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Free Certified Paralegal Practice Test (NALA CP) — 90 Questions
A free paralegal practice test for the NALA CP Knowledge Exam: 90 questions in the browser, weighted to the ten Effective-2024 domains, with the reasoning under every answer. Start at the top — the sections run in weight order — or jump to the domain you trust least.
Every one of the 90 questions is on this page, in ten sections stacked in blueprint order — 15% domains first, 6% last. Pick an answer and the reasoning opens under the card; the card stays where it is. The strip above the sections tracks what you have answered, filters by level and restarts the set.
United States Legal System15% of the exam · 14 questions0 of 14 answered
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- Question 1Recall
Which of the following scenarios would likely make a legal case moot?
Reasoning
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- Question 2Recall
Which of the following is NOT a traditional equitable remedy in the U.S. legal system?
Reasoning
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- Question 3Recall
In the legal research context, what is a 'pocket part' in a legal reference book?
Reasoning
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- Question 4Recall
What is the significance of the Erie doctrine in the U.S. legal system?
Reasoning
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- Question 5Recall
What is the primary purpose of legislative history in statutory interpretation?
Reasoning
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- Question 6Applied
Encyclopedia of American Law, Modern Legal Geography: A Critical Reader, and Digest of Mass Communication Laws exemplify which type of legal sources?
Reasoning
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- Question 7Applied
When interpreting ambiguous statutory language, which method allows judges to consider legislative intent beyond the plain text?
Reasoning
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- Question 8Applied
Which element is most critical when determining if a federal statute has preempted a conflicting state law?
Reasoning
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- Question 9Applied
Which method is most aligned with how federal courts resolve ambiguities in statutory language?
Reasoning
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- Question 10Applied
What is the primary role of the federal judicial system in the enforcement of US law?
Reasoning
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- Question 11Analysis
In real estate law, if a seller breaches a contract to sell a unique property, the court may order the seller to follow through with the sale. This legal remedy is known as:
Reasoning
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- Question 12Analysis
Which of the following doctrines serves as an inherent limitation on judicial review by restricting courts from deciding issues that are inherently political?
Reasoning
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- Question 13Analysis
Which process explains how administrative agencies are empowered to issue rules that further interpret broad legislative mandates?
Reasoning
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- Question 14Analysis
Which feature of the U.S. legal system ensures a balance between federal and state judicial interpretations of law?
Reasoning
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Civil Litigation15% of the exam · 14 questions0 of 14 answered
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- Question 15Recall
A company is facing litigation over a contract breach. As a paralegal, which document would you prepare to notify the company about the lawsuit and inform them of their response deadline?
Reasoning
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- Question 16Recall
In a case where a court has already ruled against a company for pollution violations, preventing further legal action on the same issues, which Latin term describes this legal principle?
Reasoning
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- Question 17Recall
In a commercial lawsuit, when can corporate legal teams finalize a settlement?
Reasoning
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- Question 18Recall
Which of the following statements about arbitration is true?
Reasoning
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- Question 19Recall
Which of the following motions challenges the legal sufficiency of a complaint?
Reasoning
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- Question 20Recall
Which of the following is a proper basis for a Rule 12(b) motion to dismiss?
Reasoning
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- Question 21Recall
Which of the following is a proper basis for venue in federal court?
Reasoning
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- Question 22Applied
While preparing documents for a civil litigation case, which type of written statement should be used if it needs to be made under penalty of perjury but does not require notarization?
Reasoning
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- Question 23Applied
During a Rule 26(f) conference in civil litigation, which factors are most critical for developing a comprehensive discovery plan?
Reasoning
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- Question 24Applied
How does the doctrine of collateral estoppel operate in civil litigation to affect subsequent proceedings?
Reasoning
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- Question 25Applied
How do courts typically determine the scope of discovery regarding expert witness testimony in complex civil litigation cases?
Reasoning
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- Question 26Analysis
A corporate executive needs to provide financial documents for a legal investigation. The executive would receive a:
Reasoning
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- Question 27Analysis
In the process of documenting electronic evidence from an office email system, what are the pieces of information called that include the email's author, when it was sent, and its subject?
