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Happy New Year! We hope 2023 came to a wonderful conclusion for you and that you are set to thrive in 2024. NALA’s President, Debbie Overstreet, ACP, has a special message to kick off the new year. Click below to watch. 

To access the 2022 Utilization and Compensation Report, click here. 

NALA Volunteer Spotlight – Richard Hahn, ACP

This month’s spotlighted NALA volunteer is Richard Hahn, ACP, NALA's Affiliated Associations Secretary. Can you fill in the blank correctly?

Rich is a(n) __________ addict.

a) CLE
b) conference
c) ACP^® 
d) coffee

To see the answer and learn more about Rich's dedication to NALA and our Affiliated Associations, click here to read the January Volunteer Spotlight.

Congratulations to our two final NALA Census winners of 2023: Heather Hathaway, ACP, and Julie May, ACP. Heather won the December drawing for a $100 gift card, and Julie won the grand prize of $500! Thank you to everyone who has participated in the NALA Census so far. Your input is valuable, and your transparency is admirable.

COMING SOON – NALA’s Certified Paralegal Exam Fundamentals - Second Edition will be getting a bit of a makeover, with a new name, cover, and chapter. The book will now be called The Paralegal's Companion: Fundamentals for legal practitioners and those preparing for the CP^® Exam. It will include a new chapter on bankruptcy to help you prepare for the Debtor/Creditor and Bankruptcy section that was added to the CP^® Knowledge Exam this month. While the book was originally written for those taking the CP^® Exam, it is a great resource for all legal professionals. If you already have the current book, check your email for instructions on how to access the new chapter in your NALA account. Keep an eye on our social media and your email for updates on The Paralegal’s Companion.

NALA's ongoing success and progress can be attributed to the active participation and commitment of our members in advancing the paralegal profession. NALA operates as a membership organization, where the thoughts and opinions of our members hold significant value.

The Talent Acquisition Committee, on behalf of the Board of Directors, invites eligible members to actively contribute to your exceptional association. Serving on the Board offers a fulfilling, satisfying, and enjoyable opportunity to contribute to the development of your association.

Please submit your candidacy declaration by March 15, 2024. Click here to learn more and declare your candidacy.

NOMINATIONS DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 1, 2024!

We believe that hard work and dedication should be acknowledged, and the NALA Awards Program does just that. It is a great way to recognize our exceptional members and affiliates for their contributions to the paralegal profession.

• Rising Star Award: Recognizes exemplary service to the paralegal profession by a person who has been a paralegal for less than five years. Click here to submit your nomination for the Rising Star Award today!
• Volunteer of the Year Award: Recognizes exemplary service to the paralegal profession and its members by a person who has been a paralegal for at least five years. Click here to submit your nomination for the Volunteer of the Year Award today!

A Brief Look at the Ban on Race-Conscious Affirmative Action in Higher Education

In June 2023, the US Supreme Court issued an opinion in SFFA v. Harvard, declaring that race-based affirmative action programs in higher education violate the 14th Amendment. Professor Snell of the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law argues that this decision is color blind. To learn more about the case, read January's DEI article here.

We have some great webinars to kick off the new year. Click on the titles below to register.

Jan 24, 1 p.m. CT: Technology in the Legal Community – Explore the use of technology in the legal profession, including key trends, advancements, innovations, and challenges.

Jan 31, 1 p.m. CT: Creating a Modern, Compliant, and Easier-to-Execute Records Retention Schedule –Does your records retention schedule need an update? If it is still in paper format, it may be difficult to execute in an increasingly digital world. Discover how to create a modern, compliant, privacy-enabled, easily executable schedule.

Feb 7, 12 p.m. CT: Stop Welcoming the Distractions! – Discover practical techniques to stop welcoming distractions at work in a fun and engaging program from a former paralegal who does productivity consulting for legal professionals.

Feb 8, 12 p.m. CT: How to Combat Health Insurance Liens and Be Medicare Compliant – Discover how to make your firm and clients Medicare compliant. Explore health insurance liens and methods for getting them reduced or waived.

Feb 13, 12 p.m. CT: An Innovative Exploration of Legal Ethics – Do you want to enhance your understanding of legal ethics? Examine real-world case studies to refine your ethical decision-making skills.

Feb 22, 1 p.m. CT: The Basics of Employment Law – Explore the basics of employment law and why it is important to understand them, especially if you are a business owner or manager.

