The PACE-Setters 

PACE Ambassadors’ Report

By Doris S. Wente, RP

MPA recently appointed Lori Brandon and me as Co-PACE Ambassadors for MPA.  In this article, I would like to reintroduce myself to MPA members and provide some basic information about the Paralegal Advance Competency Examination (PACE) that has been developed by the NFPA. 

I have been employed as a litigation para­legal with the law firm of Gislason & Hunter LLP for 26 years. I passed the PACE examination in March 1997. After serving on MPA's Board of Directors for twelve years, I retired from MPA in June 1998. My retirement lasted for only about eight months before I agreed to be the PACE Ambassador for MPA for the first time. I served as the PACE Ambassador for a few years before serving as MPA’s president in 2001.  After that term, I again retired from MPA before recently agreeing to serve again as the PACE Ambassador along with Lori Brandon.  In the next PACE Ambassadors’ Report, Lori will introduce herself to you and will tell you about her experience with taking PACE.    

Reason for PACE Ambassadors

NFPA developed the PACE Ambassador program so that there would be someone des­ignated by each local member association to 1) educate the legal community, parale­gal educators, and the general public about PACE; 2) promote PACE; 3) encourage qualified candidates to take the exam; and 4) assist candidates in preparing for the exam.

Why NFPA Created PACE

NFPA believed the legal ser­vice industry was facing a great deal of change. It felt that the paralegal profession was facing possible regulation through certification, licens­ing, or other means. In 1994, NFPA's membership voted to develop the PACE exam to test the competency level of experienced paralegals. This was an attempt by paralegals to direct the future of the pro­fession and was a response to states which were considering regulation of the profession and were seeking a method to measure job competency.

PACE is a mechanism to measure the capability of experienced paralegals. It establishes a recognizable, professional standard of education and competence, including an understanding and adherence to ethical guidelines. NFPA believes that PACE provides the public, courts, paralegals, employers and allied professionals with a mechanism to evaluate an experienced paralegal’s proficiency. It also establishes requirements for continuing education and recognition for expertise in specialty areas of law.

Why Should Paralegals Take PACE Now, When it is Not Mandatory?

The PACE exam, at this time, is completely voluntary. Why would you want to take PACE now when there is no current regulation of the paralegal profession in Minnesota? PACE is designed to enhance the paralegal profession by providing a benchmark for advanced proficiency. Parale­gals who believe they are pro­fessionals can use this test as evidence of the level of competency they have attained. Taking PACE now supports high professional stan­dards and supports the argument for expanded roles for future paralegals.

Employers may also have good reason to want their paralegals to take the PACE exam:

1) PACE could be used to jus­tify a paralegal's background to qualify for a higher hourly rate for fee recovery;

2) PACE could be presented to clients as an example of the expertise of the parale­gals in the firm or compa­ny; and

3) PACE could be used to simplify the selection process when hiring para­legals.

Development of PACE

PACE was designed and developed by NFPA with the assistance of an independent examination development firm called Professional Examination Service Inc. ("PES”) — PES has been developing tests for over 50 years and currently works with over 75 professional associations and over 300 licensing boards.

PES was assisted in the devel­opment of PACE by an inde­pendent task force comprised of paralegals, paralegal educa­tors, attorneys, and members of the public. The develop­ment process included a job analysis, validation of this analysis, creation of exam questions, beta testing of the process and of the questions, an item banking of acceptable questions, and development of a final exam.

The exam is constantly being evaluated and updated to purge questions that are too easy, misleading, and to keep current with changing laws.

Eligibility to take PACE

Requirements for a paralegal to take PACE include work experience and education. The paralegal cannot have been convicted of a felony nor be under suspension, termination, or revocation of a certificate, registration, or license by any entity.

Requirements are:

• An associates degree in paralegal studies obtained from an institutionally accredited school, and/or ABA approved paralegal education program; and six (6) years substantive paralegal experience; OR
• A bachelor's degree in any course of study obtained from an institutionally accredited school and three (3) years of substantive paralegal experience; OR
• A bachelor's degree and completion of a paralegal program with an institutionally accredited school, said paralegal program may be embodied in a bachelor's degree; and two (2) years substantive paralegal experience; OR
• Four (4) years substantive paralegal experience on or before December 31, 2000.

Important Points to Keep in Mind Regarding PACE

PACE is designed to challenge the knowledgeable, experienced paralegal. There are no trick questions. It is not an endurance test. Test-takers have four hours to complete the exam. According to PES, increasing the number of questions would not make the exam a better test of com­petence. All test questions are multiple choice, making the test an objective measure of proficiency. PACE exam questions are designed to test ana­lytical skills and competence with problem-solving rather than merely testing factual knowl­edge. NFPA believes that if parale­gals are going to expand their roles, they need demonstrable criti­cal-thinking and analytical ability. PACE can validate your skills in this area.

PACE was first offered in 1996.  A new version of the exam was offered in 1999 and two new versions were offered beginning in December 2002.  NFPA has begun work on creating the next version of PACE that will be available sometime next year.

Cost to Take PACE

The cost to obtain a Candidates Handbook and Application to apply to take PACE is $25.00 for NFPA members and $75.00 for non-NFPA members.  (Remember that if you are a member of MPA, you are also a member of NFPA.) The PACE examination fee is $225 for NFPA members and $250 for non-members. 

The application fee should be sent to NFPA, P.O. Box 2016, Edmonds, WA 98020. The Candidate Handbook includes the application, information on exam content, sample exam questions, and logistical information on taking the exam.

Benefactor of PACE Proceeds

All proceeds from PACE go to the Foundation for the Advancement of the Paralegal Profession (the “Foundation”). A portion of the proceeds passed to the Foundation will reimburse NFPA for the development costs and expenses incurred in administering and maintaining the exam.  The remainder will be applied to further the Foundation's purposes and objectives: to fund projects that advance the paralegal profession, offer legal assistance to qualified recipients, promote the advancement of the profession, and to fund educational projects for those entering the paralegal profession or for the continuing education of those who have entered the profession.

PACE Credentialing

Those who pass PACE and maintain the continuing education requirement may use the designation "PACE - Registered Paralegal" or "RP."  To maintain the PACE RP credential, paralegals are required to obtain 12 hours of continuing legal education, including at least one hour in ethics, every two years.

Availability to Answer Questions or to Speak Regarding PACE

If you have any questions or if would like either Lori Brandon or me to speak to any group regarding PACE, please contact us at:

Doris Wente, RP

Gislason & Hunter LLP

701 Xenia Avenue South, Ste. 500

Minneapolis, MN  55416

Phone:  763-225-6000

Fax:  763-225-6099 

dwente@gislason.com

Lori Brandon, RP

Court Operations Supervisor

Scott County Court Administration

Government Center JC115

200 Fourth Avenue West

Shakopee, MN 55379-1220

952-496-8124 - Telephone

952-496-8211 – Facsimile

Lori.Brandon@courts.state.mn.us

PACE Overview Seminar/PACE Study Group

If you would like to see MPA sponsor a PACE overview seminar or if you would like our assistance in getting a PACE study group started, please feel free to contact us.