NALA ACP Trial Practice case studies
NALA ACP Trial Practice · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The ACP Trial Practice designation is an advanced credential within NALA's Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP) program, which builds on the Certified Paralegal (CP®) credential. NALA describes the CP® credential as the only nationally accredited paralegal certification and as its "gold standard" credential. The ACP program is designed for experienced paralegals who already hold the CP® credential and want to demonstrate specialized knowledge in a focused practice area. Trial Practice is one such specialization, aimed at paralegals who support attorneys through pretrial preparation, trial, and post-trial activities. Topics on this exam: Trial Practice. The NALA ACP Trial Practice case studies are 5 cases and about 2,383 words.
1The Six-Minute Clock and the Stipulation Deadline
Trial is Monday, twelve days from today. Plaintiff's exhibit 47 is a 94-second CCTV clip from a store DVR showing the aisle where the plaintiff fell. The loss-prevention manager exported the clip; the DVR clock was 6 minutes 14 seconds fast. The export file metadata shows a creation date two days after the incident.
452 words, about 2 min2The Nevada Bank Records and the 100-Mile Problem
Trial is March 31 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona. The local rule requires trial subpoenas to be served no later than 14 days before trial, which is March 17. Defendant needs account-transfer records from a nonparty bank branch in Nevada, about 190 miles from the Arizona courthouse.
502 words, about 3 min3The Errata Sheet Two Days Late
Plaintiff deposed defendant's operations manager 41 days ago under Rule 30(b)(1). The court reporter delivered the transcript 32 days ago. Today the paralegal receives an errata sheet dated today in which the witness changes the key answer: 'I checked the log at 8:00 a.m.' becomes 'I did not personally check the log; my assistant did.' The errata gives no reason. Trial is in 33 days.
472 words, about 2 min4The 2012 Theft Conviction and the Rule 609 Date
Trial is April 22, eighteen days away. Defendant filed a motion in limine ten days ago to exclude his 2012 felony theft conviction. He was released from prison in August 2016. Plaintiff's response is due in four days.
473 words, about 2 min5Juror 7's Instagram Story During Deliberations
The jury began deliberating at 10:15 a.m. the paralegal sees a public Instagram story from Juror 7, posted during the lunch recess. It shows a courthouse cafeteria tray with the caption: 'Day 4 of jury duty. This case is wild-can't wait to tell my followers how it ends.' The post has 38 likes.
484 words, about 2 min