NORTH CAROLINA PARALEGAL CERTIFICATION LATEST
NCCP ACTUAL CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION COMPLETE
PRACTICE TEST WITH ANSWERS & RATIONALES (2026
UPDATE) ALREADY GRADED A+
SECTION I: ETHICS & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
1. Which task may a lawyer NOT delegate to a paralegal under the North
Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct?
a) Preparing a standard form document
b) Filing documents with the courts or agencies
c) Establishing the lawyer-client relationship
d) Handling procedural or administrative matters
Answer: c
Rationale: Under Rule 5.3 of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct and
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 84-2.1, establishing the attorney-client relationship is a non-
delegable duty that only a licensed lawyer can perform. Paralegals may prepare
documents, file with courts, and handle procedural matters under attorney
supervision.
2. According to the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct, which rule
specifically addresses a lawyer's duty to supervise non-lawyer staff?
a) Rule 1.5 (Fees)
b) Rule 5.3 (Supervision of Non-lawyer Assistants)
c) Rule 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party)
d) Rule 1.6 (Confidentiality)
,Answer: b
Rationale: Rule 5.3 requires lawyers to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the
conduct of non-lawyer assistants, including paralegals, is compatible with the
lawyer's professional obligations. The supervising attorney must ensure the
paralegal's conduct is compatible with the lawyer's own professional obligations.
3. Which of the following constitutes the unauthorized practice of law by a
paralegal?
a) Drafting a standard form document for attorney review
b) Giving legal advice to a client independently
c) Filing documents with the Clerk of Court
d) Coordinating the execution of a deed
Answer: b
Rationale: Giving legal advice independently constitutes the unauthorized practice
of law under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 84-2.1. Paralegals may assist with drafting, filing,
and document coordination under attorney supervision, but may not
independently provide legal advice or legal opinions.
4. A paralegal is asked by a client for legal advice about their case. The paralegal
should respond:
a) "The law says you have a strong case."
b) "I'm not an attorney, but I'll make sure your lawyer answers that for you."
c) "Let me explain the law to you and then you can decide."
d) "Accept it, it's a good deal."
Answer: b
Rationale: Giving legal advice constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. A
paralegal must refer the client to the supervising attorney for legal advice. The
proper response is to acknowledge that the paralegal cannot provide legal advice
and will ensure the supervising attorney addresses the question.
,5. A paralegal who drafts a contract and sends it directly to the client for
signature without attorney review:
a) Is acting within the scope of their duties
b) Exposes the firm to potential liability and engages in the unauthorized practice
of law
c) Is encouraged to do so to save time
d) Is protected from liability by the attorney of record
Answer: b
Rationale: Drafting documents without attorney review is a documented risk of
UPL and liability. This action can expose the firm to liability for errors. All
substantive work must be reviewed and approved by the supervising lawyer.
6. A paralegal negotiates a settlement with opposing counsel without the
supervising attorney present. This is:
a) Acceptable if the paralegal has experience in settlement negotiations
b) A violation of ethics rules and constitutes unauthorized practice of law
c) Acceptable if the client has given written consent
d) A standard practice in most law firms
Answer: b
Rationale: A paralegal attempting to negotiate a settlement without the lawyer
present risks UPL and can jeopardize the client's position. Paralegals cannot
negotiate settlements independently—this requires attorney supervision.
7. A paralegal may be listed on a law firm's letterhead:
a) Only if the paralegal is certified by the North Carolina State Bar
b) As long as the paralegal's position is clearly indicated
c) In the same manner as the lawyers
d) Paralegals may never be listed on letterhead
Answer: b
Rationale: Paralegals may be listed on firm letterhead as long as their position as a
, paralegal is clearly indicated, so as not to mislead the public into believing they
are attorneys.
8. Which act by a paralegal would be permitted?
a) Giving a legal opinion
b) Establishing standard fees
c) Witnessing the execution of a will
d) Waiving a conflict of interest
Answer: c
Rationale: Paralegals cannot give legal opinions, set legal fees, or waive conflicts of
interest. Witnessing the execution of a will is permitted—there are no statutory
requirements regarding who may witness a will, though North Carolina is a self-
proving will state requiring notarization of witness signatures.
9. Generally, which does NOT constitute the unauthorized practice of law for a
paralegal?
a) Appearing in court
b) Giving legal advice
c) Interviewing clients
d) Setting legal fees
Answer: c
Rationale: Paralegals may interview clients to gather information for the attorney.
They cannot appear in court, give legal advice, or set legal fees—these activities
constitute the unauthorized practice of law.
