CLA Exam Tips (Posted by Jenny)

Hello everyone!

For those of you with the CLA exam looming large on your horizon this month, I thought you might appreciate some advice from one who has sat for the boards and been there before you. For those of you who will not take the exam until December, read on and tuck this away for future reference!

I consider the CLA credential to be valuable and worth getting and maintaining. Obviously, the most important thing to an attorney is what you know and what you can do / learn, but I have found in my area (it may be different elsewhere) that the CLA credential is known and does lend some credence to your paralegal certificate. The law firms here will pay for the CLE needed to maintain certification.

Paralegals have different views on the CLA credential. Many successful paralegals do not have it and many do. But I believe it is valuable because it is nationally recognized, (and portable:) it lends credence to your paralegal studies, and since you have worked so hard to graduate with your paralegal certificate, why not take the final step and sit for the CLA exam?

1. Do not let the practice tests or mock exam scare you!

I don't know what the latest editions of the CLA study manuals are like, but the 2nd edition (the one I used to study for my 2005 exam) was very very difficult. I was almost in despair when I took the mock exam after completing all the reviews and practice tests and still got scores which I felt would not enable me to pass the actual test. However, when I asked another paralegal (who I consider much more brilliant than I will ever be) he told me that the practice exams were much harder than the actual exam and the scores I was getting were better than he had gotten pre-test. I found this to be very true - the practice tests were much harder than the actual exam.

As I said, I have not seen the 3rd edition of the review materials, but I am guessing that the same will still hold true. I have never found any test prep books that were easier than the actual exam.

So if this has been upsetting you, be encouraged!

2. The last few days before the exam

What you do the week of the exam studying - wise is very important. I know everyone's situation is different and you may have to cram because of unavoidable situations, but if it is at all possible I would advise against it.

Each of us will prep for an exam differently. I am sure you know yourself and what would be beneficial / not beneficial for you to do the last few days before a big exam. One person I know took the portions of the mock exam that she would be taking the next day the night before. Another person I know laid aside the books after taking the mock exam at the beginning of the week of the exam. What you do is up to you. Just remember: do not make yourself more stressed than you already are. Avoid cramming / over studying - they will most likely make you miserable.

I personally took the mock exam the week of the CLA exam and did not study for the rest of the week. I had not planned on doing that. I had wanted to take all the practice tests over again, but wasn't able to because of work (plus the fact that I was battling major exhaustion / mono). This turned out to be the best thing I could have done. It enabled me to relax and come in to the exam rested.

So decide what you need to do and what would be most beneficial for you. Just like an athlete, the last few days before the "big race" are very vital to success or failure.

3. Get plenty of sleep the night before the exam!!

I cannot emphasize this enough. The CLA exam has been likened to the Bar exam in regards to difficulty and stress. It is a very long and draining 2 days. You will need to be at your best. Adequate sleep plays a big role in that.

4.The first day of the exam

One of the things that I will always be grateful for is that I went out for breakfast with a friend that made me laugh and eat a good breakfast. This helped calm my nerves and fortify me for the long day ahead. Also, make sure you arrive at the testing center early so you have plenty of time to get a seat, sign in, etc.

5. During the exam

You will have adequate time during the exam. You will not have ample time, but you will have adequate time. It is very important that you budget your time well in order to complete all sections in the time allowed.

Work through the questions steadily. Don't stop and stare at one too long. If the answer doesn't immediately come to mind, either pick the most likely choice or leave it blank and go on. You can come back to it later. This is especially important in the General Law section where you will have an hour and a half to work through 5 exams. All I remember about that hour and a half of the exam was filling in answer bubbles frantically.:)

Remain focused!!

In the section where you have to write a memorandum, it is especially important to not panic or get distracted. I remember vividly laying my pencil on the table and asking the Lord to help me write the next line. I finished my memo right before the time was up. I couldn't believe I had actually written a complete memo and finished in an hour!! God is good.

6. After the exam

When you have laid your pencil down for the last time and left the testing center, do your best to leave the exam behind you. You did your best, and that is all you can do. For better or worse, it is done and in the Lord's hands. If you get the results and find out you have to take a section over, take it over. The exam admin told all of us that the only thing to be ashamed of was not coming back and re-taking sections. Even the author of the review materials had to re-take parts of the exam!

I hope all of the above is helpful. Feel free to e-mail or call me and ask any CLA questions you want. Many blessings on your exam, we'll be praying for you, and please let us know how it goes!!