CERTIFIED LEGAL ASSISTANT (CLA/CP) EXAM 1
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2025
1. Which of the following is a primary source of law?
A. Legal dictionary
B. Restatement of Law
C. Statute
D. Legal encyclopedia
Rationale: Statutes are enacted laws and are considered primary sources. Others
are secondary sources.
2. The principle of stare decisis refers to:
A. A judge’s opinion
B. The practice of following precedent
C. The rules of court procedure
D. The defendant’s plea
Rationale: Stare decisis means "to stand by things decided"—courts follow
previous rulings to maintain consistency.
,3. Interrogatories are:
A. Oral questions in court
B. Document requests
C. Written questions sent to the other party
D. Cross-examinations
Rationale: Interrogatories are formal written questions that must be answered
under oath.
4. Which court typically conducts jury trials in federal cases?
A. U.S. Court of Appeals
B. U.S. Bankruptcy Court
C. U.S. District Court
D. U.S. Supreme Court
Rationale: U.S. District Courts are the trial courts of the federal system and
conduct jury trials.
5. The “caption” of a legal pleading includes:
A. Summary of claims
B. Court name, case number, and party names
C. Signature block
D. List of exhibits
, Rationale: The caption identifies the court, case number, and names of the
parties.
6. An attorney asks a paralegal to notarize a document. The paralegal should:
A. Sign as a witness
B. Decline unless they are a licensed notary
C. Sign for the attorney
D. Ask another paralegal to notarize
Rationale: Only individuals legally licensed as notaries may notarize documents.
7. A motion for summary judgment is appropriate when:
A. Discovery is pending
B. There are disputes about facts
C. There is no genuine dispute of material fact
D. A trial has started
Rationale: Summary judgment is granted when no factual disputes exist and only
legal issues remain.
8. The legal citation “410 U.S. 113” refers to:
A. A U.S. Supreme Court case
B. A U.S. District Court case
C. A Federal Reporter case
D. A legal textbook
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2025
1. Which of the following is a primary source of law?
A. Legal dictionary
B. Restatement of Law
C. Statute
D. Legal encyclopedia
Rationale: Statutes are enacted laws and are considered primary sources. Others
are secondary sources.
2. The principle of stare decisis refers to:
A. A judge’s opinion
B. The practice of following precedent
C. The rules of court procedure
D. The defendant’s plea
Rationale: Stare decisis means "to stand by things decided"—courts follow
previous rulings to maintain consistency.
,3. Interrogatories are:
A. Oral questions in court
B. Document requests
C. Written questions sent to the other party
D. Cross-examinations
Rationale: Interrogatories are formal written questions that must be answered
under oath.
4. Which court typically conducts jury trials in federal cases?
A. U.S. Court of Appeals
B. U.S. Bankruptcy Court
C. U.S. District Court
D. U.S. Supreme Court
Rationale: U.S. District Courts are the trial courts of the federal system and
conduct jury trials.
5. The “caption” of a legal pleading includes:
A. Summary of claims
B. Court name, case number, and party names
C. Signature block
D. List of exhibits
, Rationale: The caption identifies the court, case number, and names of the
parties.
6. An attorney asks a paralegal to notarize a document. The paralegal should:
A. Sign as a witness
B. Decline unless they are a licensed notary
C. Sign for the attorney
D. Ask another paralegal to notarize
Rationale: Only individuals legally licensed as notaries may notarize documents.
7. A motion for summary judgment is appropriate when:
A. Discovery is pending
B. There are disputes about facts
C. There is no genuine dispute of material fact
D. A trial has started
Rationale: Summary judgment is granted when no factual disputes exist and only
legal issues remain.
8. The legal citation “410 U.S. 113” refers to:
A. A U.S. Supreme Court case
B. A U.S. District Court case
C. A Federal Reporter case
D. A legal textbook
