What are the program fees?
Tuition for the program is USD $2,000 for existing members of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), $2,600 for non-members, and $2,200 for participants who enroll in the certification program and elect complimentary ACC membership. Payment is due at the time a candidate applies for admission to the program. Early bird and group discounts are also available.
Is there an annual maintenance fee for the In-house Counsel Certified (ICC) designation?
The annual maintenance fee for members of the Association of Corporate Counsel is $95. For non-members, the annual maintenance fee is $150. Please see on-going education requirements below.
ACC Financial Hardship Statement
ACC offers a limited number of half-price discounts to its in-house counsel certification program. Preference is given to ACC members who have already incurred the expense of membership dues. Application for the discount is limited to individuals who meet the criteria for program registration or attendance.
All requests for discounts will be kept confidential. Applicants should fill out the application explaining the need for financial assistance. All grants of scholarships will be made on a case-by-case basis.
General
Who would benefit from this program?
If you want to become proficient in the skills identified as critical to an in-house legal career, this certification program is precisely what you need. It will help you position yourself as indispensable to the corporate client.
In-house counsel might have many different responsibilities and work in a variety of department settings. This program is carefully designed to provide value, whether your interest is to improve service to the corporate client or advance your career.
What are the eligibility requirements?
Eligible participants are licensed attorneys who either a) are currently employed as in-house counsel (no minimum experience required), or b) previously have been employed as in-house counsel (for a minimum of one year). Please note that attorneys currently employed at law firms are not eligible to participate in this program.
Eligibility is not tied to a specific country; participants may be licensed attorneys from any jurisdiction. Membership to the Association of Corporate Counsel is not required to participate in this program.
How can participants enroll?
Visit our registration page for information on the next certification training program.
Content
Which in-house counsel competencies will the program teach?
Participants will receive training across three competency areas: stakeholder relationships, law department management, and legal services.
Please visit the Training section for more details on the program’s curriculum.
What is the language of instruction?
Instruction will take place in English.
Is there a final exam or assessment?
Participants will be evaluated through in-class exercises, and through a two-hour final assessment at the completion of the training.
Certification Maintenance
What designation do participants receive upon completion?
Upon successful completion of the ACC In-house Certification Program, participants will earn the In-house Counsel Certified (ICC) designation. Please note that this does not confer any authority to practice law and is not tied to any specific jurisdiction. The designation reflects that the participant has received training and demonstrated proficiency in the critical in-house counsel competencies identified by the ACC Credentialing Institute.
Are there continuing education requirements for maintaining the designation?
The ICC designation is valid for one year from the month that a participant passes the program’s final assessment. After the first year, 10 hours of continuing legal professional development (CLPD) are required annually to maintain the ICC designation.
Required—Minimum of 4 hours CLPD from all or any one of the following categories:
- Stakeholder relationships
- Law department management
- Legal services
Optional—ICC holder may obtain a maximum of six (6) hours in substantive areas of law towards fulfilling the 10 hours annual requirement (for example, employment law, ethics, intellectually property, data privacy, etc.).