PACE Exam Format | PACE Course Contents | PACE Course Outline | PACE Exam Syllabus | PACE Exam Objectives

Test Details:
- Exam Name: Social-Work-Board PACE NFPA Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam
- Exam Format: Multiple-choice questions
- Exam Duration: 3 hours
- Passing Score: Varies (set by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations)
- Prerequisites: Completion of a paralegal education program or equivalent work experience
- Certification Validity: Valid for a specified period, typically 2-3 years

Course Outline: Social-Work-Board PACE NFPA Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam

I. Legal Research and Writing
A. Conducting legal research using various sources
B. Analyzing and synthesizing legal information
C. Drafting legal documents and correspondence

II. Substantive Legal Areas
A. Contract law
B. Tort law
C. Criminal law
D. Family law
E. Real estate law
F. Intellectual property law

III. Procedural Knowledge
A. Civil litigation procedures
B. Administrative law procedures
C. Appellate procedures
D. Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods

IV. Ethics and Professional Responsibility
A. Understanding legal ethics and professional conduct rules
B. Maintaining client confidentiality
C. Recognizing conflicts of interest
D. Upholding professional standards

V. Technology and Legal Practice
A. Utilizing technology tools for legal research and document management
B. Electronic discovery (e-discovery) processes
C. Legal software and databases

Exam Objectives:
- Demonstrate proficiency in legal research techniques and effective writing skills
- Apply substantive legal knowledge in various areas of law
- Understand and navigate procedural rules and processes in legal practice
- Uphold ethical standards and professional responsibilities
- Utilize technology tools relevant to the paralegal profession

Syllabus:
The syllabus for the Social-Work-Board PACE NFPA Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam will cover the following topics:
- Prepare binders for interviews with clients and depositions
- Stay current on legal technology
- Manage databases
- File legal documents using the federal court electronic filing system
- Update and maintain stock record databases for clients
- Prepare stock certificates and maintain stock records
- Prepare and oversee closing checklists

- Order certificates of existence (or equivalent) and copies of corporate documents from appropriate state authority
- Assist lawyers in preparation of SEC filings with regard to securities offerings and other dealings
- Prepare for and attend transaction closings
- Create and maintain data rooms for client due diligence and corporate documents
- Compile and assemble documents and prepare closing index for closing books
- Perform conflict checks; obtain detailed information about client and all adverse parties

- Docket deadlines and reminders
- Create and balance trust account ledger
- Preparation and/or organization of electronic files
- Draft engagement letters
- Create and implement legal hold for data preservation
- Prepare minute books, maintain corporate databases and file annual reports with state authority

- Set up and configure logistics for hearings, trials and other official proceedings (may include electronic testing and set up before proceeding, confirming availability of certain electronics at venue, confirming training of location specific equipment, maintaining a hearing toolkit containing extension cords, tape, chargers, etc.)
- Timely record documents and UCCs in proper jurisdictions
- Based on acquisition and loan closing statements, confirm all closing funds are wired to or transferred to attorney’s appropriate escrow account, prepare all disbursements and wire transfers, reconcile and balance funds, and coordinate disbursements and wires

- Research and update contact information
- Conduct background and criminal record checks
- Take notes during hearings, meetings and other case related events
- Perform all duties according to ABA and NFPA's ethical guidelines

- Obtain information about who the client is and who the adverse parties are for a particular case
- Collect, manage, and preserve electronically stored information (ESI)
- Act as a liaison between clients, counsel, courts, and other parties to disseminate Information
- Attend organizational meetings with clients and/or lawyers to take instructions, obtain information, report on status of matters and recommended course of action
- Communicate with clients and arranges the execution of relevant documents (i.e. merger, change of corporate structure)
- Obtain and complete requisite applications and corporate consents for business and not-for-profit corporations

- Prepare capitalization tables
- Develop protocols for data classification, collection and searching
- Order title and trio reports and review accuracy of same
- Prepare, identify and record real property documents such as deeds, liens, record abstracts, construction liens, and post recording notices
- Review, analyze, select, and compile/organize key documents for use by attorney (may be used as exhibits or supportive documents for a number of documents/arguments)

- Determine legal names of the party entities, send out initial conflict check to firm, document responses, and review any conflicts with attorney
- Open files based on research of legal party entities and results of conflict check
- Assist attorney with various pleadings and legal documents, prepare and review documents, prepare and attach exhibits, prepare final accounting documents as necessary for final submittal
- Coordinate preparation of new surveys and provide instructions to surveyors
- Coordinate title searches and document requests with title agents, vendors, and attorneys

