Frequently Asked Questions

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1. WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP?
Individual members consist of those persons engaged in work of a legal nature and who agree to comply with the NALS Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility.

2. HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?
You can use the secure online application, or you may choose to print out the application right from the web site or in Adobe PDF format and mail or fax it.   Simply choose the method you want to apply, fill out the NALS Membership Application, select a method of payment, and submit your application. You then just sit back and will receive your new member package from the NALS Resource Center within four weeks.

Categories of membership:
Regular Member = $135.00 per year (includes state and local dues)
International Member = $135.00 per year
Retired Member = $45.00 per year
National Associate Member = $45.00 per year (educators, judges and attorneys)
National Student Member = $19.00 per year (must be a full-time student)
Lifetime Member = $750.00 (one time fee) (annual billing for state and local dues)

3. WHY SHOULD I JOIN NALS?
Opportunities for professional and personal development are plenty when you join NALS. NALS is a tri-level organization composed of NALS, your state association, and your local chapter. Each offers top-notch professional growth through seminars, quality publications, and local, state, regional and national networking. NALS offers several regional and national conferences each year packed with outstanding education and featuring excellent speakers from around the country. State and local chapters offer more frequent meetings to give in-depth local educational coverage.
Additionally, NALS supports its members by providing the following benefits:

Affinity Programs - members enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services.
Certification - accreditation for everyone, whether beginning a new career or enhancing your current one.  

ALS--the basic certification for legal professionals and PLS--the advanced certification for legal professionals. NALS also offers a certification dedicated to paralegals, Professional Paralegal.

@Law Magazine - members receive this award-winning publication quarterly.

E-Learn - a monthly update on current topics of interest to legal support staff, delivered via e-mail.

E-News - a bi-weekly electronic newsletter sent to all NALS members who provide an email address, which includes timely information and details of NALS activities, with links to educational information and topics of interest to legal support staff. 

NALS Online Learning Center - Education and personal development offered on a variety of subjects with the added bonus of networking across the United States.

NALS also presents a host of other professional development programs including the Legal Training Course, NALS Educational Institute, and college credits.

4. WHAT IS E-LEARN AND HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE?
E-learn is a monthly educational subscription received by NALS members via e-mail or telefax featuring articles, technology tips, legal community news, etc. If you are currently a member and not receiving e-learn and would like to be on the distribution list, please contact Saundra Bates, NALS Member Services Manager at bates@nals.org or 918-582-5188. Saundra will be happy to add you to our list.

5. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE NALS ONLINE LEARNING CENTER?
Education, updated information on NALS and various legal topics, networking across the country are just a few of the benefits afforded our members who make it a point to participate in our weekly Tuesday and Wednesday night NALS Online Learning Center sessions. Each week a different topic is chosen as an educational subject or for discussion over the Internet lines. Come check us out!

6. WHO DO I CONTACT WITH REGARD TO MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS?
Saundra Bates, NALS Membership Services Manager, is the staff person at the NALS Resource Center in charge of membership services. Saundra’s contact information is as follows:

Saundra Bates
NALS Membership Services Manager
NALS Resource Center
Suite #210
314 East Third Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120
Telephone: 918-582-5188
Telefax: 918-582-5907
E-mail: bates@nals.org

7. WHO ARE THE STAFF MEMBERS AT THE NALS RESOURCE CENTER?

Tammy Hailey, CAE (ext. 11) (hailey@nals.org)
Executive Director of NALS and Executive Director of the NALS Foundation

Jay Moore (ext. 29) (moore@nals.org)
Communications Manager

Diana Price (ext. 22) (price@nals.org)
Education and Certification Manager

Saundra Bates (ext. 15) (bates@nals.org)
Member Services Manager

Stacey Blanchard (ext. 12) (blanchard@nals.org)
Executive Administrator

8. WHEN WAS NALS FOUNDED AND WHO ARE THE MEMBERS?
Since 1929, NALS . . . the association for legal professionals has been and continues to be the premiere association for professional legal support staff, providing many opportunities to improve individual performance and enhance knowledge of the legal profession through continuing legal education, networking with peers, NALS publication @LAW, and certification. The name NALS was not adopted or incorporate until 1949.

9. WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING ACRONYMS MEAN?

ALS . . . the basic certification for legal professionals: The ALS designation is an attainable goal for someone entering the legal support field. Demonstrate your acceptance of the challenge while improving your on-the-job skills in the areas of communication, accounting, office administration, ethics and legal procedures.

PLS . . . the advanced certification for legal professionals: The certified PLS designation is the best way to show off your expertise in areas including legal terminology and procedures, ethics, office procedures, and communication skills. That could mean more money and more opportunities for you, or it could mean doing a better job for your present employer! The PLS certification is recommended by the American Council on Education ("ACE") as valuable college credit for as much as 27 semester hours.

PP: Professional Paralegal, this is the newest of the NALS Certifications

SMC: State Membership Chairman

LMC: Local Membership Chairman

CLE: Continuing Legal Education

CLA: Certified Legal Assistant

@Law: The Official NALS Magazine. As a member of NALS . . . the association for legal professionals, you will receive @LAW four times a year. Each issue features informative articles and time-saving resources. @LAW is so informative it won the coveted Gold Circle Award for Most Improved Magazine from the ASAE. The @LAW subscription rate for nonmembers of NALS is $40.00 per year. Subscribe now.

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Frequently Asked Questions always seem to be a topic for discussion in membership. Not only do our current members have questions -- we also find that potential members, new members, educators, students, attorneys, legal communities across the nation, and the general public have questions concerning NALS . . . the association for legal professionals. We hope that in this area of the NALS website, we will answer some of your most pressing questions. If not, please contact the NALS Membership Services Manager, Saundra Bates.

Do you have other questions? Please ask us.