“Continuing Legal Education” (“CLE”) shall mean any legal or other educational activity or program which is designed to maintain and improve the professional competency of practicing paralegals and is defined and approved by ESAPA and/or is accredited CLE for attorneys.
CLE is comprised of programs designed for legal professionals and includes topics in substantive areas of law; technology programs used specifically by legal practitioners, such as legal research programs and document management; as well as classes on legal basics such as research, court rules, recent legal decisions, writing skills and ethics. Nearly every continuing education program designed for an attorney can be taken by a paralegal.
To continue to be a competent, skilled, professional paralegal it is important to keep abreast of what is new; thus, paralegals need to take CLE.
If you are a New York State Certified Paralegal (NYSCP), in order to maintain your credential, you are required to earn a minimum of twelve (12) Continuing Legal Education credits every two (2) years to satisfy the requirements for renewal of your Certification. At least one (1) of the required Continuing Legal Education Credits shall be in Ethics. The required credits shall be obtained during the two-year credentialing period for which the NYSCP is currently approved, i.e.: from the Approval Date to the Anniversary Date two years hence, plus the 45-day automatic extension period if the NYSCP does not renew prior to the Anniversary Date.
Paralegal associations, ESAPA, bar associations and private organizations offer many CLE opportunities that would qualify for CLE credit with ESAPA, including CLE providers approved by the New York Unified Court System.
A selection of on-line CLE opportunities includes the following:
New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
New York State Bar Association
Institute for Paralegal Education (IPE) (as approved by NFPA)
Lorman Education Services (as approved by NFPA)