Certification Committee

Description: The Committee serves to review, revise, and manage the Certified Legal Manager (CLM)^® program. Its primary responsibilities include revising test items, writing new test items, working with the testing contractor to evaluate and improve the assessment process, working with the professional staff in overseeing the administration of the program and recommending needed changes in prerequisite and recertification requirements, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

Committee Size: 9

Term: 4 years

Appointments per year: Varies

In-Person Meetings/Expectations: One in-person meeting per year at ALA's Annual Conference & Expo and one virtual meeting in the fall. Committee members will frequently have access to confidential information and materials related to the CLM testing program. As the integrity of the program is of utmost importance, each member is responsible for maintaining test materials in a secure fashion and treating sensitive information confidentially.

Meetings. The Certification Committee generally meets three times per year. One is a full-day meeting in person at the Annual Conference & Expo to orient new committee members, conduct item-writer training and give assignments. The virtual fall meeting typically focuses on item review and revision and the one-day late winter/early spring virtual meeting is devoted to finalizing a new test form. There is a teleconference involving the Certification Committee chair, the ALA program director, a certification consultant, and new committee members to introduce the new members to the committee prior to the first committee meeting in the spring.

Assignments. Participation on the Certification Committee requires members to devote their own time between meetings researching and writing test items. Identifying source materials is as much a part of the process as the creation of new test items. Item writing can require a significant time commitment.

Confidentiality. In all respects, confidentiality must be maintained by each committee member. This refers specifically, but not exclusively to the test items. Furthermore, members of the committee are not permitted to know the identity of any candidate for the exam. Only the names of successful CLM candidates will be revealed to the committee.

Participation in study activities and products. Because of their unique knowledge of the contents of the CLM examination, committee members are not permitted to be actively involved in study groups or in developing study products (e.g., commercial study guides). This moratorium continues for at least three years after a member rotates off the committee.

Eligibility: New members are solicited from ALA members who have passed the CLM examination and have completed at least one recertification cycle. Interested individuals complete an application form. Among the considerations in selection of new members are educational background, experience level, size of firm, areas of expertise, previous participation in ALA, writing expertise, and geographical location.

Call for volunteers: Summer

Selections made: Fall

ALA Headquarters Liaison: Nicole Larson, CAE

Current Committee Roster

Certification Committee Plan of Work