PCCE Paralegal study guide
PCCE Paralegal · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Certified Paralegal (CP®) credential - also referenced as the Paralegal Core Competency Exam (PCCE) and, in NALA's materials, the CP® Exam - is a professional certification for paralegals who want third-party validation of the substantive and procedural law behind everyday practice. NALA describes it as the only nationally accredited paralegal certification, which is what makes it function as a national benchmark rather than a state-specific license. The PCCE Paralegal study guide has 8 sections and about 2,623 words.
01Civil Litigation: Stages, Discovery, and Deadlines
A civil action moves through predictable stages: pleadings, service of process, discovery, pretrial motions, trial, judgment, and appeal. A paralegal is expected to know which document is filed when, who serves whom, and what each deadline measures.
342 words, about 2 min02Contracts: Formation, Defenses, and Remedies
A contract requires mutual assent (offer plus acceptance), consideration, capacity, and legality of purpose. An offer must be sufficiently definite to enforce and ends by rejection, revocation, lapse, or death.
315 words, about 2 min03Business Organizations and Corporate Law
Know how sole proprietorships, general partnerships, limited partnerships, LLPs, LLCs, and corporations differ in liability, taxation, management, and formation formalities. A general partnership can arise by conduct with no filing, and partners are jointly and severally liable; each partner is an agent of the partnership with apparent authority to bind it in the ordinary course.
368 words, about 2 min04Criminal Law and Procedure
Every crime requires an actus reus and a mens rea unless it is strict liability. Distinguish specific intent, general intent, malice, and negligence.
323 words, about 2 min05Estate Planning and Probate
A valid will requires testamentary intent, capacity (generally adult age and sound mind at execution), and formalities: a writing signed by the testator and, in most states, two disinterested witnesses. A holographic will is handwritten and unwitnessed and is valid only where the statute allows it, typically requiring material terms in the testator's hand.
310 words, about 2 min06Family Law: Marriage, Dissolution, and Children
Marriage generally requires a license and solemnization. Common law marriage survives in a few jurisdictions and requires capacity, present agreement, and holding out to the public with cohabitation.
305 words, about 2 min07Real Property and Real Estate
Know fee simple absolute, life estates, and future interests. Tenancy in common has no right of survivorship and allows unequal shares.
339 words, about 2 min08Torts: Intentional Torts, Negligence, and Defenses
Battery is harmful or offensive contact; assault is apprehension of an imminent contact (apprehension, not fear). False imprisonment requires confinement within boundaries.
321 words, about 2 min