Page 131 - MASTER COPY LEADERS BOOK 9editedJKK (24)_Neat
P. 131
Leaders in Legal Business
Administrative and Marketing Associations Oliver Yandle1
ALA
Executive Director
Legal Administration Associations
Professional associations serving the legal profession have been around for more than 100 years, helping
to shape the development of the law and those who practice it. Professional associations for administrative
management in the legal industry, however, are a more recent development. In 1957, the president of the American
Bar Association, Charles S. Rhyne, identified the need for an increased focus on the economics of law practice
and created a special committee to develop practical suggestions on how to manage the business of law. By the
early 1970s, the needs and complexities of law firm management had grown significantly, spurring the creation
of a number of organizations specifically focused on the business of law.
Today, the management of law firms and law departments requires highly specialized skills and advanced
training. Many legal business professionals have obtained advanced degrees in business management, marketing,
information management and technology, finance, and human resources. Often, they have secured professional
certifications and designations in their particular field of practice, such as the Certified Legal Manager or
Professional in Human Resources, to advance their professional skills. In addition formal educational
opportunities, legal business professionals rely on associations to keep them up to date on the issues, trends, and
skills necessary to succeed in this rapidly changing environment.
These associations provide information, education, and
networking opportunities to help their members meet the
challenges inherent in managing successful law firms. They
offer support with practical skills as well as leadership training,
and advocate for their members to become strategic partners
with attorneys in providing client service that is both effective
and profitable. Many offer certification programs that provide
advanced skill training and professional recognition for
excellence in legal management.
With law firms and law departments experiencing some
of the most dramatic shifts in how legal services are delivered,
the need for professional legal administrative leadership has never been greater. These professionals bring critical
business strategy and insights to improve financial performance, firm growth, and client service. There are a
number of professional organizations available to support them.
The Association of Legal Administrators2 was founded in 1971 to provide legal managers with an
international forum in which to develop their skills, share ideas, and advance their careers in this emerging
profession. Today, the association represents nearly 10,000 legal business professionals from more than 30
countries. Members include law firm chief executive officers, principal administrators, functional specialists, and
1 Oliver Yandle, CAE, of Chicago, Illinois is the Executive Director of ALA. Oliver comes to ALA from the Commercial Law League of America in
Chicago, Illinois where he served as executive vice president.
Oliver’s law association experience includes holding the executive director position at the International Association of Defense Counsel, in Chicago,
Illinois and he served as an adjunct instructor of legal analysis and writing at the Washington College of Law at American University.
In addition to his legal experience, Oliver has had a long-standing career in association work, most recently having held the position of Executive Vice
President for Commercial Law League of America. Chicago, Illinois. He has held senior directors positions at SmithBucklin in Chicago, Illinois, at the
International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association in Washington, D.C. and at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America in Washington D.C.
He is active in both the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) where he holds the Certified Association Executive designation, and the
Association Forum of Chicagoland, where he currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.
Oliver is a native of Louisiana and holds a B.A. in journalism from Loyola University of the South in New Orleans, and a J.D. from Washington College
of Law at The American University in Washington, D.C.
2 THE ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS, http://www.alanet.org (last visited May 5, 2015).
124
Administrative and Marketing Associations Oliver Yandle1
ALA
Executive Director
Legal Administration Associations
Professional associations serving the legal profession have been around for more than 100 years, helping
to shape the development of the law and those who practice it. Professional associations for administrative
management in the legal industry, however, are a more recent development. In 1957, the president of the American
Bar Association, Charles S. Rhyne, identified the need for an increased focus on the economics of law practice
and created a special committee to develop practical suggestions on how to manage the business of law. By the
early 1970s, the needs and complexities of law firm management had grown significantly, spurring the creation
of a number of organizations specifically focused on the business of law.
Today, the management of law firms and law departments requires highly specialized skills and advanced
training. Many legal business professionals have obtained advanced degrees in business management, marketing,
information management and technology, finance, and human resources. Often, they have secured professional
certifications and designations in their particular field of practice, such as the Certified Legal Manager or
Professional in Human Resources, to advance their professional skills. In addition formal educational
opportunities, legal business professionals rely on associations to keep them up to date on the issues, trends, and
skills necessary to succeed in this rapidly changing environment.
These associations provide information, education, and
networking opportunities to help their members meet the
challenges inherent in managing successful law firms. They
offer support with practical skills as well as leadership training,
and advocate for their members to become strategic partners
with attorneys in providing client service that is both effective
and profitable. Many offer certification programs that provide
advanced skill training and professional recognition for
excellence in legal management.
With law firms and law departments experiencing some
of the most dramatic shifts in how legal services are delivered,
the need for professional legal administrative leadership has never been greater. These professionals bring critical
business strategy and insights to improve financial performance, firm growth, and client service. There are a
number of professional organizations available to support them.
The Association of Legal Administrators2 was founded in 1971 to provide legal managers with an
international forum in which to develop their skills, share ideas, and advance their careers in this emerging
profession. Today, the association represents nearly 10,000 legal business professionals from more than 30
countries. Members include law firm chief executive officers, principal administrators, functional specialists, and
1 Oliver Yandle, CAE, of Chicago, Illinois is the Executive Director of ALA. Oliver comes to ALA from the Commercial Law League of America in
Chicago, Illinois where he served as executive vice president.
Oliver’s law association experience includes holding the executive director position at the International Association of Defense Counsel, in Chicago,
Illinois and he served as an adjunct instructor of legal analysis and writing at the Washington College of Law at American University.
In addition to his legal experience, Oliver has had a long-standing career in association work, most recently having held the position of Executive Vice
President for Commercial Law League of America. Chicago, Illinois. He has held senior directors positions at SmithBucklin in Chicago, Illinois, at the
International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association in Washington, D.C. and at the Intelligent Transportation Society of America in Washington D.C.
He is active in both the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) where he holds the Certified Association Executive designation, and the
Association Forum of Chicagoland, where he currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors.
Oliver is a native of Louisiana and holds a B.A. in journalism from Loyola University of the South in New Orleans, and a J.D. from Washington College
of Law at The American University in Washington, D.C.
2 THE ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL ADMINISTRATORS, http://www.alanet.org (last visited May 5, 2015).
124
