all reimbursement requests for a one-time formal submission, using the NePA approved reimbursement form, which can be obtained from the CLA Scholarship chairperson. Disbursements/reimbursements will not be made until after October 1, so as to coincide with the NePA fiscal year.
Inability of Winner to Accept CLA/CP/ACP Scholarship Award
In the event a winner is unable to accept the CLA/CP/ACP scholarship award, said scholarship award shall go to the next highest finalist. If there is none, then the funds shall be returned to the treasury of NePA.
Progress Reports of Recipients
The Scholarship Committee Chairman will present periodic reports on the progress of the CLA/CP or ACP scholarship recipient to NePA’s Board of Directors. It is recommended that the chairman continue to maintain personal contact with the scholarship recipient.
In addition, the recipient will be required to give a quarterly written status update.
Non-Discriminatory Statement
Selection of scholarship recipient shall be made without regard to race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin or martial status.
Download CLA/CP Application
NALA ACP
Click here for additional information relating to the NALA ACP program. (Please be patient, it takes a moment to download.)
RECENT CP/CLA/ACP RECIPIENTS
The National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., is pleased to announce that the following paralegals have successfully completed the CLA/CP/ACP examinations and are now entitled to use of the “CLA” or “CP” or "ACP" professional credential:
Established in 1976, the CLA/CP examination program is a voluntary professional credentialing program developed by the National Association of Legal Assistants and administered by a board composed of paralegals, members of the American Bar Association and members of the field of education active in paralegal training. The CLA/CP program involves successful completion of a two-day comprehensive examination covering the topics of communications; legal research; ethics; human relations and interviewing techniques; legal terminology; judgment and analytical ability and substantive law. Thereafter, evidence of continuing legal education must be submitted periodically in order to maintain certified status.
The National Association of Legal Assistants, headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a national, non-profit association which represents over 18,000 paralegals through individual members and 85 affiliated state and local associations. It is the leader in the growth and development of the paralegal profession, providing continuing education, professional development, and certification programs for the career field.
Information describing this and other programs of the National Association of Legal Assistants may be obtained by contacting:
NALA Headquarters
1516 South Boston, Suite 200
Tulsa, OK 74119-4013
918.587-6828 FAX: 918.582-6772
Internet: http://www.nala.org