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Member Newsletter
November 2020

NALA is the Nation's Leading Professional Association for Paralegals

Equipping paralegals for the challenges of the future through certification, professional development, and advocacy.

-NALA Mission Statement
Ensuring paralegals are known and valued as an integral part of the legal ecosystem.

-NALA Vision Statement
Association News
Melissa's Minute - November Edition
  Vanessa Williamson

Williamson Celebrates 25 Years at NALA!
NALA proudly celebrates staff member Vanessa A. Williamson, who has worked at NALA for 25 years!
 
“This means so much to me because it is a milestone that shows my dedication and loyalty to an association that has been loyal to me,” Williamson said. “I easily fell in love with the people associated with NALA. Their passion and depth of commitment touched my heart from the beginning – it blew me away. I knew then (like I know now) I wouldn’t work any other place besides NALA.” 
 
Vanessa is a valued and cherished member of the NALA team who works diligently each day to provide the best member services possible.
 
“I’ve had a first-hand opportunity for 25 years to know and experience that NALA really is the leading paralegal association nationwide, and I am extremely proud to be a part of such an organization. My NALA family has blessed me with lifetime friends and a heart full of awesomely awesome memories!”
 
We are grateful for you, Vanessa! Thank you for your dedication and always having a smile on your face. Congratulations on this incredible anniversary! 

 

  American Indian Heritage Month

November is National American Indian Heritage Month
According to the Library of Congress, “National American Indian Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of the United States.” NALA member Peonca Grier, CP, discusses the history of this important month and highlights three key historical figures in November's Heritage Month article. You can read it by clicking here.

We also wish a belated Happy Veterans Day to all the military veterans who have served this nation so selflessly. We appreciate your sacrifices.

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Membership
  Giftcard

Questions about gift certificates?
NALA Active type members receive an $80 gift certificate when becoming a member, as well as each year they renew. Each gift certificate is valid for one year and can be applied to continuing education, such as live and on-demand webinars, self-study courses, and Conference. The gift certificates cannot be used for membership renewal, apparel, books, and a limited number of state-only courses. 

Please note that NALA no longer prints and mails a physical copy of gift certificates. This is the only part of the process that has changed recently. You may call or email NALA to redeem non-expired gift certificates. However, please remember you must redeem your gift certificate prior to your purchase. Gift certificates cannot be used on already purchased material or courses.  

We are always here to answer any questions you may have about gift certificates or other NALA benefits! 

  Badge Verification Screenshot

NALA Commons - Easy to Sign On
Have you signed on to NALA Commons yet? Since NALA Commons is a member-only benefit, it is a private social collaborative site that allows members easy access sign on.
 
If you are already logged in to your NALA member account, click on the NALA Commons link on nala.org, and you are seamlessly taken to NALA Commons. It is as simple as one click. Not signed into your member account? If you click on the NALA Commons link, you will be prompted to sign into your member account, and then you can enter the social site. It is that easy!

  River

Membership Grace Period Update
Effective January 1, 2021, NALA will implement a 30-day grace period to renew a membership following its expiration date to help avoid interruption of member-only benefits. If you need an invoice to present to your employer, click here to download the PDF. For questions, please contact our office at (918) 587-6828 or email us at nalanet@nala.org.

Education
  F&F Author

Earn CLEs for Reading Facts & Findings Articles
Did you know that NALA members can earn CLE credits for reading articles in NALA’s award-winning magazine Facts & Findings

Facts & Findings features relevant educational articles for those in the paralegal field. From writing tips, to in-depth case analysis and legal history, there is something to learn from each article. In each quarterly issue, there are five designated CLE articles. If you read all five, you can enter one hour of CLE in your NALA account. Please note that you can earn a maximum of two CLE per year and up to five CLE in a certification period from reading the Facts & Findings articles.

  Conference Recording Bundle Now Available
 

2020 NALA Conference Recording Bundle
The 2020 Conference Recording Bundle is still available! If you attended the 2020 NALA Conference @ Home, you can purchase the Conference Recording Bundle for only $199 for NALA members ($249 for non-members). If you did not have the opportunity to join us for this year’s virtual conference, you can purchase the bundle for $575 for NALA members ($628 for non-members).
 
To purchase individual conference sessions or view a complete list of all of NALA’s on-demand webinars please visit our website.
 
*Please note that on-demand access to the recordings are available for one year from the purchase date.

Upcoming Events
  Live Webinar Icon
 

Supreme Court Nominations
November 17  |  7 p.m. CT   |  CLE: 1
In this webinar, we will discuss the nomination process of a Supreme Court Justice and what the vetting process entails. Additionally, we will review some controversial Supreme Court nominations and the current appointment of Amy Coney Barrett. Lastly, we will review what “packing the court” means and the impeachment of a Supreme Court Justice. 

  Live Webinar Icon
 

Trial Prep Tools - Part 3
November 19  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1  
As part of a learning series designed to maximize effectiveness in trial presentation, this intermediate level course will provide essential tools to properly prepare for an upcoming trial in this new, ever-evolving virtual environment. The course will guide you through project management techniques and provide strategies to navigate the virtual workflow process. New key features and practical pointers will be explored to enable efficient data processing and document review in a remote platform. This webinar will provide a close look into the specialized realm of litigation support and how solid case management leads to success and excellence at trial.

Certification News
  Certification Badge Verify

Digital Badges Can Validate Your Certification
We hope you are using and enjoying your NALA Digital Badges. Adding your badges to email signatures, digital resumes, and social media sites showcase your skills and earned credentials.
 
Did you know that if someone is trying to confirm your NALA membership or certification credentials status, you can share your badge link with them? You can send them a link to your badge on Credly’s Acclaim site; they can click on a badge embedded in your email signature; or you can share it via social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. The individual can then securely verify your badge, adding credibility to your achievement.
 
If you have questions about sharing your badge, you can click here for Badging FAQs or you can visit support.youracclaim.com.

CP Exam

  • Nearly 150 examinees took the Skills Exam during the October testing window, setting a new record! The results are expected to be released in mid-December. All Skills Exam examinees will be notified via email when their results are ready to be viewed in their NALA accounts.
  • Reminders:
    • The Knowledge Exam is administered year-round. 
    • The Skills Exam is administered in February, April, July, and October.
    • You can take your exam at your job, college, or military base. Click here for more details under the Testing Center Qualifications & Forms section.

Certification

  • November Certificants! If your certification expires on 11/30/2020, you have been provided with a six-month extension to submit your CLE hours no later than 5/31/2021. However, if you have already met the required 50 hours, including 5 hours of legal ethics, RECERTIFY online TODAY! Or, you may submit the PDF form to cle@nala.org.
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Affinity Discounts

As a NALA member, you receive exclusive local and national discounts on hundreds of products and services. To access these deals, log into your NALA account and then go to the Affinity Discounts page on our website.