2022 Conference & Expo  - THANK YOU!

Thank you to the hundreds of both in-person and virtual attendees of the 2022 NALA Conference & Expo. Our first-ever hybrid event was a huge success. We hope you enjoyed the phenomenal speakers and took advantage of the networking opportunities.

Take a look at the highlight video below! 

You can also view photos from the conference in our Facebook Gallery here and read a day-by-day summary of the conference from Maureen C. Washington, ACP, CAS here.

We could not have done this without you. We hope to see you either in-person or virtually for the 2023 Conference & Expo on July 12-14, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts!

Meet Your 2022-2023 Board of Directors

Thank you to everyone who voted in the 2022 NALA Election!

Your 2022-2023 Board of Directors are:

Debra L. Overstreet, ACP – President

Cheryl J. Nodarse, ACP – Vice President

Peonca S. Grier, CP – Secretary

Debby J. Sawyer, ACP – Treasurer

Bridget M. Stuhr, ACP – Affiliated Associations Director

Dana G. Welcker, ACP – Area 1 Director

Angela A. Oberle, ACP – Area 2 Director

Vicki L. Kasper, ACP – Area 3 Director

Richard Hahn, ACP – At Large Director

Cassie D. Snyder, ACP – At Large Director

Deana M. Waters, ACP – Continuing Education Council Chair

Kelly S. Elder, ACP – Professional Development Committee Chair

Lisa M. Stone, ACP – Certifying Board Chair

Vanessa Finley, MBA, CAE – Chief Executive Officer

NALA Awards Announced at Conference

Several NALA Awards were given to outstanding recipients during the Annual Membership Meeting and Awards Presentation at this year’s conference.

Congratulations to the following award recipients:

• President’s Award: Nancy L. Jordahl, ACP
• Founders’ Award: Elizabeth Mann
• Student of the Year Award: Yenli Gaytan

The NALA Hall of Fame Award recognizes long-time NALA members who have served on the NALA Board of Directors and/or NALA Committees for their leadership, dedication, and extraordinary contributions to NALA and its members.

This year’s recipients are:

• Annette R. Brown, ACP
• Belinda Ann Thomas, ACP Retired

Call for Conference Speakers - Due September 1

NALA is already looking for speakers for the 2023 NALA Conference & Expo in Boston, Massachusetts!

We are accepting proposals for speakers for the nation’s largest paralegal conference on July 12-14, 2023 in Boston. We need presenters for two types of sessions – Feature and CP Review.

To view the full list of topics and to make sure you are eligible, click here.

CP Champion Award - Nominations Due September 1

We are accepting nominations for the 2022 Certified Paralegal Champion Award. The award is meant to recognize outstanding achievement by an individual or by a NALA Affiliated Association in promoting and advancing NALA’s Certified Paralegal Program within the legal profession.

To learn more about who is eligible and to nominate someone, please click here. 

The deadline for nominations is September 1, 2022.

August Volunteer Spotlight – Peonca Grier, 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 Peonca Grier, CP. Please click here to read the August Volunteer Spotlight!

NALA Office Closed – Labor Day

Our office will be closed on Monday, September 5, to honor and celebrate American workers for their contributions and achievements!

Deb's Details - August Edition

August DEI Article

In this month’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion article, NALA DEI Committee chair Kristine Custodio Suero, ACP takes a closer look at the Americans with Disabilities Act as it turns 32 this year.

Click here to read the article.

Addressing Our Professional, Emotional, and Mental Health

August 24 | 12 p.m. CT | 1 CLE | Non-Substantive

As legal professionals, we may have experienced moments where we feel burnt out because of the physically and emotionally demanding parts of our jobs. This course is about addressing our mental health through actionable strategies without feeling like it is additional work. 

Should I Stay Or Should I Go? Handling Burnout and Strategizing Next Steps

August 31 | 12 p.m. CT | CLE Hours: 1 | Non-Substantive

Don’t let burnout keep you from pursuing your career goals; instead, use it as an indicator to make the right change. Learn how to find the right balance for your career goals with this informative course.

Life Care Plans – Experts and Paralegals Working Together

September 7 | 12 p.m. CT | CLE Hours: 1 | Substantive

This course will focus on the process of life care plan development for litigation purposes from the perspective of the relationship between the expert and the attorney’s paralegal.

Are you considering becoming a NALA Certified Paralegal? 

Watch our Planning for NALA Certification video below!

CP Examinees

• Effective September 1, 2022, the PSI testing center fee will be required for examinees to schedule their exam. The following fees are paid directly to PSI:
  •  United States, Canada, Puerto Rico
    • Knowledge Exam - $70
    • Skills Exam - $63
  • International
    • Knowledge Exam - $115
    • Skills Exam - $108
• The results from the July 2022 Skills Exam are expected to be released within 6-8 weeks from July 31.

Certification

•  Effective January 1, 2023, a $25 fee will be required if your Recertification Affidavit and fee are received at NALA after the certification expiration date.
• August certificants! Enter your 50 hours of CLE, including five hours of legal ethics, and not more than 10 hours non-substantive areas so that you can recertify before 8/31/2022. Here is the PDF Recertification form that you may email to cle@nala.org or click here to recertify online.

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.

Milestone Membership Anniversaries

NALA members are at the core of NALA’s success. Each quarter, we will honor those who have reached MILESTONE membership anniversaries with NALA.

To see who has reached five years, 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, and 25 years (Honorary Membership status) of continuous NALA membership, please click here.

Want to be a part of this special recognition? If you continue your NALA membership – without lapse – for the number of years mentioned above, you will be eligible to receive one of our complimentary, exclusive membership anniversary pins. Do not forget to stay up to date with your emails to ensure your NALA membership does not lapse!

Thank you to the longtime members who have been recognized this quarter. You are truly appreciated!