A Message from the NALA Board President, Melissa J. Hamilton, ACP
The NALA Board of Directors, Committees, and Headquarters staff love our members and your continued support of NALA – The Paralegal Association. The past almost two years have been stressful, but in true paralegal grit, we have continued to work together to advance the paralegal profession and professional development. 

• NALA Board highlights/proud moments:
  • Planned for an in-person conference, but when COVID numbers and restrictions did not allow for that, quickly switched to a virtual conference with record breaking attendance!
  • Recommended a bylaw amendment to make the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee a permanent Standing Committee of NALA, which was approved by the NALA membership; and
  • Outreach to paralegal students and those new to the paralegal profession by holding two interactive paralegal panel discussions.
    • So, you want to be a paralegal? 
    • It’s All About the Journey: What to Consider When Designing Your Pathway to A Successful Paralegal Career
• Goals for 2022 include continued outreach to paralegal students and those new to the paralegal profession; relationship building with paralegal educators; and a new and improved leadership development program to help identify and grow future NALA leaders.

Consider submitting a Declaration for Candidacy for office for the NALA Board of Directors for the 2022-2023 term. Over the past 10+ years, I have learned so much and grown both as a paralegal and person during my service on the NALA Board of Directors!

Declare Your Candidacy – 2022 NALA Board Elections 
Have you ever considered running for NALA office? If so, now is your chance!  

If you are passionate about the paralegal field and want to impact the future of NALA, a NALA Board position might be the right fit for you. Our Board members are active advocates and ambassadors for the organization and the paralegal profession. Serving on the Board is a rewarding, gratifying and enjoyable way to be engaged in your association.  

Open Board positions include the following: Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Area Directors. For a detailed explanation of each role, please click here.  

All candidates must complete a Declaration of Candidacy form and provide a high-resolution photograph to NALA. You can submit this form electronically to pvanstraten@nala.org, or by mail, no later than March 15, 2022 (postmarked or received). Declarations received after the deadline will not be accepted. You can download a Declaration of Candidacy form by clicking here. 

NALA is excited to announce the rollout of the new Essay Grader Pilot Program!  
Interested in volunteering? By participating in this program, you will get the opportunity to apply your legal expertise while helping to make a genuine impact on the NALA Certified Paralegal Program.  Benefits of Volunteering: 

• One hour of CLE credit issued by NALA per grading cycle, not to exceed two hours of credit per twelve-month period  
• Volunteer recognition  
• Resume highlight  
• Certificate of appreciation  

To learn more about this program and how to apply, please click here. 

NALA Volunteer Spotlight – Cheryl Nodarse, 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 you to Cheryl Nodarse, ACP. Please click here to read January 2022’s Volunteer Spotlight! 

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – January 17 
Our country will come together January 17 to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King’s legacy continues to inspire people everywhere to fight for a freer and more equal world. In honor of Dr. King, NALA will be closed on Monday, January 17, 2022. 

January DEI
In this month’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion article, Sarah Duggan, CP, takes a look at World Braille Day and the invention of the revolutionary alphabet that made the world more accessible and inclusive for individuals who are blind or otherwise visually impaired. 

Learn more about Louis Braille’s invention by clicking here to read the article.  

Facts & Findings - January 2022
The Q1 - January 2022 issue of Facts & Findings has been mailed and is available to view in your online account! Featured articles include: Open-Source Intelligence, Cybercrimes and the Laws that Regulate Them, The Corporate Transparency Act, and many more.

PLUS, we have included the bonus Career 101 issue! Earn up to 1 hour of substantive CLE by reading designated articles and entering them into your NALA account. (Maximum 2 CLEs per year.) 

[Paralegal Voice Podcast 🎧] The “Great Resignation” Is a Great Opportunity for Paralegals
New year, new … job? The legal field is struggling to find paralegals and fill vacancies during the “Great Resignation.” For paralegals, that creates opportunities to break into the field or to advance your career.

Guest Tony Sipp, a paralegal manager for a national law firm, says it’s more important now than ever for paralegal professionals to know their worth, highlight their skills and pursue their dreams. Firms are hiring now. 

Hear what hiring managers are looking for today – from soft skills to tech, including e-filing and e-discovery and Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Listen to Sipp’s valuable job seeking and interviewing tips as we head into a promising year for paralegals. Even if you’re happy where you are, it doesn’t hurt to look around or ask for what you want. Listen Now!

