ALA Eligibility & Registration 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A paralegal with 8 years of experience at a law firm applies for the CLM without a college degree. Which eligibility pathway, if any, applies to them?
- They are ineligible because the CLM is restricted to attorneys
- They may qualify under the high-school diploma pathway if they have sufficient years of legal management experience (Correct answer)
- They qualify automatically because 8 years exceeds any threshold
- They must first earn an associate degree before applying
Correct answer: They may qualify under the high-school diploma pathway if they have sufficient years of legal management experience
ALA provides an alternative pathway for candidates without a college degree, requiring a greater number of years of qualifying legal management experience.
Question 2: Which of the following experience types does NOT count toward CLM eligibility hours?
- Budgeting and financial oversight for a law firm
- Supervising non-legal support staff in a corporate legal department
- Practicing law as a licensed attorney (Correct answer)
- Negotiating vendor contracts for law firm operations
Correct answer: Practicing law as a licensed attorney
Legal management experience must be administrative in nature; time spent practicing law as an attorney does not satisfy the management experience requirement.
Question 3: When must a CLM candidate's application fee be submitted relative to the application deadline?
- Within 90 days after the application is approved
- At the time the application is submitted (Correct answer)
- After the testing window has been assigned
- Only after the candidate passes a preliminary eligibility screen
Correct answer: At the time the application is submitted
The application fee is due at submission; applications without payment are not processed.
Question 4: A CLM candidate's supervisor refuses to sign the required verification form. What should the candidate do?
- Submit the application without the form and explain in a cover letter
- Obtain the signature from an alternate verifier in a management role who can attest to their experience (Correct answer)
- Hire an attorney to notarize their own self-attestation
- Withdraw the application and reapply once employed elsewhere
Correct answer: Obtain the signature from an alternate verifier in a management role who can attest to their experience
When a direct supervisor is unavailable, ALA allows another management-level individual familiar with the applicant's work to provide the required verification.
Question 5: Which of the following changes after submission would require a CLM candidate to notify ALA during the application review period?
- A change in the candidate's email address
- A change in the candidate's job title that no longer reflects legal management duties (Correct answer)
- A change in the candidate's preferred testing center location
- A change in the candidate's professional development courses attended
Correct answer: A change in the candidate's job title that no longer reflects legal management duties
A job change that eliminates qualifying management duties may affect eligibility and must be disclosed to ALA.
Question 6: The CLM credential is awarded by which organization?
- The American Bar Association
- The National Association of Legal Professionals
- The Association of Legal Administrators (Correct answer)
- The Law School Admission Council
Correct answer: The Association of Legal Administrators
The CLM (Certified Legal Manager) designation is the flagship professional credential administered by the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA).
Question 7: A candidate who has been approved for the CLM exam needs to reschedule their test date. What is the typical policy?
- Rescheduling is not permitted under any circumstance
- Rescheduling is allowed within the testing window, subject to the testing vendor's policies and possible fees (Correct answer)
- Rescheduling automatically resets the testing window to a new 6-month period
- Rescheduling requires a new application and fee payment
Correct answer: Rescheduling is allowed within the testing window, subject to the testing vendor's policies and possible fees
Candidates may reschedule within their approved testing window through the testing vendor, though fees may apply depending on notice given.
ALA Eligibility & Registration 3
A paralegal with 8 years of experience at a law firm applies for the CLM without a college degree.
Which eligibility pathway, if any, applies to them?