CACPS Commission for Advanced California Paralegal Specialization
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California Advanced Specialty (CAS)

CAS Administration

The California Advanced Specialty (CAS) online based educational and assessment program is administered by the Certifying Board for Legal Assistants of the National Association of Legal Assistants, under an agreement with the Commission for Advanced California Paralegal Specialization, Inc., and the National Association of Legal Assistants.

CACPS, in cooperation with the National Association of Legal Assistants, is in the process of modifying and updating the administration of this program.

CAS Requirements

First, you must become a Certified Legal Assistant (CLA).  Established in 1976, the CLA program is a strong and responsive self-regulatory program offering a professional credential for legal assistants.  As of 2000, over 10,000 legal assistants in 49 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands have achieved the CLA credential.  In the book, Leveraging with Legal Assistants, a publication of the American Bar Association Law Practice Management Section, it describes Certified Legal Assistants as those with proven experience and proven capabilities.  Among bar associations offering associate membership to legal assistants, the CLA is frequently mentioned as a qualification…the CLA is a factor in attorney fee recovery cases…and a factor in billing rates and levels of compensation.  The U.S. Supreme Court case of State of Missouri vs. Jenkins, (1989) 491 U.S. 274, 279 recognized paralegal certification and held that in setting a reasonable attorney’s fees under 28 U.S.C. section 1988, a legal fee may include a charge for legal assistant services at “market rates” rather than “actual cost” to the attorneys.

Participation in the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) program begins by qualifying for admission through education, training and experience.  You must then pass a two day written examination covering the following areas and skills: 

  • Communications

  • Judgment and Analytical Ability

  • Legal Research

  • Legal Terminology

  • Ethics

  • Human Relations and Inter-viewing Techniques.

  • General and Substantive Law.

The Substantive Law section consists of an examination on the American legal system plus four areas of the law selected from the following:  Administrative Law, Bankruptcy, Business Organization, Contracts, Criminal Law and Procedure, Family Law, Litigation, Probate & Estate Planning and Real Estate. 

The CLA is valid for five years but may be renewed.  Certified Legal Assistants must maintain the designation through participation in at least 50 hours of continuing legal education every five years.  Those who have allowed their CLA to lapse or whose CLA has been revoked are not eligible for California specialty certification.

Second, with the foundation of the CAS designation, CLA paralegals will have demonstrated knowledge and expertise in California law and procedure in a specialty area of practice.