NALA ACP study plan

Map the full ACP course outline into a one-page topic inventory and mark each topic as unfamiliar, shaky, or solid.

Define the scope of the paralegal role and authorized duties in your jurisdiction by writing a 300-word summary from primary sources.

Build a personal glossary shell with 40 legal terms you expect to meet, leaving definitions blank for later filling.

Schedule recurring 90-minute study blocks on your calendar for all 8 weeks and protect them from conflicts.

Explain the structure of the court system you will be tested on, including trial and appellate levels, in your own words.

Distinguish civil, criminal, and administrative procedure by building a three-column comparison table.

Trace the lifecycle of a civil case from intake through appeal and label each stage with the paralegal's typical task.

Identify the sources of law (constitution, statute, regulation, case law) and give one concrete example of each from your jurisdiction.

Draft a client intake memo from a fact pattern, separating facts, issues, and open questions.

Apply a conflict-of-interest checklist to two hypothetical clients and document the outcome.

Explain the rules on confidentiality, privilege, and the unauthorized practice of law, citing the governing authority for each.

Complete 30 practice questions on ethics and the paralegal role and log every miss with the reason.

Describe the anatomy of a contract and identify the elements required for formation without notes.

Draft a plain-language summary of a sample contract clause set, flagging ambiguity and missing terms.

Compare common business entity forms and note the filing and recordkeeping duties a paralegal typically handles.

Explain basic legal research method: how to find a statute, a regulation, and controlling case law from a citation.

Outline the discovery process and the paralegal's role in document collection, review, and privilege logging.

Build a privilege log entry template and apply it to five sample documents.

Explain e-discovery basics including preservation obligations and metadata, in your own words.

Draft a set of five interrogatories and five document requests that comply with formatting and scope rules.

Explain the rules for calculating deadlines and apply them to five date scenarios, showing your work.

Draft a notice of deposition and a subpoena checklist using correct caption and service elements.

Describe trial preparation tasks a paralegal owns, including exhibit lists and witness coordination.

Complete 40 mixed practice questions under timed conditions and score them.

Explain the paralegal's duties in real estate and estate administration transactions at a high level, noting where local rules vary.

Explain the paralegal's duties in family law and bankruptcy filings at a high level, noting confidentiality and deadline risks.

Build a one-page quick-reference sheet linking each practice area to its most common filings and deadlines.

Re-test every topic you rated unfamiliar in week 1 and update the inventory ratings.

Complete two full-length timed practice exams and record scores by topic.

Rewrite your error log into a single condensed review sheet of no more than two pages.

Recite from memory the rules on confidentiality, conflicts, and unauthorized practice without prompts.

Finalize exam-day logistics: test format, timing, permitted materials, and identification requirements.