Reasoning
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- Question 28Analysis
A mediator's primary responsibility is to decide the outcome of a case based on the evidence presented by the parties involved. This statement is:
Reasoning
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Professional and Ethical Responsibility12% of the exam · 10 questions0 of 10 answered
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- Question 29Recall
Under the duty of candor, what must a paralegal do if they discover a client has provided false information to the court in a document the paralegal helped prepare?
Reasoning
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- Question 30Recall
A paralegal receives a document that appears to have been inadvertently sent by opposing counsel. What is the proper ethical course of action?
Reasoning
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- Question 31Recall
Under ABA Model Rules, which of the following actions would constitute unauthorized practice of law by a paralegal?
Reasoning
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- Question 32Recall
Which of the following communications is NOT protected by attorney-client privilege when a paralegal is involved?
Reasoning
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- Question 33Applied
In a real estate law firm, which of the following tasks can a paralegal legally perform?
Reasoning
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- Question 34Applied
A client offers an expensive gift to a paralegal shortly after a favorable case outcome. Under ethical standards, how should the paralegal handle this situation?
Reasoning
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- Question 35Applied
If a supervising attorney instructs a paralegal to omit critical information from court documents to benefit a case, what is the paralegal's proper ethical response?
Reasoning
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- Question 36Analysis
Paralegals are authorized to perform various tasks under attorney supervision. Which of the following would be considered unauthorized practice of law for a paralegal?
Reasoning
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- Question 37Analysis
Under which ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct must attorneys refrain from counseling clients in the course of conduct that the attorney knows is criminal or fraudulent?
Reasoning
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- Question 38Analysis
A paralegal observes that a coworker is using an unsecured personal device to access confidential case files. What is the appropriate ethical action?
Reasoning
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Contracts10% of the exam · 9 questions0 of 9 answered
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- Question 39Recall
Which of the following elements is essential for a legally binding contract?
Reasoning
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- Question 40Recall
When a person lacks the mental capacity to fully understand the nature and consequences of a contract they are entering, the contract is typically considered:
Reasoning
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- Question 41Recall
What is the legal term for an offer that is withdrawn before acceptance?
Reasoning
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- Question 42Applied
Which of the following legal principles requires an agreement for the sale of a motor vehicle to be in writing?
Reasoning
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- Question 43Applied
What is the primary purpose of a "release clause" in a loan agreement?
Reasoning
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- Question 44Applied
What is the fundamental objective of awarding expectation damages in breach of contract cases?
Reasoning
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- Question 45Analysis
Which of the following is a necessary requirement for a term to be successfully incorporated into a contract?
Reasoning
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- Question 46Analysis
Under which circumstance would the doctrine of impossibility release a tenant from their obligations under a residential lease agreement?
Reasoning
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- Question 47Analysis
In assessing the sufficiency of consideration, how is a pre-existing obligation treated in the context of contract modifications?
Reasoning
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Corporate/Commercial Law10% of the exam · 9 questions0 of 9 answered
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- Question 48Recall
Which of the following business entities does NOT provide its owners with limited liability protection?
Reasoning
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- Question 49Recall
What federal agency is primarily responsible for regulating securities and public company disclosures?
Reasoning
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- Question 50Recall
What shareholder right allows stockholders to examine certain corporate records under state corporation laws?
Reasoning
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- Question 51Applied
Which of the following is a common requirement for a corporation that registers to sell online products in another state?
Reasoning
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- Question 52Applied
In a merger between two corporations where one has multiple classes of stock and the other maintains a single-class structure, what is a potential legal challenge that may arise?
Reasoning
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- Question 53Applied
In a closely held corporation, which document is most commonly utilized to restrict share transfers and preserve control among a limited group of owners?
Reasoning
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- Question 54Analysis
A partnership firm is looking to issue bonds to raise funds. Which of the following documents will the partners need to produce as authorization to proceed with the bond issue?
