NALS News: Alternate Certification Designation Meets Industry Changes from NALS…the association for legal professionals
Tulsa, OK – March 2016 – NALS … the association for legal professionals (NALS®), provides continuing legal education programs and professional certifications to assist legal professionals in setting themselves apart in the workplace and job market. NALS has announced that its current Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) certification program will now offer an optional alternative designation for examinees and currently certified PLSs: the Certified Legal Professional (CLP).†
In today’s legal industry, and with the changing of the roles of legal industry staff, the CLP designation characterizes and describes the work of many legal professionals, and for some, better matches their current professional roles or their local industry. With this alternative option, all NALS certifications will align and continue to serve all levels of legal professionals. Upon successful completion of an exam, legal professionals can become an ALP (Accredited Legal Professional), and/or a PLS (Professional Legal Secretary) -or- CLP (Certified Legal Professional), and/or a PP (Professional Paralegal). Future examinees who elect to take the PLS/CLP exam will be given the choice as to which designation they prefer. A PLS or CLP certification can be obtained after successful completion of a one-day, four-part exam, which is designed to show that an examinee demonstrates not only dedication to professionalism, but acceptance of the challenge to be exceptional. Personal motivation is necessary to attain such a goal.
Additionally, individuals who currently hold a valid PLS certification, or will be re-certifying, will now have the option to use either the PLS designation or the new CLP designation. Current PLS-certified individuals who wish to change their preference on PLS/CLP usage, will need to update their certificate by submitting a simple online form, and paying a nominal processing fee, at: https://www.nals.org/store/ViewProduct.aspx?ID=3348627. For those who request a change in designation, certificates will begin mailing by June 1, 2016.
About NALS: NALS … the association for legal professionals (NALS) is a non-profit professional organization, headquartered in Tulsa, OK, and represents more than 6,500 paralegals/legal professionals across the country. The core purpose of NALS is to educate, inspire, enhance, and promote those in the legal professions, regardless of their role or title. NALS is a dedicated, ethical, professional association that gives back to the profession as well as its members. More information about NALS certifications can be obtained by clicking here.
† NALS … the association for legal professionals, Accredited Legal Professional (ALP), Certified Legal Professional (CLP), Professional Legal Secretary (PLS), and Professional Paralegal (PP) and their associated logos are trademarks registered in the US Patent and Trademark Office.