Page 209 - 2019 - Leaders in Legal Business (n)
P. 209
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.
As the challenges and complexities of the legal profession have grown, so, too, have the
roles and importance of the legal professionals who are responsible for the business needs of law
firms and law departments.
Working together, the array of associations serving these leaders and support professionals
provide business intelligence, education, and networking critical to advancing both the individual
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.
194
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.
As the challenges and complexities of the legal profession have grown, so, too, have the
roles and importance of the legal professionals who are responsible for the business needs of law
firms and law departments.
Working together, the array of associations serving these leaders and support professionals
provide business intelligence, education, and networking critical to advancing both the individual
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.
194