Reasoning
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- Question 55Analysis
When converting from a sole proprietorship to a corporate entity, which step is critical to both limit personal liability and establish structured corporate governance?
Reasoning
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- Question 56Analysis
When a corporation wishes to create multiple classes of stock with differing voting rights and dividend preferences, which foundational document must be amended to include these provisions?
Reasoning
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Torts10% of the exam · 9 questions0 of 9 answered
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- Question 57Recall
Which tort involves the intentional infliction of harmful or offensive contact with another person without their consent?
Reasoning
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- Question 58Recall
A newspaper publishes false information about a local business owner, damaging their reputation in the community. This scenario best represents:
Reasoning
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- Question 59Recall
Which of the following is NOT a defense to the intentional tort of defamation?
Reasoning
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- Question 60Recall
Under the 'modified comparative negligence' rule followed in many states, when is a plaintiff barred from recovery?
Reasoning
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- Question 61Applied
In a medical malpractice case, which of the following is an example of general damages?
Reasoning
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- Question 62Applied
In a strict liability tort case involving a defective product, which statement best defines the term 'unreasonably dangerous'?
Reasoning
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- Question 63Analysis
In a jurisdiction that applies strict liability to dog bite cases, is it necessary for a victim to prove the dog owner's negligence in order to establish liability?
Reasoning
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- Question 64Analysis
Consider the following situations in a high-security chemical laboratory. Identify which scenario most likely subjects the lab to strict liability in the event of an accident:
Reasoning
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- Question 65Analysis
In a negligence claim, which factor is most critical in determining whether a defendant's breach of duty is the proximate cause of the plaintiff's damages?
Reasoning
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Real Estate and Property8% of the exam · 7 questions0 of 7 answered
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- Question 66Recall
Which of the following is a characteristic of a tenancy in common?
Reasoning
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- Question 67Recall
In real estate law, the doctrine of 'merger' refers to:
Reasoning
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- Question 68Recall
In property law, what does the term "mortgage" technically represent?
Reasoning
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- Question 69Applied
Lisa and Jay own a summer cottage together as joint tenants. Unfortunately, Lisa passes away in an accident. Who now owns the cottage?
Reasoning
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- Question 70Applied
Which of the following best illustrates the doctrine of constructive notice in real estate transactions?
Reasoning
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- Question 71Analysis
In a lease agreement, a forfeiture clause:
Reasoning
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- Question 72Analysis
Why is the accurate identification of recorded liens during the due diligence phase critical in real estate negotiations?
Reasoning
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Criminal Law and Procedure7% of the exam · 6 questions0 of 6 answered
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- Question 73Recall
Under the Fourth Amendment, which of the following is generally required before law enforcement can conduct a search of a suspect's home?
Reasoning
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- Question 74Recall
Under the Fourth Amendment, which of the following would most likely constitute an unreasonable search?
Reasoning
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- Question 75Applied
Petty theft and robbery are similar offenses. What additional element must be proved to charge a person with robbery?
Reasoning
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- Question 76Applied
During the voir dire process in a criminal trial, which of the following is the primary objective in protecting the defendant's constitutional rights?
Reasoning
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- Question 77Analysis
A defendant in a criminal case is concerned about being required to pay an excessively high bail. Which constitutional amendment ensures that they are protected from such a requirement?
Reasoning
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- Question 78Analysis
In reviewing the lawfulness of a police interrogation, which factor is least relevant when determining if a confession is voluntary?
Reasoning
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Estate Planning and Probate7% of the exam · 6 questions0 of 6 answered
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- Question 79Recall
When a person dies without a will, the distribution of their estate is governed by:
Reasoning
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- Question 80Recall
What document allows someone to make medical decisions on behalf of another person who has become incapacitated?
Reasoning
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- Question 81Recall
In the context of probate, what is an ademption?
Reasoning
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- Question 82Applied
During estate administration, which fiduciary duty specifically requires the executor or trustee to take necessary steps to safeguard estate assets from loss or depreciation?
Reasoning
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- Question 83Applied
Which of the following scenarios is most likely to result in a delay in the probate process?
