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Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Upcoming CLE Opportunities The NFPA has several upcoming CLE opportunities that GAP members are encouraged to take part in. Go to www.paralegals.org and click on the AIPS icon to register. 2008 Class Schedule
Continuing Legal Education (CLE) can take the form of programs or seminars put on by GAP, other paralegal associations, state and local bar associations and specialty bar associations; seminars produced by commercial education companies; in-house seminars/training; training provided by vendors to the legal community; on-line seminars; or self-study. Programs presented by other professional groups can be considered continuing education for paralegals who work in related fields. For example, a seminar for certified public accountants may be useful for paralegals who work in tax, estate planning and probate. Not all CLE need be in areas of substantive law. Many consider practices courses in technology, ethics or management skills to be CLE, provided they relate to legal practice. In May 2002, NFPA delegates adopted
continuing legal education policy for its members that For most paralegals, CLE is voluntary, but for paralegals who have taken the Paralegal Advanced Competency Examination and who have earned the designation “PACE Registered Paralegal” (RP) must complete mandatory CLE to maintain the credential. Paralegals with other voluntary certifications may also be required to obtain a certain number of CLE credits to maintain their certification. The ABA Model Guidelines for the Utilization of Legal Assistant Services, adopted in 1991, were developed to conform with the ABA’s Model Rules of Professional Conduct. Under the Guidelines, a lawyer is responsible for all the professional actions of a paralegal performing paralegal services at the lawyer’s direction. Not only should the lawyer take reasonable measures to ensure that the paralegal’s conduct is consistent with the lawyers’ obligations under the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct, but a lawyer who employs a paralegal should facilitate the paralegal’s participation in CLE and pro bono activities. Many law firms and corporate legal departments have established specific budgets for paralegal CLE, often equal to the budget set for lawyers. In other instances the employer may not have specific requirements, but they will encourage and pay for their paralegals to attend CLE programs. Some employers require a set amount of CLE per year. Many CLE programs are eligible for approved NFPA CLE credit. For further information, please visit the CLE section of the NFPA website. GAP has provided you with links to some websites that provide CLE opportunities. If you have questions about CLE, do not hesitate to contact GAP’s Director of CLE, Shana Elliott, Shana.elliott@gmail.com. You may also be interested in some of the opportunities the
following web sites provide you for continuing legal or professional education
opportunities. Most, if not all, will help you meet any mandatory or voluntary
continuing legal education requirements you may have, or help you increase your
knowledge in any area of law. Note: Descriptions are taken directly from the individual
websites. Claims and descriptions have not been independently verified by
GAP. Continuing legal education seminars sponsored by member
associations or other CLE providers on a variety of subjects may be found on the
National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) website. Practising Law Institute (PLI) is a non-profit continuing legal
education organization chartered by the Regents of the University of the State
of New York, founded in 1933. PLI is dedicated to providing the legal community
and allied professionals with the most up-to-date, relevant information and
techniques which are critical to the development of a professional, competitive
edge. We achieve these goals through the highest quality programs held annually
in locations across the United States, annually supplemented treatises, audio
and video programs, interactive multimedia, course handbooks, web programs and
customized training and specialized services all with the guidance of practice
specific Advisory Committees. The American Institute for Paralegal Studies (AIPS) offers the
Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) On-Line Review Course and other
on-line learning advanced and specialty courses designed with the purpose of
providing advanced level continuing legal education courses to legal
professionals who wish to enhance their education and training. Continuing
education should be an integral part of the careers of all paralegals who want
to stay abreast of the trends and developments in their field. It supplements
both formal and informal education and training, and helps paralegals keep up
with the ever-changing laws and regulations in their particular specialty. New
classes or seminars begin frequently so be sure to check the web site often. Lorman Education Services is a provider of continuing education
seminars for paralegals in the United States and Canada. Lorman seminars present
the latest information to keep paralegals updated on the laws and regulations
that are critical to their organization's success. Lorman offers a vast array of
seminars that meet the needs of many industry professionals with various
experience levels. Lorman seminars allow you to fulfill your continuing
education requirements, while meeting your training needs. We also offer a wide
variety of CDs and manuals in our Lorman Bookstore if a full day seminar doesn't
fit your needs.
Mealey’s high-level educational programs not only offer a
balanced presentation of the hottest litigation issues and unparalleled
networking opportunities, but also an average of 11-14 CLE credits per program.
Paralegals can enjoy a two-thirds discount off the standard registration rate of
our live conferences, excluding programs specifically for paralegals. Mealey’s
offers several 101-based programs for legal professionals throughout the year. The Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Georgia is the
not-for-profit educational service of the State Bar of Georgia; and is a
consortium of the Bar and the Law Schools of the Universities of Georgia, Emory,
Mercer, Georgia State and the John Marshall Law School. It is fully
self-supporting; and receives all of its income from tuition charges and sale of
publications. ICLE exists solely to serve the educational needs of practicing
lawyers; with any surplus revenues being devoted entirely to the improvement of
CLE products and services. Paralegals may also attend seminars which ICLE offers
during the year. Just what it says, the paralegalgateway.com offers paralegals a
gateway to many resources to help them be more efficient and successful,
including links to websites offering continuing legal and professional education
opportunities you may want to take advantage of.
Estrin LegalEd Seminars are designed for career-focused legal
professionals. Paralegals today face more responsibilities than ever before! Say
good-bye to miscommunications and under-developed skills that cripple past
working relationships. Learn how to handle new assignment areas by joining us
for our workshops, conferences, seminars and in-house training. We've boiled
down the "most important of the most important" skills you need to master your
career. Estrin LegalEd seminars have been approved by NFPA for CLE credit. LitWorks™ is a comprehensive organization dedicated to developing and sharing best practices in the litigation support industry. Every week we assist our clients with needs, ranging from providing certified training in an array of litigation support packages, to assisting in the design of entire litigation support processes. Some examples of our services include
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