Why should I take the CLA exam? Whether or not you take the CLA should be based on several things:  Do you want the extra credential?  How will it affect your marketability?  Will having the CLA designation make a difference to you if you are already a practicing paralegal (salary, responsibilty, etc)?  Each student has to make that decision for himself/herself.  However, the national trend seems to be toward certification of paralegals in some manner.  Having the CLA credential will put you ahead of the curve! Many students ask whether having the CLA credential will affect their salaries.   In its 2008 Utilization and Compensation Survey, NALA found that paralegals who had earned the CLA designation earned an average of around $900 more annually than non-CLA credentialed paralegals.  Paralegals holding a CLA Specialist designation earned approximately $5,600 more annually than those who lacked that designation.  The article reports that most CLAs don't earn more money immediately upon gaining the CLA credential, although some employers do bonus paralegals who pass the exam.  However, in the long haul, CLAs tend to earn more money than non-CLAs.   You may view the latest Survey findings and a summary of the report by going to NALA's website at www.nala.org/survey.