CLM Credits

CLM-Approved Providers

You can apply to be an approved provider here. Applying for to be a CLM-approved provider is easy as 1-2-3:

Getting Started

The Certified Legal Manager (CLM)^® Approved Provider program was established to create a clear system for ALA chapters and other organizations to identify courses that qualify for application and recertification credit for the CLM certification program. It's designed to provide access to high-quality legal management educational opportunities through ALA chapters and other organizations.

As a participant in the program, an organization will have the opportunity to offer education programs eligible for CLM credit for a one-year period without preapproval by ALA national headquarters.

Key benefits to being a CLM-approved provider include:

• CLM-approved providers can award CLM application and recertification credits for education programs without ALA headquarters preapproval.
• CLM-approved providers can market their education opportunities using the CLM-Approved Provider seal.
• CLM-approved providers will be included in a list of approved providers on the ALA website.

Approval Process

Applications are reviewed and processed within 30 days of receipt. ALA will notify the applicant of status and provide them with access to Approved Provider training once approved. 

The approval period is one calendar year and approved-provider status must be renewed annually.

CLM-Approved Provider Fees

The CLM-Approved Provider Program is offered at no cost to ALA chapters. Other organizations must submit a nonrefundable fee of $199 with their application. The $199 fee applies to initial and renewal applications.

Download the CLM Approved Provider Guide for more information. You can also view our complete list of approved providers. 

Questions?

If your organization is interested in becoming a CLM-approved provider, or if you have any questions, contact us at [email protected]. Chapters with questions can also check out these resources. 

General Resources

You can also study using resources from other sources. The following reading materials are representative of the types of materials that have been used as the sources for writing test items. It is important to understand that no single resource is adequate for preparing for the exam. In preparing for the CLM exam, other books and articles with similar subject matter may be used instead in preparing for the exam. One should seek the most current edition or most recent year of any resources utilized.

Overall Legal Management

• Law Practice (magazine). ABA Law Practice Division (americanbar.org)
• Legal Management (magazine). Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) (alanet.org)

Financial Management

Any introductory college-level accounting textbooks, plus industry-specific resources such as:

• ABA Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility (Billing for Professional Fees, Disbursements and Other Expenses). American Bar Association.
• Accounting and Financial Planning for Law Firms (newsletters). Law Journal Newsletters, a Division of ALM Media.
• Annotated Model Rules of Professional Conduct, 7th Edition. ABA Publishing. Also available free online.
• Cotterman, J. Compensation Plans for Law Firms, 5th Edition. ABA Publishing: Law Practice Division.
• Iezzi, John B. Results-Oriented Financial Management: A Step-by-Step Guide to Law Firm Profitability, 2nd Edition. ABA Publishing: Law Practice Division.
• Quinn, J .P., Bailey, J. A., Gaulin, D. E. & Kolodziejczak, S. Law Firm Accounting and Financial Management (including current annual supplement). Law Journal Press.
• Robertson, M. Alternative Fees for Business Lawyers and Their Clients. ABA Publishing: Law Practice Division.

General tax resources such Circular E, Employer’s Tax Guide, Publication No. 15. U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Human Resources and Organizational Development

General textbooks such as:

• Brown, D. R. An Experiential Approach to Organizational Development, 8th Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall.
• Fisher, R., & Ury, W. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In. Penguin Books.
• Mathis, R. L., & Jackson, J. H. Human Resource Management, 15th Edition. Cengage Learning.

Reference materials on current federal laws and government publications such as:

• I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. U.S. Form 1-9, OMB No. 1115-0136. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
• Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). U.S. Department of Labor.
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA). U.S. Department of Labor.
• Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). U.S. Department of Labor.
• Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). U.S. Department of Labor.
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). U.S. Department of Labor.
• Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH). U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
• Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). U.S. Department of Labor.
• Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
• Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). U.S. Department of Labor.

Websites containing information on the above, along with related information include:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (osha.gov)
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (uscis.gov)
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (hhs.gov)
• U.S. Department of Justice (justice.gov)
• U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov)

Legal Industry/Business Management

General textbooks such as:

• Maister, D. H. Managing the Professional Service Firm. Free Press.
• Maister, D. H. True Professionalism. Free Press.
• Robbins, S. P., De Cenzo, D. A., & Coulter, M. Fundamentals of Management: Essential Concepts and Applications, 9th Edition. Prentice Hall.

Industry specific resources, such as:

• Annotated Model Rules of Professional Conduct, 7th Edition. ABA Publishing. Also available free online.
• Chiaiese, Beth. Ethical and Legal Foundations of Law Firm Records Management and Information Governance. ARMA International.
• Consultants at Altman Weil. How to Manage Your Law Office. Matthew Bender & Company, Inc.
• Cunningham, G. C., & Montana, J. The Lawyer’s Guide to Records Management and Retention. ABA Publishing: Law Practice Division.
• Davis, A.E. Risk Management: Survival Tools for Law Firms, 2nd Edition. American Bar Association.
• Grella, T. C., & Hudkins, M. L. The Lawyer’s Guide to Strategic Planning: Defining, Setting, and Achieving Your Firm’s Goals. ABA Publishing: Law Practice Division.
• Uniform Task-Based Management System: Litigation Code Set, Background, Definitions, Principles and Assumptions. American Bar Association.

 Operations Management

• Law Technology News (magazine).
• General Conditions of the Contract for Construction, AIA Document A201. American Institute of Architects.
• Office Buildings: Standard Methods of Measurement (ANSI/BOMA Z65.1—2010). BOMA International.
• Rhodes, J. & Polley, V. The ABA Cybersecurity Handbook: A Resource for Attorneys, Law Firms and Business Professionals. American Bar Association.
• Williams, M. The Principles of Project Management. SitePoint.

Websites containing information on the above, along with related information include:

• American Bar Association (americanbar.org)
• American Institute of Architects (aia.org)
• ARMA International (arma.org)
• Building Owners and Managers Association International (BOMA International) (boma.org)
• International Legal Technology Association (ILTA) (iltanet.org)
• Project Management Institute (PMI) (pmi.org)
• Web-based resources related to computer technology