ONE PARALEGAL’S PATH
TO THE PACE EXAM
By:
Sharon A. DeNofa, RP
I first learned of
the PACE examination back in 2000 when I
joined Philadelphia Association of
Paralegals (PAP). I was immediately
intrigued. How great, an exam to test
the competency of paralegals. It was
right up my alley! I=m
always looking for a challenge! So I
quickly ordered all the materials to
begin my quest. About a week later I
received my package of materials. I was
thrilled. But with a busy work
schedule, billable hour requirement and
three children at home, I never had a
moment to even open the envelope, let
alone begin the process. I began to
feel guilty there was this exam out
there which would enhance my position
within my profession and I couldn’t find
the time to take it. At the same time I
started to become more involved with PAP=s
newsletter committee. I began asking my
fellow paralegals to see how they felt
about the exam. To my surprise, most
paralegals didn’t feel it was worth
their time since it wouldn’t get them a
pay raise and it wasn’t mandatory. Well
if others felt this way, maybe this exam
was a waste of my time. So I threw out
the materials and went on with my busy
paralegal life.
A few years had
passed and I was, at this time, even
more involved with PAP, its committees
and in 2005 was elected to serve on its
board of directors. It wasn’t until I
became a board member when I learned PAP
had a PACE ambassador, Barbara I. Nield,
RP. I quickly began to think again
about taking the exam. I thought if PAP
had an ambassador and promoted the PACE
exam, well this is something I need to
do, regardless of no pay raise or
whether it was or later would be
mandatory. At the same time, Ms. Nield
was working with PAP to offer
scholarships to PAP members for the PACE
exam. I was so excited and I actually
only attended the December luncheon to
put my name in the drawing. Well what
do you know, I actually won the
scholarship. I almost immediately ran
back to the office to ask my boss if I
could take the exam. Lucas and
Cavalier, LLC has always supported me in
my profession so I wasn’t surprised when
he replied, “Absolutely!” Let me know
what you need from me and/or the firm to
get started.
The minute I got the
okay from my boss, I called Ms. Nield to
find out what the necessary steps were to
take the exam. She suggested I order the
study guide first to give myself a little
extra time to study. From the time you
receive the acceptance letter to take the
exam, you only have 90 days to actually take
the exam.
A week later the book
arrives at my office. All 676 pages of it.
I almost fell over when I saw how huge the
book was. I couldn’t even fit it in my work
bag. There was no way I could carry this
thing to and from work every day. So the
book sat on my desk for a few months before
I even opened it. It was now May 2006 and I
decided I was again ready to start
studying. Well tragedy hit home and my only
brother suddenly passed away. After a few
months of walking around in a daze, I
decided I wasn’t going to take this exam. I
felt life was to short and I didn’t want to
waste months of studying to take this four
hour exam. But as more months went by I
began to remember all the things which make
life worth living and that yes, life is
short and we need to get all we can out of
it and taking this exam was just another
step in my life to enhance me
professionally. So I picked up the study
guide in January 2007 and started studying.
I first planned out
goal dates of when I wanted each step of the
process completed. I gave myself until mid
February to complete the study guide, end of
February to complete the application and
until May 18, 2007 to take the exam. I was
a little held up on my reading and didn’t
finish until the end of February. I started
the application at the end of February but
then had three trials back to back and
didn’t complete it until mid March. I gave
myself a two week break from studying then I
decided to re-read the study guide to pick
up anything I may have missed the first time
around. Then I went out and read the
suggested additional reading materials
listed in the study guide. At this point it
was mid April and I finally received the
letter granting permission to take the PACE
exam. I had until mid July to take the
exam. I then contacted Ms. Nield to see
what advice/guidance she could give me. She
suggested I purchase the on-line practice
test which would point out any areas where I
needed additional studying. I passed the
on-line practice test which gave me great
confidence to keep going and did let me know
of my weak areas. I then scheduled the
examination for my original goal date which
was May 18, 2007. The last four weeks
before the exam I went over my weak areas
with the study guide, additional reading
materials and the results from the on-line
practice test.
It was May 18, 2007 and
I was at the exam center. I felt my heart
in my throat. My hands were sweaty. I felt
so nauseous. I haven=t
taken an exam since college -which was ten
years ago. My exam was scheduled for 8:00
a.m. By 8:20 a.m. I was still sitting
there waiting. I pulled out the study guide
and began to read. I was so nervous that
the words were not registering in my head.
Finally, my name was called. I was taken
back where they register you, review your ID
and sign paperwork. They then stick you in
this room with rows and rows of computers
along with other people taking exams. I=m
given my computer and the timer begins to
tick away. The entire time I=m
taking the exam, I can see the timer out of
the corner of my eye. I=m
finished in about two and a half hours and I
decided to re-check my answers. Thirty
minutes later, I determined I was satisfied
with all my answers. I gave it another
minute while I thought whether I wanted to
go back yet again to check my answers but
declined and then clicked the finished
button. It was the longest three minutes as
I waited for the results. Then there it
was, a congratulations, you passed. I almost
cried.
My job, PAP and NFPA
really hyped up my results and made me
extremely happy that I decided to take, let
alone pass, the exam. Did I get more money,
no. Was it mandatory, not yet. But I am
thrilled to be a RP and proud of it. I
would encourage every paralegal to take the
examination. The feeling of accomplishment
was and remains wonderful!
"Reprinted with permission from
The Legal
Intelligencer." and "Copyright,
2008, ALM Properties, Inc." |
