NALS CLE Award Rules and Regulations

 Number of Required Credits

A minimum of 60 credit/classroom hours in continuing education program courses approved by the association within a three-year period is required to qualify for the Continuing Legal Education Award. A credit hour is 60 minutes. The award shall consist of a certificate issued by the association that attests to the educational accomplishment of the member.

Initial Applications

Any member may apply for the initial award when the requirements have been completed. Application shall be made on the form* approved by the association. Only continuing education courses completed during the three-year period immediately preceding the date of the application will be considered in determining whether the requirements have been met. When the award certificate is issued to a member, it is valid for a three-year period beginning with the date the original application was approved.

Renewal Applications

Credit hours for renewal may be earned from the cutoff date of the member's last application. Once 60 hours have been accumulated, a member may apply at any time within the ensuing three-year period.

Filing Procedures

All applications for the award shall be forwarded to the NALS Director of Education and approved by the Education Chair, whose decision shall be final.

To apply for the award, forward to NALS Resource Center the application form, a $25 processing fee, and completed category schedules. A copy of the last certificate must accompany the renewal application. Copies of other certificates, grade reports, or articles are not necessary.

Time Prerequisites

Credit shall be given for programs at least 30 minutes in length. Programs of less than 30 minutes' duration will not be considered for this award.

Verification/Documentation

By signing the application for the CLE award or renewal, you are certifying that the information furnished is complete and accurate. Any member filing a false report of education activities may be subject to disciplinary proceedings for engaging in unethical conduct under the NALS Bylaws and Standing Rules.Credit Categories

Category A. Legal Education Programs and Legal Education College Courses

A maximum of 60 hours may be earned under this category, with a minimum of 30 hours toward the overall award. This category includes attendance at any organized program of legal learning such as workshops, symposiums, or lectures or serving as a panel discussion participant or seminar speaker. Video, motion picture, or sound tape presentations may also be used. (In these cases include the full title of the tape, the presenter, and the running time,') Credit hours may also be earned for legal education college courses (actual class hours), provided applicant attains a grade of C' or better. For these classes, count the actual clock hours. Although a college may refer to a course as a three-hour course, the class probably met at least 40 clock hours during the semester (so the applicant's CLE credit would be 40 hours).

Category B. Teaching and/or Seminar Preparation Time

A maximum of 25 hours may be earned under this category. Credit hours are to be calculated on the basis of three hours' teaching preparation credit for each hour of presentation time on a topic that is presented for the first time. Repeat presentations qualify for one-half of the credits available for the initial presentation. Actual teaching/seminar presentation time must be taken under Category A, F, or H, as appropriate.

Category C/D. Certification

A maximum of 50 hours may be earned under this category. Applicants attending chapter/state/region sponsored study groups, cram days, cram weekends, and NEIs may earn credit hours. The total hours for a cram course will be divided one-half legal education, one-half general education. For those attending portions of a PLS study course, the hours will be assigned as follows:

General Education
Part 1 Written Communications
Part 2 Office Procedures and Technology

Legal Education
Part 3 Ethics and Judgment
Part 4 Legal Knowledge and Skills

Applicants attaining ALS accreditation during the period covered by the application earn 10 credit hours.

Applicants attaining PLS certification during the period covered by the application earn 20 credit hours.

Category E. NALS Legal Training Course

Course of Independent Study (Basic or Advanced). Applicants completing and receiving a Certificate of Completion for the NALS Legal Training Course (Basic or Advanced) during the period covered by the application will earn 32 credit hours per course. Some Legal Training Courses are approved for more than 32 hours, in which case applicants will receive the number of hours for which the course has been approved by the Legal Training Course Chair.

Category F. General (job-related) Educational Programs and Courses

A maximum of 20 hours may be earned through job-related general education programs and college courses. Examples of programs in this category include office or personnel administration, office technology, word processing, basic secretarial skills, grammar, accounting, filing systems, case management, and Total Quality Management.

Category G. Published Articles

A maximum of two credit hours per published legal or legal secretarial writing (copies must be attached to the application) may be earned with a maximum of 10 hours credit (five articles), if such writings fall within the following categories:

(1) National, regional, state or local publications published for the members of this association.
(2) National, regional, state of local publications published for the members of the bar association.
(3) National, regional, state or local publications published for the legal or legal secretarial profession in general.
(4) National, regional, state or local publications (other than in-house). These articles must be of a legal nature.
(5) Articles or chapters published in books for the use of the legal or legal secretarial profession.

Category H. Professional Enhancement Programs or Courses

A maximum of 20 hours may be earned through professional enhancement programs or courses in time management, stress management, leadership, motivation, and human relations.

Category I. Self Study

A maximum of 10 hours may be earned through self-study. The applicant may claim time spent reading NALS publications such as @ Law. Also the applicant may claim time spent studying for a certification exam.

Click here to download the CLE Award Form [PDF]

NALS Website
National Association


VALS Website
Virginia Association