Registration Now Open for the 2022 NALA Conference & Expo - July 14-16
We are thrilled to announce that the 2022 NALA Conference & Expo will be both in-person and virtual! For the first time in two years, we will be meeting in person in Phoenix, AZ, and we are coming back stronger than ever. Plus, due to popular demand, we have decided to offer a virtual option to attend this year’s conference from the comfort of your home or office. Either way you choose to attend, this three-day educational event is a great opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, upgrade your paralegal skills, earn CLE credit, and much more. Join us July 14-16 for three days of learning and fun!

However you choose to attend, registration is open now! Click here to register. Make sure to sign up soon to save money, as our early registration price will go up in May.

Student of the Year Award Nomination Deadline – March 1
Only TWO WEEKS remain to submit nominations for the Student of the Year Award. Nominations are due no later than March 1, 2022.

The purpose of this award is to recognize outstanding achievement by a full-time student in good standing at any college, junior college or other school pursuing a course of study as a paralegal.

To submit a nomination and learn more about the award, please visit the NALA website by clicking here.

Declare Your Candidacy – 2022 NALA Board Elections 
Only ONE MONTH remains to submit the Declaration of Candidacy forms to run for NALA office!

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 an 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 Volunteer Spotlight – Yolanda Garcia, CP 
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 Yolanda Garcia, CP. Please click here to read the February Volunteer Spotlight!

[Paralegal Voice Podcast 🎧] 2022 for Paralegals, 12 Big Trends!
New year, new trends. Our field never slows down. Keep up or risk being passed by.

Host Carl Morrison looks at a dozen developing trends for the coming year and beyond. Everything from the evolution of the Limited Licensed Practitioner field (looking at you, Arizona and Utah) to the breakneck acceleration in legal tech, artificial intelligence, workflow automation and process improvements.

The post-pandemic “Great Resignation” is creating more opportunities than ever for paralegal professionals. Make 2022 the year you truly understand your value, embrace change, advance your skills, and take charge of your career. Listen Now!

February DEI - Black History Month
In this month’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion article, Yolanda Garcia, CP, has a look at why we celebrate Black History Month in February. To read the article, click here. 

Q&A with the NALA Board! Past & Present
If you’ve ever thought about running for a board seat, now is the perfect time to find out more. Past and current board members will hold a special live Q&A session to answer any questions you may have about running for the board. Panelists include current Board President Melissa Hamilton, current Vice President Debbie Overstreet, past President Jill Francisco, and past At Large Director Jane McKinnon.

Join us on February 16th from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time. To register for this great opportunity, click here.

eDiscovery Year in Review - 2021: Case Law and Trends
February 16  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1 
This 1-hour CLE will discuss a sampling of significant case law from 2021.

A spotlight on trends relating to:

• eDiscovery
• Data privacy
• Cybersecurity
• Data governance

Session to include the ongoing impacts of the global pandemic.

The Role of Paralegals in the Era of Legal AI
February 17  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1  |  NON-SUB
The rise of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence algorithms are transforming how the everyday paralegal will work, regardless of the size of their in-house legal team. To stay ahead of these changes and challenges, paralegals will need to develop new skills that will broaden their impact in the legal industry of the future.

The Complete Guide to Cite Checking and Proofreading a Litigation Filing
March 12  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1 
In this webinar, experienced litigator and legal tech founder Jacqueline Schafer will share practical tips for every paralegal who drafts and/or reviews pleadings (briefs, motions, etc), demand letters, memos, and other attorney work product. We’ll cover:

• The point of citations and why their accuracy is critical to winning the case
  
• The old fashioned way and the tech-powered way to review the form and substance of any exhibits or cited sources in a document
  
• How to use Clearbrief for Word to generate a fully-formatted Table of Authorities in minutes
  
• Free Bluebook resources
  
• A checklist of core steps before sending out documents for filing (and how to tweak it for your own practice)

Attendees will also receive a special extended free trial offer of Clearbrief, an official partner of NALA.

Complicated Research Tasks
March 9  |  12 p.m. CT  |  CLE: 1.5  
In this session, we will expand upon the previous introductory session and cover terms and connectors research tips/tricks, locating sample documents and forms, and evaluating foreign resources and then finishing with an overview of citators and tracking search history.

CP Examinees

• Effective February 1, 2022, the Knowledge Exam was paused as our testing delivery method is changing. At that point, no one will be able to schedule or take the Knowledge Exam. Our expected date to reopen scheduling for the Knowledge Exam is February 23, 2022. Candidates will be able to begin taking the Knowledge Exam again starting March 16, 2022.
  
• The February 2022 Skills Exam testing window is open from February 1-28, 2022. If you are eligible to take it, schedule your appointment for February now!
  
• Be on the lookout for information about Remote Proctoring! You will be able to take the Knowledge Exam in the comfort of your home.

Certification

• February 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 by February 28, 2022.
• Just in case you missed it, last month we sent all Certified Paralegals and Advanced Certified Paralegals an email with Certification Reminders for 2022.
• Not sure about how to earn CLE? Here are a few ways that should help you:
  
  • NALA’s online education courses (live webinars, on-demand webinars, self-study courses, and our annual Conference)
    
    • If you are an Active-type member, you have access to an $80 gift certificate that may be applied to the online education courses!
  • Facts & Findings magazines - Read select articles with the red book icon
  • Your local NALA Affiliate – Contact them to find out when their next CLE session is (click here and scroll down to the List of Current Affiliated Associations for a list).
    
    • May also review the Affiliate Sponsored events!
  • College courses - CLE credit may be awarded for completion of a college course offered by a college or university that is regionally accredited so long as a grade of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or a grade C or above, is achieved.
  • YouTube – Enter “continuing legal education” into the search bar and earn your CLE by watching videos. (The presenter(s) must have relevant education, experience, certification, or license(s)).
  • Your local bar association may have some continuing legal education sessions that might interest you.

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. 

Unwrap Winter Savings with Avis and Budget
In need of a winter escape? Make the experience safe and comfortable with deals from your Avis and Budget Car Rental Savings Program. With the Pay Now feature, members can save up to 35% off base rates on every rental, plus receive additional offers like a free upgrade or dollars off.

More Ways to Save:
Skip the counter and paperwork at many locations and go straight to your car for faster pick-up and drop off, when you sign up and use your complimentary membership in the Avis Preferred® or Budget’s Fastbreak Rewards Program. Plus, members earn points towards free rentals, accessories, and upgrades.

To make a reservation with Avis, visit: www.avis.com/en/association/B155180 and use your Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number B155180.

To book with Budget, visit: //www.budget.com/en/association/R584780 and use your Budget Customer Discount (BCD) number R584780.

Sign up for Text Alerts: Don’t miss out on special offers! Get exclusive offers sent directly to your phone by texting NALAABG to 833-344-0228.

NALA Milestone Membership Anniversaries
Our members are at the core of NALA, and we love to celebrate those who have shared this journey with us for many years.

Many members reached milestone membership anniversaries in 2021. These milestone years are continuous membership with NALA for 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years. Please click here to read the names of all our awesome members who reached one of these milestones last year.