CONTACT:  Kenneth A. Brown 800-282-6556 or 614-487-4426

COLUMBUS, Ohio (July 9, 2009)—The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) recently administered its credentialing program for paralegals, allowing them to be designated as an “OSBA Certified Paralegal.” The OSBA today announced the certification of 23 paralegals who have met the requirements to earn this designation.  (List of names is below)  This brings the total number of OSBA certified paralegals to 147. 

“Credentialing of paralegals in Ohio helps lawyers and law firms identify qualified paralegal professionals,” said OSBA President Barbara Howard, “Certified paralegals meet objective and uniform standards of competence and professionalism. We truly value paralegals and recognize the important work they do with lawyers to assist Ohioans every day.” 

By definition, a paralegal eligible for OSBA certification is a person, qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible.

An applicant must meet the definition of a paralegal and becomes eligible to sit for the written examination only after a successfully meeting specified education/experience, continuing legal education, and reference requirements:

          Education/Experience Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree in any discipline and satisfactory completion of a paralegal studies program consisting of at least twenty semester hours (or equivalent clock hours) and a minimum of one year full time experience as a practicing paralegal (or its equivalent 2,000 hours); OR

2. A bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies consisting of least a hundred twenty four semester hours (or equivalent clock hours) and a minimum of one year full time experience as a practicing paralegal (or its equivalent of 2,000 hours), OR

3.An associate’s degree in paralegal studies consisting of at least sixty semester hours (or equivalent clock hours) with a minimum of five years full time experience as a practicing paralegal (or its equivalent of 10,000 hours), OR

4. A high school diploma or equivalent plus seven years full time experience as a practicing paralegal (or its equivalent of 14,000 hours).  To be eligible under this section, an applicant must have been employed as a paralegal before December 31, 2006.

         Continuing Legal Education Requirements

Attendance at a minimum of 12 credit hours of continuing legal or paralegal education in courses approved by the Ohio Supreme Court Commission on CLE or the National Association for Legal Assistants or the National Federation of Paralegal Associations or the Ohio State Bar Association in the three years immediately preceding the application.  At least two and a half credit hours of the 12 shall be in legal ethics, professionalism and substance abuse.

          Reference Requirements

A minimum of three professional references, including two from attorneys in good standing with the Supreme Court of Ohio who have direct knowledge of the applicant’s skills and work as a paralegal. The other reference may include judges, magistrates, hearing officers, mediators, arbitrators and educators who have direct knowledge of the applicant’s skills and work as a paralegal.

          Written Examination

The applicant seeking certification must pass a written examination of suitable length and complexity. The written exam will include substantive and procedural law, legal research, ethics, communication, and law office management. General testing competencies will include critical and analytical thinking, communication (both oral and written), and computer skills.  Areas tested may include the following:

Substantive & Procedural Law
American Legal System
Civil Rules and Procedure
Administrative Agency Law
Bankruptcy Law
Business and Commercial Law
Contracts Law
Creditor/Debtor Rights Law
Criminal Law
Environmental Law
Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law
Family Relations Law
Intellectual Property Law
Labor and Employment Law
Real Property Law
Torts and Personal Injury Law
Workers’ Compensation Law
(Applicants will choose at least two of the italicized substantive topics in which to be tested)
Legal Research and Writing
Ethics
Communication
Computer Knowledge
Law office Management

The certification period for an OSBA Certified Paralegal is four years. Biennial reporting is required to maintain certification. At the end of the certification period, a paralegal may be recertified if the continuing legal education and reference requirements continue to be met.

A Paralegal Certification Board was established with members appointed by the OSBA president. The purpose of the OSBA Paralegal Certification Board is to grant, revoke or re-grant certification as an OSBA certified paralegal. The Certification Board determines eligibility, administers the written exam and sets passage rates.

The Ohio State Bar Association, founded in 1880, is a voluntary association representing approximately 25,000 members of the bench and bar of Ohio as well as nearly 4,000 legal assistants and law students.  Through its activities and the activities of its related organizations, the OSBA serves both its members and the public by promoting the highest standards in the practice of law and the administration of justice.

2009 OSBA Certified Paralegals