Register now for the 2021 NALA Conference @ Home!
Early bird registration for the 2021 NALA Conference @ Home is now open! Last year’s historic conference was one for the books with over 900 virtual attendees. We are elated to make this year’s virtual conference even BETTER! We invite you to join us for the 2021 NALA Conference @ Home July 22-24, 2021, from the comfort of your home or office.
 
Early bird prices are valid through May 15, 2021, and include:

• Virtual conference registration: $149 for members, $199 for non-members, and $99 for students, which includes education sessions and public meetings. Early birds also receive an exclusive care package packed with useful 2021 NALA Conference @ Home swag!
• Public meetings: access to the NALA Annual Meeting, NALA Affiliated Associations Annual Meeting, both NALA Board of Directors meetings, and the NALA panel discussion is free to everyone. (Please note to attend the public meetings, you must register; however, if you register for the full virtual conference you do not need to register for both.)

Why should you take advantage of early bird rates through May 15? In addition to registration fees increasing after this date, registering by the deadline confirms your access to the exclusive early bird bonus! NALA Conference @ Home care packages are back by popular demand! Only those who register and pay by May 15, 2021, will receive a complimentary, exclusive 2021 NALA Conference @ Home care package. This year's care packages will feature epic swag that will enhance your virtual conference experience.
 
Please visit our website for more up-to-date information.

April's NALA Volunteer Spotlight - Airolyn Loggins, ACP
In each monthly newsletter, an outstanding NALA volunteer is featured in the NALA Volunteer Spotlight. This spotlight includes the volunteer’s professional achievements and fun facts about them. We hope you enjoy this opportunity to get to know your fellow NALA members on a more personal level!
 
In this month’s spotlight, we would like to introduce to you Airolyn Loggins, ACP, who has been a NALA member since 2014. Please click here to read April’s Volunteer Spotlight!

NALA Affiliate Awards – Submissions Due May 1
The deadline to submit nominations for the NALA Affiliate Awards is May 1, 2021. The purpose of the NALA Affiliate Awards is to recognize members or committees of affiliated associations for their contributions to the goals and programs of the nominating affiliated association.
 
Nomination forms and more information about this award can be found by clicking here.

Congratulations to NALA President Melissa J. Hamilton, ACP!
Congratulations to Melissa Hamilton, ACP, on her recent re-election as NALA President for the 2021-2022 term. Her first year as NALA President was anything but “normal.” Leading a national association through a pandemic took grace, courage, organization, and most of all, perseverance and innovation. Through a plethora of virtual meetings and continual engagement with members on NALA Commons, Melissa led NALA to a highly successful year of relationship building and virtual engagement.
 
We are thrilled to have Melissa’s leadership and expertise for another year!

Well-Being Week in Law: May 3-7, 2021
NALA is proud to celebrate Well-Being Week in Law May 3-7, 2021! This year, the focus has expanded beyond attorneys, and now, the week includes all legal professionals – especially paralegals and other legal support professionals.
 
NALA will be highlighting special topics throughout the week to help our members and other paralegals identify and manage the stressors and mental health issues in their professional and personal lives. Each recommends a video, an article and an activity that aligns with that day’s well-being dimension. Please monitor NALA Commons and our social media platforms May 3 through 7 for more information.
 
To read about how Well-Being Week in Law came to be, please click here.

April DEI – Dismantling AAPI Hate
In this month’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion article, NALA member Bobby T. Rimas discusses the hate and violence increase against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. As violence against the AAPI community continues to plague our country, Bobby shares ways we can be positive agents of change to help dismantle AAPI hate.
 
Please click here to read the “Dismantling AAPI Hate for a More Inclusive Future” article.
 

Become a Published Author!
Have you ever considered writing for NALA’s award-winning magazine, Facts & Findings? If not, maybe you should!
 
If you are skilled at certain technology, a subject-matter expert, or are experienced in a specific branch of the legal field, please consider sharing your knowledge with your fellow paralegals through an article in the publication. The magazine features all kinds of timely and relevant subjects in the legal field.
 
Compose either a 600- or 1,500-word article and send it to editor@nala.org. Not only is this a great opportunity to become a published author, but it is also a resume booster. Another bonus – Certified Paralegals can earn CLE credit if they submit an article for Facts & Findings and it is approved for publishing.
 
To find out more about article submission and style guidelines, please click here.
 

Deep Dive on Legal Writing - The Power of Citations
April 21  |  12 p.m. CT   |  CLE: 1
This course is for anyone who wants to strengthen their legal writing and citation skills, and understand the mechanics of crafting a winning brief or motion. We’ll discuss insights gleaned from over a decade of practical experience writing memos, briefs and pleadings, as well as from conversations with hundreds of attorneys and judges about legal writing. 

Evolving Technology and Collaboration Platforms in eDiscovery
April 28  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1  |  NON-SUB
Explore the changing technology landscape that impacts nearly all facets of the discovery process. The rise of new technologies being leveraged by clients and how the discovery process is shifting to meet the clients where they are.

Stay Healthy as a Leader - Learn Your Stressors
May 5  |  12 p.m. CT   |  CLE: 1   |  NON-SUB
What Does Stress Look Like For You? Stressful times reveal a lot about a person. How we lead ourselves and others will have a big impact on how people see us. Let's build our reputations, not destroy them. 

In this webinar, attendees will learn:
- Your tendencies under moderate and extreme stress.
- Suggestions on how to stay mentally healthy when times are tough.
- Tools to help you be aware of your tendencies so you can be more empowered.

Making the Most of Free/Affordable Litigation Tech Tools
May 11  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1  |  NON-SUB
This webinar shares an overview of the simplest tech tools out there that can help you gain control of your days, manage the constant influx of documents and keep your attorney and legal staff colleagues in a good mood. Discover super practical tips to empower even the most tech-phobic firms to dip a toe into the modern era!

CP Examinees:

The April 2021 Skills Exam testing window is open until April 30!  If you are eligible to take it, schedule your appointment now!

Certification

• Congratulations to the new CPs who passed the February 2021 Skills Exam! We know that you are proud of your tremendous accomplishment. You will receive your new CP packet and certificate in the mail soon.
• If your certification expiration date was 10/31/2020, you received an extension to meet the recertification requirements. The extension deadline is 4/30/2021. Please enter your CLE now and return the PDF Recertification form and fee to cle@nala.org.

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. 

Reminder - Digital Badging Platform Rebrand
We wanted to remind you that as of March 31, 2021, our digital credential provider, Credly, launched a new visual experience on the platform that you have previously known as Acclaim. As part of that experience, the Acclaim name, logo and URL has been replaced by Credly.
 
No action is required on your part, and the way you use the platform has not changed. You may notice that badge notification emails no longer come from @youracclaim.com. They are now coming from @credly.com. This rebrand comes after Credly acquired Acclaim in 2018, and this is the final step in merging the two brands.