S PECIALIZATION C ERTIFICATION PO B OX 16562 C OLUMBUS ,O HIO 43216-6562 (614) 487-2050 (800) 282-6556 FAX (614) 487-1008 WWW . OHIOBAR . ORG P ARALEGAL C ERTIFICATION P ROGRAM T HE Ohio State Bar Association is pleased to announce a voluntary credentialing program for paralegals in Ohio. Paralegals are an integral part of the legal profession, yet, Ohio does not have any regulation or licensing of paralegals. The OSBA believes that a program which provides objective standards to evaluate the skills, education, and character of paralegals will be of great benefit to the legal profession and the public. The OSBA program is modeled after the requirements of Gov. B. R. XIV which regulates the specialty certification for lawyers in Ohio. The OSBA is accredited by the Supreme Court of Ohio to certify lawyers as specialists in seven specialty areas.
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S P E C I A L I Z A T I O N C E R T I F I C A T I O N
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pleased to announce a voluntarycredentialing program for paralegalsin Ohio.
Paralegals are an integral part ofthe legal profession, yet, Ohio doesnot have any regulation or licensingof paralegals. The OSBA believesthat a program which providesobjective standards to evaluate theskills, education, and character ofparalegals will be of great benefitto the legal profession and the public.
The OSBA program is modeledafter the requirements of Gov. B. R.XIV which regulates the specialtycertification for lawyers in Ohio.The OSBA is accredited by theSupreme Court of Ohio to certifylawyers as specialists in seven specialty areas.
WHO CAN BECOME AN OSBA CERTIFIED PARALEGAL?A person wishing to become an OSBA Certified Paralegalmust meet all five of the following requirements:
1. Definition of a paralegalA paralegal eligible for certification is a person, qualifiedby education, training or work experience who isemployed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation,governmental agency or other entity and who performssubstantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.
2. Education/Experiencea. A bachelor’s degree in any discipline and satisfactory
completion of a paralegal studies program consistingof at least twenty semester hours (or equivalent clockhours) and a minimum of one year full time experienceas a practicing paralegal (or its equivalent 2,000 hours); or
b. A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies consisting ofleast a hundred twenty four semester hours (orequivalent clock hours) and a minimum of one yearsfull time experience as a practicing paralegal (or itsequivalent of 2,000 hours), or
c. An associate’s degree in paralegal studies consisting ofat least sixty semester hours (or equivalent clock hours)with a minimum of five years full time experience as apracticing paralegal (or its equivalent of 10,000 hours), or
d. A high school diploma or equivalent plus seven yearsfull time experience as a practicing paralegal (or itsequivalent of 14,000 hours). To be eligible under thissection, an applicant must have been employed as aparalegal before December 31, 2006.
3. 12 hours of Continuing Legal or Paralegal EducationAttendance at a minimum of 12 credit hours of continuinglegal or paralegal education in courses approved by theOhio Supreme Court Commission on CLE or the NationalAssociation for Legal Assistants or the National Federation
of Paralegal Associations or the Ohio State Bar Associationin the three years immediately preceding the application.At least two and a half credit hours of the 12 shall be inlegal ethics, professionalism and substance abuse.
4. Three Professional ReferencesAt least two must be from attorneys who have directknowledge of the applicant’s skills and work as a paralegal.The other reference may include judges, magistrates,hearing officers, mediators, arbitrators and educatorswho have direct knowledge of the applicant’s skills andwork as a paralegal.
5. Pass Written ExaminationThe written exam will cover substantive and procedurallaw, legal research, ethics, communication, and lawoffice management. General testing competencies willinclude critical and analytical thinking, communication(both oral and written), and computer skills.
WHAT SPECIFICALLY WILL BE COVERED ON THE EXAM?Topics on the exam may include:
Substantive & Procedural LawLegal Research and WritingEthicsCommunicationComputer KnowledgeLaw office Management
HOW LONG IS THE EXAM?The exam will be combination of multiple choice and briefanswer questions. You will be given four hours to completethe exam.
WHO WRITES AND GRADES THE EXAM?The exam is prepared by the OSBA Paralegal CertificationBoard comprised of paralegals and lawyers. The Board willbe assisted by a professional testing consultant.
HOW CAN I USE MY CERTIFICATION?The certification period is four years. A paralegal earningcertification may use the designation “OSBA CertifiedParalegal” along with the official certification logo.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER FOUR YEARS?A paralegal must apply for recertification and mustagain meet all eligibility standards with the exception oftaking the written examination.
WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO DO TO MAINTAIN MYCERTIFICATION?A certified paralegal must file a report every two yearsstating that there has been no material changes in the information submitted in the paralegal’s application for certification.
WHAT ARE ALL THE FEES NEEDED TO APPLY ANDMAINTAIN CERTIFICATION?
HOW DO I APPLY?Applications will be available online through the OSBAweb site www.ohiobar.org after January 1. The deadlinefor applications will be March 30th, 2007.
The written exam will be administered at the OSBAoffices in Columbus on June 2nd, 2007.
O h i o S t a t e B a r A s s o c i a t i o n
P A R A L E G A L C E R T I F I C A T I O N P R O G R A MF R E Q U E N T L Y A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S