Reasoning
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- Question 84Analysis
A 70-year-old man seeks to protect his assets from potential creditors while ensuring his family is financially secure in his estate plan. What type of trust should he establish?
Reasoning
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Debtor/Creditor and Bankruptcy6% of the exam · 6 questions0 of 6 answered
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- Question 85Recall
What is a fraudulent transfer in bankruptcy law?
Reasoning
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- Question 86Recall
What is the primary purpose of bankruptcy exemptions?
Reasoning
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- Question 87Applied
Which of the following actions by a landlord is prohibited once a tenant files for bankruptcy?
Reasoning
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- Question 88Applied
In bankruptcy proceedings, when a secured creditor's collateral sale does not fully satisfy the underlying debt, what is the creditor entitled to pursue?
Reasoning
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- Question 89Analysis
In a property foreclosure case, what is a temporary restraining order?
Reasoning
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- Question 90Analysis
After a debtor files a bankruptcy petition, which of the following actions by a creditor would most likely constitute a violation of the automatic stay?
Reasoning
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How to work this set
Work it top to bottom once, then by weakness. The order of the sections is the order of the exam's weights, so the first two accordions — United States Legal System and Civil Litigation — hold 28 of the 90 questions between them, the same 30% share those two domains carry on the scored exam.
Start where the set opens
United States Legal System is open when the page loads: 14 questions, 15% of the scored exam. Answer them in order. Then open Civil Litigation (14 questions, 15%). Forty minutes covers both if you read every reasoning.
Read the reasoning on every card, not only the misses
The verdict line says which letter was right; the panel under it says why. A right answer for the wrong reason is the most common way to lose a domain on exam day, and it only shows up if you read the panel when you were right.
Second pass: filter by level
The Level menu splits the set three ways: Recall (36 questions — one term, one definition), Applied (28 — a rule inside a short fact pattern) and Analysis (26 — two rules meeting, or an exception). Run Recall across all ten domains first; if that pass is clean, the misses on Applied and Analysis are reasoning gaps, not vocabulary.
Third pass: 'Unanswered only', then Restart
Tick Unanswered only to hide the cards you have worked and finish the tail of each domain. Restart clears every answer; the order stays the same, so retaking your misses is a walk through the same sections. Answers live in this browser tab only — close it and they are gone.
How to read a reasoning
A reasoning does two jobs: it names the rule that decides the question, and it points at the distractor built to look like that rule — the damages award listed among equitable remedies, the secondary source dressed as primary authority, the motion that sounds right at the wrong stage. Read for the second job; the exam's wrong options are written the same way. Before you click, say which option is the trap. If yours and the reasoning's match, you own the domain; if not, the card is worth a second look even when you got it right.
Turning the tally into a study plan
The strip shows answered and correct for the whole set; each section's summary line shows the same for that domain. Those ten small tallies are the useful number. There is no pass mark to compare them against — NALA sets a criterion-referenced cut score for the Knowledge Exam and does not publish it, and the result you receive is Pass or Fail, not a percentage. So read the tallies as a ranking of domains, and spend the next block of hours in that order.
| What the tally shows | What it usually means | Next leg |
|---|---|---|
| Misses cluster in one 15% domain | A coverage gap, not nerves. The domain has three or four subtopics and one of them is dark. | Open its guide — United States Legal System or Civil Litigation — and re-run that section only. |
| Misses are mostly Recall | Vocabulary. You are guessing at terms, not misapplying them. | Read the domain outline in the study guide first; retake with the Recall filter. |
| Recall clean, Analysis misses in several domains | You know the rules and slow down where two of them meet. | Run the Analysis filter across all ten sections, one domain a day, reasoning first. |
| Strong everywhere except one 6–8% domain | The cheapest gap on the map. | Leave it for the final week; a 15% domain you are shaky on outranks it every time. |
Rank the domains by what you missed, then spend the hours in that order. A tally is a map, not a forecast.
