NEWS FROM NFPA – PACE UPDATES (RPs pay special notice - volunteers needed!)

Updated PACE Exam - NFPA periodically updates the PACE exam so that it reflects current law and new legal technologies and trends. Accordingly, NFPA will begin the test revision phase in the next few weeks and expects to have another generation of the exam by October 2007. A group of volunteers will assist with validating, reviewing, editing and preparing test questions and will meet in early February 2007. The next step in the process will be to actually construct the new exam. This will occur in approximately April-May 2007. The pass point will be established at a meeting to occur in approximately July 2007. After that, they will beta test the new exam and hopefully it will be ready to go by October 2007.

Here’s where you come in – NFPA would like to have as many RPs as possible submit questions and be a part of the item writing process. NFPA is asking that we survey our RPs and see if they would be willing to assist NFPA by submitting written questions for the exam. (They are only looking for RPs at this point. This is a requirement that PES {the company that actually administers and assists NFPA with the development of the exam} strongly encouraged.) Those who want to assist with item writing should contact Ann W. Price RP, Vice President and Director of PACE at vpdp@paralegals.org. If there are any RPs who would like to be a part of the pass point or exam construction meetings, they should e-mail Ann Price as well. This will involve two intense days meeting with PES. In return, this allows RPs the opportunity to be part of creating something new and improved.

New Study Aids - NFPA is working on creating a set of laminated flash cards to help candidates study the terminology they will need for the exam. The NFPA board has obtained bids from printers and is in the final stages of obtaining the rights to actually market the cards. These will be marketed from the NFPA website and should be available early in 2007.

Study Manual – The PACE Study Manual has become a respected source for important paralegal knowledge. Law firms and even paralegal schools have been purchasing these as a reference tool – it is not just a tool for candidates studying for PACE anymore. NFPA is working to update the current study manual and will soon have a much more professional looking product to market. The NFPA board accepted a proposal from Prentice-Hall publishers to publish and market the study manuals. A number of details remain to be worked out, but look for a new version to be coming out in the not too distant future. Also, if you would be interested in working on updating the current study manual, writing a chapter or updating existing materials, editing and proofreading, please let Vickie Newman, RP (Study Materials Coordinator) know at vmnewman@sbcglobal.net.