CERTIFICATION/EDUCATION

TPA is affiliated with the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) and the Virginia Alliance of Paralegal Associations (VAPA).  

The National Association of Legal Assistants

NALA has developed a voluntary certification examination. Those who succeed in passing the exam are entitled to use the designation "CP"-Certified Paralegal or "CLA" - Certified Legal Assistant. Specialty Examinations in certain practice areas are also available to be taken by those who have attained CLA/CP status and those passing the specialty examination are entitled to use the designation of "ACP" - Advanced Certified Paralegal. If you are interested in taking the Certified Paralegal/Legal Assistant exam, please click here. The provided link will give you all the information you need about the nationally recognized credential examination administered by NALA

The Virginia Registered Paralegal Program (VARP^TM)

In recognition of the growing need to establish a benchmark to determine qualified paralegals, on November 7, 2015, the Virginia Alliance of Paralegal Associations (VAPA) adopted a Policy on Paralegal Regulation by approving the Virginia Registered Paralegal (VARP^TM) program, a voluntary paralegal credentialing system.

Under this new program, a paralegal applying for the VARP^TM credential must be a voting member of any VAPA member association in good standing and/or an area liaison, and meet certain minimum standards relating to education/CLEs and experience. A paralegal with a VARP^TM designation is required to complete a minimum of twelve hours of CLE credits including two hours of ethics every two years and provide proof of completion of the requisite CLE hours to VAPA in order to maintain her/his VARP^TM credential. For information, please click here.