Weighting: the set against the blueprint
The 90 questions are split across the ten domains by the Effective-2024 blueprint weights — 14 · 14 · 10 · 9 · 9 · 9 · 7 · 6 · 6 · 6 in weight order — each domain's count rounded from its percentage of 90 by largest remainder. The weighting mirrors the published blueprint; the items do not mirror NALA's form, and NALA publishes percentages, not per-domain item counts.
| Domain | Exam weight | Questions here |
|---|---|---|
| United States Legal System | 15% | 14 |
| Civil Litigation | 15% | 14 |
| Professional and Ethical Responsibility | 12% | 10 |
| Contracts | 10% | 9 |
| Corporate/Commercial Law | 10% | 9 |
| Torts | 10% | 9 |
| Real Estate and Property | 8% | 7 |
| Criminal Law and Procedure | 7% | 6 |
| Estate Planning and Probate | 7% | 6 |
| Debtor/Creditor and Bankruptcy | 6% | 6 |
| All domains | 100% | 90 |
What this practice test is not
Four things this set is not, so nobody plans around the wrong assumption.
- Not retired exam items. These are practice questions written to the ten published domains and their subtopics. NALA sells its own practice exam and review materials on nala.org; this is a different, free set, and it does not reproduce NALA's questions.
- Not the exam's format. The Knowledge Exam is 120 items in one 3-hour sitting, domains mixed, 100 of them scored and 20 unscored pretest items you cannot identify. Here you work by domain, untimed, with the reasoning open. Format practice comes later, from a full timed set.
- Not a predictor. No score here predicts a pass, because there is no published cut score to measure against.
- Not endorsed. NALA's Certifying Board approves, endorses and recommends no study materials — this set and the app included. CP® is NALA's registered certification mark.
The real exam in one table
| What the Handbook says | |
|---|---|
| Items | 120 presented = 100 scored + 20 unscored pretest, multiple choice |
| Time | 3 hours, one sitting |
| Delivery | Prometric — onsite, remote-proctored, or a NALA Partner center; on demand through the year |
| Result | Pass or Fail; criterion-referenced cut score, not published |
| Skills Exam | Separate: one typed essay, 2 hours, in February, April, July and October, onsite only |
| Attempts | 3 per exam within 365 days, 90 days between attempts |
| Blueprint | Ten domains, 6% to 15% each, Effective-2024 table |
The full explainer — eligibility routes, dated fees, the Skills Exam — is on the home page; the domain-by-domain route is the study guide.
Questions candidates ask
How does this practice set compare with the real exam for difficulty?
The set is untimed and sorted by domain, so it is gentler than the sitting. The sitting is not gentle: by NALA's own published figures, the Knowledge Exam pass rate was about 57% in 2025 and about 52% in 2024; the Skills Exam pass rate was 50% in 2025 and 55% in 2024. NALA's partial figure for January to August 2026 puts the Knowledge Exam near 38%. The figures change yearly — nala.org has the current ones — but roughly one candidate in two fails a sitting, which is why weighting your hours matters more than counting them.
Should I retake this set before booking the exam?
Once more, after the weak domains have had their hours — Restart clears every answer. The real exam allows three attempts per exam within 365 days, with 90 days between attempts, so a retake there is a 13-week cycle; a clean second run here is cheaper than one of those attempts.
Is there an official NALA practice exam?
Yes. NALA sells its own practice exam through nala.org, alongside its own review materials. This set is different: free, in the browser, written to the same ten-domain blueprint, with a reasoning under every answer. NALA does not endorse any study material, including this one.
How do you study for the NALA exam?
In weight order. Put the ten domains on one page with their percentages, give the first month to the two 15% domains and the next three weeks to the 12% and 10% domains, switch to question volume a month out, and spend the last week on your two weakest domains above 8%. The study guide is that plan written out, domain by domain.
Do paralegals have to pass a test?
Not to work as one in most settings — the CP credential is voluntary, not a license. What the exam changes is the signal you carry into a hiring conversation, and it has to be renewed every 5 years with 50 hours of continuing legal education, 5 of them in ethics. The trade-offs are in do you need to be certified to be a paralegal.