Page 189 - Leaders in Legal Business - PDF - Final 2018
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directors or managers of paralegal services in law firms or governmental agencies in North
America, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.
It hosts an annual conference and expo, as well as a managerial skills seminar. Its
quarterly electronic magazine, Paralegal Management magazine, features articles on current
trends and issues that relate to management and the paralegal profession.
The Legal Marketing Association,11 founded in 1985, “serves the needs and maintains the
professional standards of the men and women involved in marketing, business development,
client service and communications within the legal profession. LMA also is a resource for
practicing attorneys and law firm leaders who want to develop their practices and gain
competitive advantage.”12 The organization has more than 4,000 members (48 U.S. states,
Canada, and 15 other countries) and 37 chapters (in the U.S. and Canada).
LMA provides on-demand education through its CORE (Continuing Online Resource for
Legal Marketing Education) competencies program and a Quickstart Online Course designed for
newcomers to the legal marketing and business development field. These courses cover all 10
core competencies of legal marketing.
NALP,13 the National Association for Law Placement, began in 1971 during a tumultuous
period in both the legal profession and legal education; their creation was a response to a
perceived need for a forum in which legal professionals could discuss issues around placement
and recruitment.14 This organization, which consists of more than 2,500 legal career
professionals who advise law students, lawyers, law offices, and law schools both domestically
and abroad, facilitates legal career counseling and planning.15
In addition to a monthly bulletin, the group publishes a number of research and statistical
studies on a variety of topics, including diversity and inclusion; lawyer and law student
professional development; recruitment and hiring; and compensation and benefits. Formed in
1975, the National Association of Legal Assistants16 is the leading paralegal association in the
United States. Its mission “is to provide continuing education and professional development
programs to all paralegals.”17 Representing more than 18,000 paralegals, NALA provides
continuing education materials and seminars, networking opportunities, professional certification
programs, occupational survey findings, and manuals to help paralegals excel in the workplace.
NALA offers a robust bimonthly magazine called Facts & Findings that provides up-to-date
educational articles focused on various practice areas of law and breaking news. They produce a
special “Career Chronicle” issue each January.
NALS, the Association for Legal Professionals,18 is the oldest association formed for
legal support professionals. Established in 1929, the group was incorporated as the National
Association of Legal Secretaries in 1949 and renamed in 1999 to reflect the various positions
held by its membership.
NALS offers basic and advanced legal training courses created for legal professionals
looking to expand their current skills. It also provides an online basic legal training course
through Stetson University.
11 LEGAL MARKETING ASSOCIATION, ABOUT, http://www.legalmarketing.org/about_lma.
12 NALP, www.nalp.org.
13 NALP, WHAT IS NALP? www.nalp.org/whatisnalp.
14 Id.
15 Id.
16 NALA, http://www.nala.org.
17 NALA, http://www.nala.org/Aboutnala.aspx.
18 NALS, http://www.nals.org.
175
America, Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.
It hosts an annual conference and expo, as well as a managerial skills seminar. Its
quarterly electronic magazine, Paralegal Management magazine, features articles on current
trends and issues that relate to management and the paralegal profession.
The Legal Marketing Association,11 founded in 1985, “serves the needs and maintains the
professional standards of the men and women involved in marketing, business development,
client service and communications within the legal profession. LMA also is a resource for
practicing attorneys and law firm leaders who want to develop their practices and gain
competitive advantage.”12 The organization has more than 4,000 members (48 U.S. states,
Canada, and 15 other countries) and 37 chapters (in the U.S. and Canada).
LMA provides on-demand education through its CORE (Continuing Online Resource for
Legal Marketing Education) competencies program and a Quickstart Online Course designed for
newcomers to the legal marketing and business development field. These courses cover all 10
core competencies of legal marketing.
NALP,13 the National Association for Law Placement, began in 1971 during a tumultuous
period in both the legal profession and legal education; their creation was a response to a
perceived need for a forum in which legal professionals could discuss issues around placement
and recruitment.14 This organization, which consists of more than 2,500 legal career
professionals who advise law students, lawyers, law offices, and law schools both domestically
and abroad, facilitates legal career counseling and planning.15
In addition to a monthly bulletin, the group publishes a number of research and statistical
studies on a variety of topics, including diversity and inclusion; lawyer and law student
professional development; recruitment and hiring; and compensation and benefits. Formed in
1975, the National Association of Legal Assistants16 is the leading paralegal association in the
United States. Its mission “is to provide continuing education and professional development
programs to all paralegals.”17 Representing more than 18,000 paralegals, NALA provides
continuing education materials and seminars, networking opportunities, professional certification
programs, occupational survey findings, and manuals to help paralegals excel in the workplace.
NALA offers a robust bimonthly magazine called Facts & Findings that provides up-to-date
educational articles focused on various practice areas of law and breaking news. They produce a
special “Career Chronicle” issue each January.
NALS, the Association for Legal Professionals,18 is the oldest association formed for
legal support professionals. Established in 1929, the group was incorporated as the National
Association of Legal Secretaries in 1949 and renamed in 1999 to reflect the various positions
held by its membership.
NALS offers basic and advanced legal training courses created for legal professionals
looking to expand their current skills. It also provides an online basic legal training course
through Stetson University.
11 LEGAL MARKETING ASSOCIATION, ABOUT, http://www.legalmarketing.org/about_lma.
12 NALP, www.nalp.org.
13 NALP, WHAT IS NALP? www.nalp.org/whatisnalp.
14 Id.
15 Id.
16 NALA, http://www.nala.org.
17 NALA, http://www.nala.org/Aboutnala.aspx.
18 NALS, http://www.nals.org.
175