- Determine proper jurisdictions and coordinate lien searches with title attorneys and search companies
- Request payoffs and other information regarding the bank’s borrowers
- Retrieve lien releases, surveys and other necessary documents from court records, clients, other firms and parties
- Liaison with clients: assist clients and third parties with inquiries and document requests
- Receive and discuss with attorney inquiries from outside firms on closing files and firm’s clients
- Consult with attorney on client needs, closing and title issues and problems, and any other matters necessary to his evaluation and attention

- Prepare, file, and arrange to serve subpoenas
- Prepare witnesses for testimony
- Prepare for arbitration and mediation
- Provide experts with necessary documents
- Prepare living wills, health care proxies, durable powers of attorney
- Organize client financial records to initiate will/trust preparation
- Calculate federal and local estate taxes

- Conduct legal research and investigation
- Interview clients and witnesses
- Locate and interview expert witnesses
- Conduct jury research
- Determine best authority, primary and secondary sources, validate research for accuracy, apply legal research to client's particular matter

- Review and keep abreast of changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
- Review and keep abreast of changes to the Federal Rules of Evidence
- Review changes to charter documents and other corporate documents
- Drafting pleadings, correspondence, motions, discovery responses, and specialty-related documents
- Analysis and summarization of legal research in proper legal memorandum form
- Prepare factual summaries

- Prepare deposition summaries
- Prepare declarations and affidavits for attorney fees and costs, cost bills, assignment of judgments or claims, and judgments
- Process requests for disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
- Work with lawyers to prepare all documents required to form corporations (both profit and nonprofit), limited liability companies, and any other type of business entity in any state
- Review, summarize, and analyze corporate records, compile information, and recommend course of action to correct deficiencies

- Assist lawyers with corporate reorganizations, share or asset purchase transactions, or tax reorganizations including the coordination of closing documents, searching status, filings, reports and other matters, summarizing search results, preparation of documents and checklists, and assisting with corporate due diligence
- Prepare draft responses to auditor's requests for information
- Assist lawyers in the preparation and filing of UCCs (including review of security documents to ascertain collateral description) and perform and review UCC search requests

- Assist attorney with due diligence searches, including litigation, UCC, and corporate status searches
- Review, organize and prepare responses to audit inquiries from clients
- Perform litigation, UCC, and lien searches and review and summarize results
- Review security agreements and prepare UCC financing statements
- Prepare Articles/Certificates of Incorporation/Organization/Registration to form entities and/or assume business registrations in domestic and foreign jurisdictions

- Prepare bylaws or LLC Agreements
- Prepare resolutions/actions for varying types of transactions
- Prepare Officer/Secretary/Incumbency Certificates and Guarantees for transactions
- Prepare stock certificates and appropriate transfer documents
- Prepare correspondence, escrow letters, closing documents (i.e., deeds, mortgages, assignments, agreements, affidavits, guaranties, UCC financing statements, exhibits, satisfactions, terminations, amendments, and legal descriptions), closing binders, title insurance commitments and owner, loan and leasehold title insurance policies

- Factual research and review of contracts, property titles, tax records, liens and encumbrances, easements, surveys, documents and other information for clients and closings
- Prepare cover letters and deliver closing documents, title documents, final recorded documents and title policies to proper parties by firm messenger, icloud or disk
- Conversant with the Uniform Probate Code and the Uniform Trust Code

- Apply ethical rules and concepts to practical situations
- Keep up-todate on technology needed to perform job (firm document saving system, iCloud programs, saving and manipulation of Adobe/pdf files and data, efiling documents with courts, scanners, OCR programs, and other office equipment)
- Keep abreast of law related to attorney’s practice or of relevance to firm by taking webinars, receiving updates by subscription, reading legal literature and journals, and educate attorneys and/or general public
- Track and maintain hours, both billable and non-billable, in a timely manner in accordance with policies

- Open and maintain electronic and physical case files
- Use document management systems to store and retrieve electronic files
- Monitor and comply with court deadlines
- Coordinate workflow
- Maintain confidentiality
- General knowledge in computer applications
- Identify trial technology tools and implement tools at trial
- Keep comprehensive list of attorney’s client matters

- Maintain calendar, contract deadlines, due diligence dates, and tickler items
- Keep both paper copy client file and digital file current and complete by copying, scanning and organizing documents, faxes and emails, retaining any attorney handwritten notes, and storing any email communications in digital files
- Prioritize workload and set deadlines
- Manage and enlist legal assistants and office assistants to assist with administrative tasks
- Review file, complete any needed tasks, organize before closing the file and returning to file room
- Review and process vendor invoices