NALS President-elect Doris T. Compton, PP, PLS,
invites YOU to join the 2013-14 Leadership Team!

Become a part of the energy! Join the 2013-14 NALS Leadership Team and take an active role in leadership service. Participation on a NALS committee will enhance your personal goals and professional growth, give you a clearer understanding of the inner workings of NALS, and empower you to shape the future of NALS through your volunteerism.

Most of the NALS committees communicate electronically, holding monthly meetings online or via conference call and conducting business through e mail, an economical and green way to function as a committee. Though not mandatory (with the exception of the Certifying Board), the national committees are highly encouraged to meet at the Professional Development & Education Conference in Tulsa (February 27-March 2, 2013) and at the Education Conference & National Forum in Atlanta, Georgia (October 17-20, 2013).

It is thrilling and exciting to be part of the NALS Leadership Team.  You will have FUN getting to know and working with other NALS members from around the country; additionally, you will gain a sense of pride and accomplishment seeing your work come to fruition. Engage, inspire, enhance, and promote NALS by accepting the challenge to make a difference!

APPLY TODAY!
Committee Chair Application | Committee Volunteer Application

Committees/Task Forces for the 2013-2014 Year

Certifying Board:
This committee consists of at least nine NALS members, each of whom serve for at least two years and must be a PP or PLS in good standing.  Two non-NALS members also serve on the Certifying Board.  Although a PLS may fall under the category of “voluntary recertification,” she or he must recertify in order to serve on the Certifying Board.  In order to receive exam-related training (including statistics and exam preparation), it is imperative that during the two-year term Certifying Board members are available to attend each Professional Development Conference held in Tulsa in March. Members of the Certifying Board are prohibited from teaching any subject related to the certification exams while on the Certifying Board and for two years after their terms expire.  The Certifying Board is responsible for all issues directly relating to the certification exams.

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Conference Planning Committee:
The Conference Planning Committee is comprised of two task forces:

1. Professional Development Task Force:
   Responsible for arranging sessions and speakers, as well as providing insight about special events and potential vendors, for the annual Professional Development & Education Conference held annually in the spring.
2. National Forum Task Force:
   Responsible for arranging education topics and speakers, as well as providing insight about special events and potential vendors, for the annual Education Conference & National Forum held annually in the fall.

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Editorial Board:
This committee oversees all NALS publications:  @Law (quarterly print magazine); the NALS docket (monthly e‑zine newsletter); e-News (weekly newsletter); annual board of director press releases; and other public relations materials as deemed necessary.  The responsibilities of the NALS Editorial Board include:  (a) identifying and securing suitable authors for articles, (b) proofreading articles, (c) proofreading full magazine text, and (d) preparing monthly editions of “e-Learn,” “Member Spotlight,” “Chapter Spotlight,” “Blogworthy,” and other articles as needed for the NALS docket.  The committee is also responsible for researching new technology, trends, and hot topics in the legal industry, specifically those relevant to the four Specialty Certificate areas (Litigation/Civil Law, Corporate Law, Estate Planning/Family Law, and General Law), for use in all NALS publications.

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Education:
This committee provides educational programs and certification study materials for NALS members, coordinates WebEd sessions, Online Study Group sessions, and oversees the NALS CLE Award and the Basic and Advanced Legal Training Courses.  The committee is broken down into four specialty areas, Litigation/Civil Law, Estate Planning/Family Law, Corporate Law, and General Practice. Volunteers in each specialty area are responsible for (a) identifying and securing the topics and speakers in the specialty tracks; (b) researching trends within the industry; (c) identifying new improvements in technology; (d) enhancing career development, and (e) reporting on hot topics within the specialties.

There are also two task forces under the Education umbrella:

1. Education Products Task Force:
   This task force is responsible for preparing and updating mock exams and resource manuals.
2. NALS Library Task Force:
   This task force is responsible for securing fresh, new materials for the NALS Library, including but not limited to webinar style sessions, presentations, files/forms, etc. This task force is also responsible for ensuring that only the latest content is displayed in the NALS Library.

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Grassroots Innovators:
This committee shall be comprised of visionary, passionate members and nonmember industry professionals who can think outside of the box and use their innovative ideas to drive NALS into the future. The responsibilities of this committee include brainstorming ways to better serve members, and meet the mission of NALS, developing a strategy to build membership and recognition in the legal industry, creating resources that can be used to strengthen local associations, and creating an open environment for discussion.

1. Outreach Task Force:
   This task force is responsible for updating the NALS School Contact Listing, the ALA Contact Listing, the Legal/State & Government links pages, and creating any other contact listings deemed necessary. This committee is also encouraged to develop resources that will help NALS form relationships and partnerships with other legal and/or industry related organizations, on local, state, and national levels.

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Next Generation Leadership:
This committee develops strategies to promote leadership opportunities and education for up-and-coming leaders and young legal professionals. There are two task forces that fall under the Next Generation Leadership umbrella:

1. Future Leaders Development Task Force (FLD):
   This task force is responsible for providing WebEd sessions and other programs which enhance and cultivate the skills and competencies of those wishing to hold leadership positions within NALS.
2. Young Legal Professionals Task Force (YLP):
   This task force is responsible for tackling the issues and concerns of the young professional in today’s legal industry, and providing them with the resources necessary to excel in the workforce.

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Text Development:
This committee is responsible for drafting, reviewing, and revising the Basic Manual for the Lawyer’s Assistant, the Advanced Manual for the Lawyer’s Assistant, and the accompanying workbook materials and instructor’s manuals.

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NALS Foundation Board of Trustees:
The NALS Foundation is an educational foundation dedicated to improving the value of legal professionals through education, research, and other activities. The Foundation trustees are responsible for internal and external fundraising and developing collaborative support for its programs. The NALS Foundation funds keynote speakers at educational conferences and awards grants to chapters, states, and regions.

The NALS President does not appoint the Foundation Trustees; they are appointed by the Foundation Chair. If you are interested in serving on the Foundation, we will notify the Foundation Chair of your interest.

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