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OSBA offers certification for paralegals
SHERRY KARABIN
Legal News Reporter
Published: August 12, 2013
After working as a paralegal at Nationwide Trial Division in Akron, Molly Donohue decided she wanted to take her training a step further, seeking certification from the Ohio State Bar Association.
“This is my first job as a paralegal after completing a paralegal program,” said Donohue, who formerly worked as an investigator for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission.
“Nationwide wants all of its paralegals certified, and I think going through the process is a way to set yourself apart from others in the profession who have not done the same. Two of my coworkers have been certified for years.”
The Ohio State Bar Association unveiled its certification program in 2007 and since then more than 220 paralegals across the state have been certified.
“In Ohio paralegals are not regulated in any manner,” said Kalpana Yalamanchili, director of bar services. “We created this voluntary program in order for lawyers and the public to know that if someone has been designated an OSBA Certified Paralegal, he or she has met certain standards of education, experience and skill.”
Donohue was among a group of 25 who met the requirements this year; all took part in a graduation ceremony at the bar association in Columbus on July 19.
“Attending the ceremony was very nice,” said Donohue. “The other graduates were there and we received a certificate and pin as well as a goodie bag.
“Prior to taking the exam, I took a weekend study course and it was very useful in helping me familiarize myself with areas of the law that I do not deal with,” said Donohue. “I handle mostly civil cases involving automobile claims.”
While taking an exam is part of the process, there is much more to it than that. “First and foremost, the applicant must meet the definition of a paralegal, which for our purposes means an individual who works under the direct supervision of a licensed attorney,” said Yalamanchili.
“In Ohio, only lawyers are permitted to practice law and bear the professional and ethical responsibility in relation to that practice. So, any legal work by a paralegal must be under the direct supervision of a lawyer.”
Applications are accepted from January to March, and the eligibility requirements allow for differing levels of education and experience, ranging from a high school diploma or equivalency plus seven years of full-time experience as a practicing paralegal to a bachelor’s degree in any subject, the completion of a paralegal studies program and a minimum of a full year of work in the field.
In addition, the paralegal must have completed 12 credit hours of continuing legal or paralegal education courses in the three years immediately preceding the application. The courses must be approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on CLE, the National Association of Legal Assistants, the National Federation of Paralegal Associations or the Ohio State Bar Association. Three professional references are also a must, including two from lawyers in good standing with the Supreme Court of Ohio who have firsthand knowledge of the paralegal’s skills and work. The final portion is of course passing the written examination, which is said to be lengthy and complex, covering multiple areas of the law.
“The exam is usually given at the beginning of May, and if the person achieves a passing score, he or she is certified,” said Yalamanchili. “Those who don’t pass can take the exam again but they will have to go through the whole application process.”
Application fees cost $150 for OSBA members and $200 for nonmembers; the exam fee is $100 and $150 respectively. The certification period is four years and biennial reporting is required to maintain the status. A paralegal may be recertified if the continuing legal education and reference requirements are met without taking another exam.
A Paralegal Certification Board, made up of members appointed by the OSBA president, has the power to grant, revoke or re-grant certification as well as determine eligibility, administer the written exam and set passage rates.
Membership in the Ohio State Bar Association is voluntary and about 25,000 people on the bench and bar of Ohio as well as nearly 4,000 legal assistants and law students are members. Paralegals do not need to be members of the bar to apply for certification.
Canton family law specialist and solo practitioner Rosemary Rubin said she encouraged her two paralegals to get certified the first year the program was available.
“I think it is extremely valuable for my practice to have my paralegals certified,” said Rubin. “For one thing, it enhances their knowledge about various areas of law and it requires that paralegals keep up with continuing education requirements just like lawyers do.
“I suppose they could obtain the knowledge without certification but the process codifies that they have gone through the training. I consider both of them key to my practice since their ability to handle so many important tasks like legal research and preparing pleadings, frees me up to spend more time with my clients.”