ACP Contract Management Course Now Available!
This ACP course kicks off NALA’s interactive training approach to advanced certification courses. Not only has relevant, up-to-date information been added, but the course introduces a comprehensive single exam approach. 

How could this course apply to your career as a paralegal? A contract manager has the ability to work among many sectors including academia, government, large corporations, and small businesses alike. Use this course to understand the tasks and duties of a contract manager regardless of where you work. The ACP Contract Management course content provides the foundational knowledge for this advanced certification exam.

To find out more about the innovative ACP Contract Management course, please click here.

Personal Branding
January 19  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1  |  NON-SUB
Your personal brand is a critical component to your success. How well do you know yourself and what do others see when they meet you? Designing your brand is under your control and how others experience you is only limited by your imagination. 

(This is the first webinar in a three-part series from Kathy Munoz. The other webinars in her series include Culture Empathy & Impact and Trust + Confidence = Success).

Ethical Use of Social Media By Legal Professionals
January 26  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1  |  ETHICS
Social media is everywhere. Many law firms, legal departments, and lawyers use social media to advertise services to attract new clients, network with other legal professionals, and share compelling legal updates with both clients and prospective clients. While there is no question social media provides an excellent way for legal professionals to connect with clients, other legal professionals, and the public, it is important, however, to know what the potential ethical pitfalls are before posting or responding to social media content. 

Since the digital world is constantly evolving, lawyers must keep informed on new or enhanced obligations as technology advances. Failure to do so may result in court sanctions, license suspension, or an unfavorable litigation outcome. This webinar is designed
to help you understand your ethical obligations and spot potential issues to avoid inadvertent violations.

Financial Planning for Paralegals
February 1  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1  |  NON-SUB
Do you ever stress about money? Whether tackling student loan debt, looking to invest, or just needing some assurance, managing your finances can be one of the most emotionally fraught aspects of your life. In addition, the fast-paced world you work and live in brings challenges that too often prevent paralegals from adequately addressing their own situation. During this webinar, Kristin Printon, Co-Founder and Vice President of Moxie Wealth Management, will provide practical tools and tips to help you define your goals and create long-term financial strategies that address every level of your “financial house.”

New Approach to Evaluating Law Firm Security
February 2  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1  |  SUBSTANTIVE
Corporations give their law firms more sensitive information than any other type of vendor, yet surveys show that 70% of companies do not assess the security of their firms and legal service providers. The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), through its 10,000 member companies, is looking to change this. Based on a new and innovative model, ACC recently launched its Data Steward Program for assessing and accrediting law firms. Developed through an industry-wide collaboration, this global program is set to be the standard in the legal industry. During this webinar, this easier and more thorough approach to assessing information security will be discussed.

CP Examinees

• The results for the October 2021 Skills Exam were released in December 2021. Please be sure to check your NALA account to see your scores!

Certification: 

• We are proud to announce that there are 89 new CPs who passed the October 2021 Skills Exam! Be on the lookout for your certification packet in the mail.  
• January certificants! Don’t let your CERTIFICATION and DIGITAL BADGE expire! Enter your CLE and submit the online Recertification Affidavit and fee or the PDF Recertification Form to cle@nala.org before 1/31/2022! 
• Be on the lookout for an email with a list of reminders about your certification!  Topics will include the recertification requirements, the discontinuation of the one-year certification extension, the differences between certification and membership, and much more! 

As a NALA member, you receive exclusive local and national discounts on hundreds of products and services. To access these deals, go to the NALA homepage and click Login in the upper right hand corner, then go to the Affinity Discounts page on our website. 

NALA AWARD NOMINATIONS DUE SOON!
We are excited to continue the NALA Awards Program in 2022! The Rising Star and the Volunteer of the Year awards recognize exceptional NALA members for their contributions to the paralegal profession.

• Rising Star Award: To recognize exemplary service to the paralegal profession by a person who has been a paralegal for less than five years.
  
• Volunteer of the Year Award: To recognize exemplary service to the paralegal profession and its members by a person who has been a paralegal for at least five years.

Nominations for both awards are due February 1. Find out more about the criteria for nominations for these awards at https://nala.org/about-nala/nala-awards/.