Are you or someone you know interested in presenting a webinar for NALA? Check out the benefits of sharing your knowledge and experiences with your fellow legal practitioners and submit your proposal here.

Enroll Now - Online CP^® Knowledge Exam Prep Course

College of the Canyons is offering preparation courses for both sections of the Certified Paralegal (CP^®) Exam: Knowledge and Skills. The Knowledge test prep class will be taught by Terry Wright, ACP, via Zoom on Mondays from 6-8 p.m. PT from February 26-May 6. If Monday evenings do not work, there is an online (guided self-study) session being taught by Christine Oshian, JD, from February 26-May 11. In addition, the Skills test prep class will be taught by Christine Oshian, JD, via Zoom on Saturdays from 9-11:20 a.m. PT from February 10-March 30. These are valuable resources for aspiring CPs. It gets better! The courses are FREE to California residents. Even if you do not live in California, you will only pay $75 per course. Either way, it is a great deal. To learn more and register, click here. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Lori Young, MPS, at College of the Canyons at lori.young@canyons.edu.  

DISCLAIMER: The NALA CP^® Exam creators do not develop or deliver any CP^® Exam study materials. Producers of study materials do not have access to actual CP^® Exam content. Use of any suggested study materials does not guarantee success on the CP^® Exam.

Registration opens soon for the 2024 NALA Conference & Expo from July 11-13 in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. It is never too early to start planning and saving. To stay up to date on the 2024 conference, keep an eye on our website. To find things to do in Louisville, go to the visitor's site and plan your downtime. No matter who you travel with, there is something for everyone in Louisville.

Discover the CP^® Skills Exam Prep on-demand webinar with Leanne Cardoso, also known as "Leanne the Lawyer." Leanne's wealth of experience in law and education makes her the ideal mentor to guide you. Join us for this exclusive on-demand webinar! Register here.

DISCLAIMER: The NALA CP^® Exam creators do not develop or deliver any CP^® Exam study materials. Producers of study materials do not have access to actual CP^® Exam content. Use of any suggested study materials does not guarantee success on the CP^® Exam.

Celebrating Success: Cheers to Our 69 New Certified Paralegals (CPs)

A thunderous applause to the outstanding 69 individuals who have triumphed in earning their Certified Paralegal (CP^®) status from NALA in October 2023! Your unwavering dedication and months of hard work have paid off, putting you among the ranks of an esteemed group of professionals within the paralegal community. 

By achieving this prestigious certification, you have displayed your commitment to upholding the highest standards of professional excellence and ethical conduct. As a CP^®, you now possess a wealth of knowledge and experience that can fuel positive change in the legal ecosystem, propelling you to new heights in your career. 

This is your moment to shine and lead in the paralegal profession, setting the stage for others to follow. We are bursting with pride for your achievements and eagerly anticipate the incredible impact you will make in your paralegal career. Here is to your success and the remarkable journey that lies ahead!  

We have important information for you on the cost of recertification. On January 1, the fee structure for recertification changed. Your recertification fee will now vary depending on whether you are a NALA member. For more information, visit our website.

What better way to kick off the new year than by reminding everyone around you what an awesome paralegal you are? NALA has the perfect shirt for making a (very accurate) statement about your paralegal skills. In a fun, bold blue, this shirt will brighten up even the darkest winter days. It is available in sizes S-2XL and can easily become one of your new favorites for just $20 plus shipping. Get yours here!

The front has the NALA logo, and the back states, "I am a paralegal so while it's possible that I could be wrong it's highly unlikely."

As a NALA member, you receive exclusive local and national discounts on hundreds of products and services.

To access these deals, go to the Affinity Discounts page on our website and log in.

We are thrilled to announce a powerful partnership between Notary Hub and NALA, providing an exclusive 20% discount on Notary Hub subscriptions for NALA members who are notaries. Developed by industry experts with over 30 years of experience, Notary Hub's end-to-end platform simplifies Remote Online Notary (RON) operations, streamlines paperwork, and modernizes notary practices. NALA members can click here or log into their NALA account, go to Affinity Discounts under the Membership drop-down, and click "Access Your Discounts." Unlock the future of notarization with this exclusive offer, reaffirming NALA's commitment to member success. 

We recently sent out our annual membership survey. Please take some time before January 19th to fill it out. We value your feedback and want to hear about your experience as a NALA member. Your responses will help us build a better NALA for all our members.