CACPS Frequently Asked Questions

San Diego, California SkylineQ:What is the significance of a CAS?
A: The CAS is a voluntary professional certification program that focuses on California laws and procedures. The courses are curriculum based online assessments that allow participants to learn a narrow legal specialty area with the help of interactive study materials in the comfort of the participant’s home or office. A curriculum-based model assumes that participants will discuss course material and consult outside sources, including colleagues, reference books, and practice area experts. The focus is on education and learning specific subject matter rather than testing. The CAS program is intended to encourage a high level of achievement and provide recognition to paralegals who have earned the CAS credential.

Q: Who administers the CAS program?
A: The Commission for Advanced California Paralegal Specialization, Inc. (CACPS), a non-profit California corporation, is responsible for the design and content of the CAS program. The board of directors of CACPS is composed of experienced paralegals, attorneys, paralegal educators, and paralegal managers. In 2005, CACPS entered into a Web Server Usage Contract with the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., (NALA), whereby NALA agreed to offer California specific courses in conjunction with NALA’s Advanced Paralegal Certification (APC) program using NALA’s existing web platform and awarding the APC, combination APC and CAS, or CAS credential to qualified Certified Legal Assistants/Paralegals.

Q: How are the courses formatted?
A: The CAS program courses are offered in one of possible two formats:

  • Stand-alone CAS: A paralegal with a valid CLA/CP credential from NALA may participate in a stand-alone CAS. These stand-alone CAS courses consist of 10-20 modules. The courses are designed as a presentation of text, slides and interactive tests. In addition, each course offers module tests, and exercises.

  • Combination APC and CAS:  A paralegal with a valid CLA/CP credential from NALA may participate in a combination APC and CAS program.  The CLA/CP must first earn the ACP credential before earning the CAS in that same specialty area.  For example, a CLA/CP may take the APC in Discovery and then the CAS in Discovery. The CAS portion consists of three to five modules and highlights the difference between federal and California law and procedure. 

Paralegals with a valid CLA/CP credential from NALA who successfully complete the CAS program, whether stand-alone or combination, will be awarded the credential California Advanced Specialist. The stand-alone courses are about 20 hours in length, while the combination courses are about 10 hours. The actual length of time spent on the courses will vary based on the participant's level of understanding of the material. The courses require additional reading materials and research. 

Sailing Southern CaliforniaQ: What courses are currently offered?
A: Several CAS Programs are being developed with the following scheduled to be available by the end of 2010:

Programs scheduled to be offered shortly after include:

  • Probate Administration
  • Trust Administration
  • Corporations
  • Trial Practice

Q: Who is eligible?
A: The CAS certification programs are written with the understanding that the paralegal seeking advanced certification has already earned the CLA/CP credential and has demonstrated knowledge and skills in the areas of written communications, legal research, ethics, judgment and legal analysis, and the American legal system, as well as four areas of substantive law.

Each certification program will include a statement of assumed knowledge, which specifies the knowledge that a paralegal working in a specific practice area should have before seeking advanced certification.  Paralegals with a valid CLA/CP credential from NALA seeking the CAS credential are required to:

  • Complete and submit a CACPS learning contract as part of the registration process. The CACPS Board needs to know if the participant intends to seek the CAS certification.
  • Complete all course modules and module tests with a minimum score of 90% correct.
  • Complete all course modules and exercises within 90 days of enrollment. The courses are designed to influence learning. Participants may take the module tests as many times as necessary to reach the required score.
  • Submit a Statement of Completion to the CACPS board which alerts the CACPS board that the participant has completed the course and starts the process of issuing the credential. The Statement of Completion is due within 30 days of course completion.

A CAS course is not complete without fulfilling each of the above requirements. The required forms may be completed and submitted online. They are available on NALA's Advanced Paralegal Certification Course Library.

Paralegals who do not hold the CLA/CP credential are welcome to participate in the CAS program, but the CAS credential will not be awarded. If the paralegal earns the CLA/CP credential within one year of completing the CAS program, the CAS credential may be awarded.

Q: What are the registration fees and procedures?
A: The fees are $150 for a stand-alone CAS and $75 for the combination ACP/CAS (the CAS registration fee is separate and apart from the registration fee required by NALA to participate in a ACP course)

Registration is offered online at the APC website www.nala.org/apcweb.  The CAS credential is valid for five years from date of the statement of completion.  NALA headquarters will issue new certificates to qualified paralegals every five years. 

Yosemite, CaliforniaThe CLE education requirements for the CAS are the same as those for the CLA/CP credential. Paralegals with the advanced certification credential have already achieved the CLA/CP certification credential. To maintain the CLA/CP, certified paralegals must participate in a minimum of 50 hours of continuing legal education programs every five years. If a certified paralegal fails to maintain the CLA/CP credential, the paralegal will also lose the advanced certification. Paralegals do not need to earn any additional CLE to maintain the CAS credential. Paralegals should continue to submit proof of CLE requirements for the CLA/CP credential to NALA headquarters.

Q: Can I get Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit within the California Advanced Specialist Program?
A: In addition to earning the CAS credential, upon completion of the CAS course, Certified Legal Assistants/Paralegals may also receive continuing legal education credit toward maintenance of the CLA/CP credential as follows: 

  • Stand-alone CAS earns 20 CLE credits
  • Combination ACP/CAS earns 5 CLE credits

Please email Catherine Durgin with any other questions about the
California Advanced Specialist Paralegal program.

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