OSBA Paralegal Certification Practice Exam 200 Questions and Answers
This practice exam is based on the Ohio State Bar Association's voluntary paralegal certification
program. The OSBA certification exam tests knowledge across substantive law, procedural law,
legal research, ethics, communication, and law office management . Use these 200 questions to
assess your readiness for the exam.
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SECTION 1: PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS (Questions 1-35)
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Question 1: Under the OSBA definition, what is a paralegal?
A) A person who has graduated from law school but not passed the bar exam
B) A person, qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained
by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs
substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible
C) Any individual who works in a law office, regardless of qualifications
D) A person who provides legal advice directly to clients without attorney supervision
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The OSBA defines a paralegal as "a person, qualified by education, training or work
experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental
agency or other entity and who performs substantive legal work for which a lawyer is
responsible" .
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Question 2: Paralegals are strictly prohibited from engaging in which of the following activities?
A) Drafting legal documents under attorney supervision
B) Conducting legal research
C) Providing legal advice directly to clients
D) Organizing case files
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Paralegals may not provide legal advice directly to clients. Providing legal advice is
the unauthorized practice of law and must be performed by a licensed attorney. Paralegals must
work under attorney supervision .
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Question 3: Which of the following is the most important ethical obligation of a paralegal?
A) Billing as many hours as possible to increase firm revenue
B) Maintaining client confidentiality
C) Socializing with clients outside of work
D) Completing work as quickly as possible
Correct Answer: B
,Explanation: Maintaining client confidentiality is a fundamental ethical obligation for paralegals.
This duty extends beyond the termination of employment and is rooted in the attorney-client
privilege .
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Question 4: The OSBA Paralegal Certification Board is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Granting certification
B) Determining eligibility
C) Administering the written exam
D) Hiring and firing paralegals
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The Paralegal Certification Board is responsible for granting, revoking or re-
granting certification, determining eligibility, and administering the written exam. It does not
have authority over hiring decisions .
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Question 5: A paralegal discovers that their supervising attorney has misappropriated client
funds. What is the appropriate course of action?
A) Ignore the situation since the attorney is the supervisor
B) Assist the attorney in covering up the misappropriation
C) Report the conduct to the appropriate authorities or the disciplinary counsel
, D) Quit the job immediately without reporting anything
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Paralegals have an ethical obligation to report attorney misconduct, particularly
when it involves misappropriation of client funds. The paralegal should report the conduct to
the appropriate authorities or disciplinary counsel.
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Question 6: Under the OSBA certification requirements, how many professional references must
an applicant provide?
A) One reference
B) Two references
C) Three references
D) Five references
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Applicants must provide a minimum of three professional references, including two
from attorneys in good standing with the Supreme Court of Ohio who have direct knowledge of
the applicant's skills and work as a paralegal .
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Question 7: Which of the following scenarios constitutes the unauthorized practice of law?
This practice exam is based on the Ohio State Bar Association's voluntary paralegal certification
program. The OSBA certification exam tests knowledge across substantive law, procedural law,
legal research, ethics, communication, and law office management . Use these 200 questions to
assess your readiness for the exam.
---
SECTION 1: PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS (Questions 1-35)
---
Question 1: Under the OSBA definition, what is a paralegal?
A) A person who has graduated from law school but not passed the bar exam
B) A person, qualified by education, training or work experience, who is employed or retained
by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental agency or other entity and who performs
substantive legal work for which a lawyer is responsible
C) Any individual who works in a law office, regardless of qualifications
D) A person who provides legal advice directly to clients without attorney supervision
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The OSBA defines a paralegal as "a person, qualified by education, training or work
experience, who is employed or retained by a lawyer, law office, corporation, governmental
agency or other entity and who performs substantive legal work for which a lawyer is
responsible" .
,---
Question 2: Paralegals are strictly prohibited from engaging in which of the following activities?
A) Drafting legal documents under attorney supervision
B) Conducting legal research
C) Providing legal advice directly to clients
D) Organizing case files
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Paralegals may not provide legal advice directly to clients. Providing legal advice is
the unauthorized practice of law and must be performed by a licensed attorney. Paralegals must
work under attorney supervision .
---
Question 3: Which of the following is the most important ethical obligation of a paralegal?
A) Billing as many hours as possible to increase firm revenue
B) Maintaining client confidentiality
C) Socializing with clients outside of work
D) Completing work as quickly as possible
Correct Answer: B
,Explanation: Maintaining client confidentiality is a fundamental ethical obligation for paralegals.
This duty extends beyond the termination of employment and is rooted in the attorney-client
privilege .
---
Question 4: The OSBA Paralegal Certification Board is responsible for all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Granting certification
B) Determining eligibility
C) Administering the written exam
D) Hiring and firing paralegals
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: The Paralegal Certification Board is responsible for granting, revoking or re-
granting certification, determining eligibility, and administering the written exam. It does not
have authority over hiring decisions .
---
Question 5: A paralegal discovers that their supervising attorney has misappropriated client
funds. What is the appropriate course of action?
A) Ignore the situation since the attorney is the supervisor
B) Assist the attorney in covering up the misappropriation
C) Report the conduct to the appropriate authorities or the disciplinary counsel
, D) Quit the job immediately without reporting anything
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Paralegals have an ethical obligation to report attorney misconduct, particularly
when it involves misappropriation of client funds. The paralegal should report the conduct to
the appropriate authorities or disciplinary counsel.
---
Question 6: Under the OSBA certification requirements, how many professional references must
an applicant provide?
A) One reference
B) Two references
C) Three references
D) Five references
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Applicants must provide a minimum of three professional references, including two
from attorneys in good standing with the Supreme Court of Ohio who have direct knowledge of
the applicant's skills and work as a paralegal .
---
Question 7: Which of the following scenarios constitutes the unauthorized practice of law?
