The PP Exam
The Professional Paralegal Exam (PP) is designed to test the professionalism of paralegals who wish to become well-known in the legal industry and work with the best minds the industry can offer.
The PP exam takes only one day (just like the other lower-level exams: PLS and ALS) and is comprised of four parts:
- Written Communications
- Legal Knowledge and Skills
- Ethics and Judgment Skills
- Substantive Law
The rules of the PLS exam apply here too: you can do the “failed” parts again and you must renew your certification every five years.
Requirements and Conditions
To sit for the Professional Paralegal exam you must have at least five years of experience as a legal assistant/paralegal (or at least four years if you have other certifications like a paralegal certificate. Three years’ of experience will be sufficient only for graduates with a paralegal degree).
As an experienced paralegal, you are expected to prove dedication, responsibility, high ethical standards and excellent document-preparations skills. You will be tested on your skills (both verbal and written) and on your knowledge of legal procedures, as well as procedural law and substantive law.
As an experienced paralegal, you are expected to know the “rules of the game” and how to work under higher authorities such as a judge or an attorney.
Dates and Costs
The dates of the PP exam are March and September – always on the first Saturday of the month.
As for the costs:
- If you have the PLS certification, you will be asked to pay 150$ if you are a member and 200$ if you are not a member.
- If you are not yet certified as a PLS, you will be asked to pay 200$ if you are member and 250$ if you are not a member.
- The re-take fees (per part) are: 50$ for members and 60$ for non-members.