10. Under North Carolina law, what is the primary source of ethics rules
governing paralegals?
a) The American Bar Association Model Rules
b) The North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct and the State Bar Guidelines
NCCP ACTUAL CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION COMPLETE
PRACTICE TEST WITH ANSWERS & RATIONALES (2026
UPDATE) ALREADY GRADED A+
SECTION I: ETHICS & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
1. Which task may a lawyer NOT delegate to a paralegal under the North
Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct?
a) Preparing a standard form document
b) Filing documents with the courts or agencies
c) Establishing the lawyer-client relationship
d) Handling procedural or administrative matters
Answer: c
Rationale: Under Rule 5.3 of the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct and
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 84-2.1, establishing the attorney-client relationship is a non-
delegable duty that only a licensed lawyer can perform. Paralegals may prepare
documents, file with courts, and handle procedural matters under attorney
supervision.
2. According to the North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct, which rule
specifically addresses a lawyer's duty to supervise non-lawyer staff?
a) Rule 1.5 (Fees)
b) Rule 5.3 (Supervision of Non-lawyer Assistants)
c) Rule 3.4 (Fairness to Opposing Party)
d) Rule 1.6 (Confidentiality)
,Answer: b
Rationale: Rule 5.3 requires lawyers to make reasonable efforts to ensure that the
conduct of non-lawyer assistants, including paralegals, is compatible with the
lawyer's professional obligations. The supervising attorney must ensure the
paralegal's conduct is compatible with the lawyer's own professional obligations.
3. Which of the following constitutes the unauthorized practice of law by a
paralegal?
a) Drafting a standard form document for attorney review
b) Giving legal advice to a client independently
c) Filing documents with the Clerk of Court
d) Coordinating the execution of a deed
Answer: b
Rationale: Giving legal advice independently constitutes the unauthorized practice
of law under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 84-2.1. Paralegals may assist with drafting, filing,
and document coordination under attorney supervision, but may not
independently provide legal advice or legal opinions.
4. A paralegal is asked by a client for legal advice about their case. The paralegal
should respond:
a) "The law says you have a strong case."
b) "I'm not an attorney, but I'll make sure your lawyer answers that for you."
c) "Let me explain the law to you and then you can decide."
d) "Accept it, it's a good deal."
Answer: b
Rationale: Giving legal advice constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. A
paralegal must refer the client to the supervising attorney for legal advice. The
proper response is to acknowledge that the paralegal cannot provide legal advice
and will ensure the supervising attorney addresses the question.
,5. A paralegal who drafts a contract and sends it directly to the client for
signature without attorney review:
a) Is acting within the scope of their duties
b) Exposes the firm to potential liability and engages in the unauthorized practice
of law
c) Is encouraged to do so to save time
d) Is protected from liability by the attorney of record
Answer: b
Rationale: Drafting documents without attorney review is a documented risk of
UPL and liability. This action can expose the firm to liability for errors. All
substantive work must be reviewed and approved by the supervising lawyer.
6. A paralegal negotiates a settlement with opposing counsel without the
supervising attorney present. This is:
a) Acceptable if the paralegal has experience in settlement negotiations
b) A violation of ethics rules and constitutes unauthorized practice of law
c) Acceptable if the client has given written consent
d) A standard practice in most law firms
Answer: b
Rationale: A paralegal attempting to negotiate a settlement without the lawyer
present risks UPL and can jeopardize the client's position. Paralegals cannot
negotiate settlements independently—this requires attorney supervision.
7. A paralegal may be listed on a law firm's letterhead:
a) Only if the paralegal is certified by the North Carolina State Bar
b) As long as the paralegal's position is clearly indicated
c) In the same manner as the lawyers
d) Paralegals may never be listed on letterhead
Answer: b
Rationale: Paralegals may be listed on firm letterhead as long as their position as a
, paralegal is clearly indicated, so as not to mislead the public into believing they
are attorneys.
8. Which act by a paralegal would be permitted?
a) Giving a legal opinion
b) Establishing standard fees
c) Witnessing the execution of a will
d) Waiving a conflict of interest
Answer: c
Rationale: Paralegals cannot give legal opinions, set legal fees, or waive conflicts of
interest. Witnessing the execution of a will is permitted—there are no statutory
requirements regarding who may witness a will, though North Carolina is a self-
proving will state requiring notarization of witness signatures.
9. Generally, which does NOT constitute the unauthorized practice of law for a
paralegal?
a) Appearing in court
b) Giving legal advice
c) Interviewing clients
d) Setting legal fees
Answer: c
Rationale: Paralegals may interview clients to gather information for the attorney.
They cannot appear in court, give legal advice, or set legal fees—these activities
constitute the unauthorized practice of law.
10. Under North Carolina law, what is the primary source of ethics rules
governing paralegals?
a) The American Bar Association Model Rules
b) The North Carolina Rules of Professional Conduct and the State Bar Guidelines
