Important Information from PACE Ambassadors' Newsletter

Paralegal Core Competency Exam Update
Correct Use of the RP Credential
Continuing Legal Education for RP's
Renewals
PACE Study Listserv
RP Testimonials

 

arrowPARALEGAL CORE COMPETENCY EXAM UPDATE

As you may already know, the NFPA is in the process of developing a Paralegal Core Competency Exam (“PCC Exam”) for students graduating from a paralegal program, paralegals just entering the work force, and other paralegals who may not yet qualify for PACE to test their skills, knowledge and ability. 

The most fundamental step in the development of the PCC Exam is to identify its core domains.  The Committee, guided by Professional Exam Service, will gather and review paralegal program learning outcomes, course materials, and paralegal job descriptions from around the country to identify common core duties and knowledge expected of paralegals from around the United States with the goal of identifying core skills and competencies that are neither state nor practice area specific.  The data collected will be used to develop a survey for paralegals, paralegal educators, and paralegal supervisors. If you would like to take part in this endeavor, please forward copies of your paralegal job descriptions to me at pace@mdparalegals.org, and I will forward them on to Ann W. Price, RP®, NFPA Vice President & Director of Paralegal Certification.

arrowCORRECT USE OF THE RP CREDENTIAL
The correct use of the RP credential would be to either add RP after your name, or to add PACE Registered Paralegal® after your name. R.P. (with the periods) is NOT correct, and “Registered Paralegal” is NOT correct.   Please read the following article prepared by Maggie Haase, RP, NFPA Intellectual Property Coordinator.

arrowProper Use of NFPA Trademarks & Service Marks Pertaining to PACE
by Maggie Haase, RP®
The Certification Mark, PACE REGISTERED PARALEGAL®, has been federally registered.  Each time that it is used, it should be used as shown above with the R within a circle.  An example is: when you sign a letter, in the signature portion of the letter, you would use:

Margaret Haase
PACE Registered Paralegal®

The term “RP” is also a registered trademark of NFPA. If you use this term after your name - Margaret Haase, RP®, you also need to have the R within the circle.  Any association who uses these terms, such as in brochures promoting PACE, should be very careful to include the R within the circle with these terms.

Please be certain to include the TM when you use this mark. When it is finally allowed by the Trademark Office, you will use an R within a circle instead of the TM as shown.  Finally, the term PACE™ is also a trademark of NFPA and should be use with the TM designation as shown.

arrowCONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION FOR RP’S
If you are looking for last minute CLE’s for renewal purposes, please check NFPA’s website (www.paralegals.org) for on-line classes. In addition, AIPS also offers on-line classes. There are many other on-line CLE vendors, including IPE and West. No RP should have to use the excuse that “there are no CLE events offered in my area.” Most of these on-line CLEs are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week so you can take them at whatever time is convenient.

arrowRENEWALS
Please use the following chart to help you remember which month your renewal application is actually due:

Anniversary Month

Month Renewal Is Due
January November
February December
March January
April February
May March
June April
July May
August June
September July
October August
November September
December October

If you have a CLE that requires approval by the NFPA CLE Coordinator, that approval request must be submitted to NFPA before the month your RP credential renewal is due. Please do not submit CLE approval requests along with your RP credential renewal. If you are not sure whether or not a seminar or other CLE requires NFPA approval in order to be acceptable for your RP renewal, please contact Suellen Honeychuck, RP at shoneychuck@shoun.com for clarification.

arrowPACE STUDY LISTSERV
NFPA also provides a listserv for those who are studying for PACE. Anyone studying for PACE can sign up as follows:

send an email to imailsrv@list.paralegals.org
in the message BODY (not the subject line), type > subscribe (the listserv name)

To send a message out on YourFirstName YourLastName example: subscribe PACEStudy Vickie Newman the list serve, use the following e-mail address: PACEStudy@list.paralegals.org.

The PACE Study Listserv is another benefit available to those who are studying for PACE, or even thinking of studying for PACE. It is monitored by the PACE Coordinators. This is a way for NFPA to provide support and encouragement to those who are studying for PACE. At the very least, it will let you know that you are not alone in studying and can be an additional way to provide support during the study process.

arrowRP TESTIMONIALS
The editor of the Reporter, Dan O’Leary, is looking for PACE testimonials to use in the newsletter during the year.  If you are interested in writing a testimonial of your PACE experience, please use the following template of guideline questions.  Please send your testimonials directly to Dee Dee Lantz, RP, Public Relations PACE Coordinator at dlantz@mwsgw.com. You may see your testimonial in an upcoming issue of the Reporter.

RP Testimonial Template

The things I think people would like to know would include:

  1. A little history about yourself, including how long you have been in the legal profession.  This information gives people something to identify with and compare it to their own history.
  2. What type of legal experience do you have?  Here--so many people worry about whether they know enough information about the various areas the PACE covers.  If you describe what you have been doing, i.e., real estate or probate---again readers can get the idea that they too can take PACE.
  3. What were your study habits?  Did you participate in a Study Group? If so, was it sponsored by your Association?  How long did you study? What study materials did you use?
  4. Why did you take PACE?  What was your motivating factor?
  5. Was there anything they learned about yourself while preparing for PACE?
  6. What effect has becoming an RP had on your employment, if any?  (Did it get you more recognition, praise, money, etc.)
  7. Did you have any conceptions about PACE that you learned were untrue?
  8. What do you feel was the most valuable thing you learned during the process that you did not know before?
  9. What does being an RP mean to you?
  10. Do you recommend PACE to others?  If so, why?

Thank you for considering this request for a testimonial.  I am excited about letting others know about your experience.

Lois M. Shaw, RP 
PACE Ambassador, 2011
pace@mdparalegals.org