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The Importance of Certification for Paralegals in Professional Development and Firm Success

This presentation explores the benefits of certification for paralegals, including increased efficiency, enhanced pro bono services, and filling the judicial gap. It also emphasizes the importance of credibility and raising local standards. Marketing strategies for credentials and the impact of eDiscovery are discussed.

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The Importance of Certification for Paralegals in Professional Development and Firm Success

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  1. National Federation of Paralegal Associations 2019 Joint ConferenceDenver, CO April 26 -28, 2019 Presentation by: Colleen O’Gorman, Policy Director, KCPA Board of Directors September 11, 2019

  2. MISSOURI BAR ASSOCIAITON “A paralegal is a person who is qualified through education, training or experience to perform legal work under the direction and supervision of an attorney.”

  3. PARALEGAL SCHOOL/PROGRAMS – Professional Development • •ABA approved • •AAfPE – American Association for Paralegal Education • •The Judge Advocate General’s Paralegal Credentialing Program • •Other

  4. CERTIF * * * CERTIFICATE A certificate is awarded upon completionof an educational program. VS CERTIFIED A Certified Paralegal, *CRP, has successfully completed an exam or met other requirements of the certifying organization. * a NFPA award

  5. Benefits of Certified or Registered, to Your Firm and the Community? Paralegals are a profit center for a firm. They increase the efficiency of the legal team and firm. They enhance the ability to a firm to provide more pro bono legal services. They help fill the Judicial Gap. Consumers want their services.

  6. Paralegal Certified/Regulation/Licensure WHAT SHOULD KCPA KNOW AND CARE ABOUT? • These are our peers; • It is the role of a professional organization to raise • up local standards. We must take ownership of this task; • Credibility – ‘Certified’ demonstrates knowledge based skills required to pass an exam; • Makes for a stronger profession and professionals.

  7. Exams: Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE) Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) National Federation of Paralegal Associations – NFPA

  8. You are accountable for your own success . . . Career management requires quality networking, being in the right place at the right time, earning a voice at the table, knowing your unique value proposition and how to use it. Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com

  9. MARKETING YOUR CREDENTIALS • •Become an expert • •Improve your speaking skills • •Speaking engagements • •Participate in panels, committees, boards • •Write articles or opinion papers • •Network

  10. MARKETING YOUR CREDENTIALS • •Resume • •Linked-In and other social media • •Partner with your firm • •Partner with your Association • •Mentor new Paralegals

  11. eDiscovery

  12. eDiscovery • Important Things We Must Know: • Model Rule 5.3 • Sanctions are coming • Missouri and Kansas are 2 of the 36 states that have adopted the Duty of Technology competence • Education and Certification is available – CED • Sedona Guidelines

  13. The Judicial ‘Gap’ • What is it? • Who does it effect? • Where are the solutions?

  14. QUESTIONS??? ANYONE, ANYONE??? Colleen M. O’Gorman KCPA Policy Director Senior Paralegal Kansas City Public Schools – Legal Services cogorman@kcpublicschools.org

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