Leading the Way - August 2009
In This Issue:
The Decision to Serve on a National Committee
Believe it or not, there was a time when I was only involved with my local chapter.
Then one day, a fellow chapter member (and mentor of mine) encouraged me to participate on a national committee. My first foray into national service was as a member of the @Law Committee, where I periodically proofread articles before publication. I agreed to serve in this capacity because it was a relatively small task to complete and I could contribute without being overwhelmed. What I discovered is that national committee work is actually made up of a lot of “small” duties, tasks, and responsibilities.Life is an ever-changing process. After graduating high school, we advance to college. After years of time, money, sweat, and endless hours studying, a degree is earned. But if you stop learning after graduation, how valuable will you be in your chosen field?
With time, every career field changes. What are you doing to stay informed of those changes? Could former President George Washington survive in the technical world of today without training? Of course not! There is a vast array of training that legal professionals can utilize to maintain competence in their respective areas of practice. For instance, legal professionals can take advanced legal training courses, obtain certification, and attend continuing legal education seminars. By taking these steps, you are showing initiative, drive, and dedication. You are showing that you can be independent, that you are embracing change, and that you have a commitment to the legal field. You are showing that you value yourself and value the legal profession.
Techniques for Locatiing Missing Witnesses
It has been a while since your first interview with a potential witness. Trial is approaching, and it is now time to schedule depositions and prepare for the trial. Despite your best efforts, you cannot now get in touch with that witness.
To help avoid this situation, it is essential that you obtain as much identifying information as possible during the first interview with the witness. This information should include: full name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, driver’s license number, place of employment, and occupation. You should also try to obtain the name, address, and telephone number of a person who would know how to contact the witness, if the need would arise.
This year NALS is “Thinking Big” and focusing on our membership—recruiting new members, retaining old ones, and renewing memberships of past members. This has many of us thinking big and continuing to make our association the best association for legal support professionals. All of the Regions and Think Big teams have gone above and beyond anything I would have ever imagined for membership ideas for their respective Regions.
Circle Donations Promote Positive Attitudes
Have you ever heard the phrase “what goes around comes around”? Of course you have. It is like a circle going round and round, beginning, coming back and starting anew over and over again—until there is no beginning and no end.
Are you ready if you are laid off? Are you prepared for long period of unemployment? Are you prepared to begin searching for a new job? According the American Bar Association, over 14,400 jobs in the legal community have been lost as of January of this year and over 25,500 since last year.
One of the best ways to be prepared for searching for a new job is to take one of the NALS certification tests. Taking either the ALS, PLS or PP exam shows a prospective employer that you are serious about your career and plan to stay in the legal field.