February 2008

Leadership Lessons from Trees | If You Thought You Could Make a Difference (conclusion) | Attend a NALS Conference for Free!

There's No Better Time Than Now... | If Not You, Then Who? If Not Now, Then When? | Creating a Marketing Plan for Your Chapter

If Not You, Then Who? If Not Now, Then When?
By Karen Kuhn, PP, PLS

What distinguishes humans is our ability to become better than we are.  In order to become better, we cannot just sit back and do nothing—we must take action. 

If not you, then who?  NALS offers members, as well as nonmembers, the opportunity to attain three unique certifications dedicated to the legal services profession.  ALS...the basic certification for legal professionals and PLS...the advanced certification for legal professionals are two certifications dedicated to legal professionals of all types.  These exams are developed by legal professionals for anyone performing duties in the legal field.  The third certification is dedicated to those professionals performing paralegal duties. The Professional Paralegal (PP) certification was developed by paralegals for paralegals. Each of the three certifications was developed by NALS and takes advantage of the more than 75 years of experience and dedication to the legal services industry only NALS has to offer.   The NALS Resource Center has the list of resource materials necessary for studying for the certification goal you have in mind.  Opportunities for education and exam preparation are offered through the NALS Online Learning Center, through the Online Study Group, through NALS-approved courses offered by local chapters and by attending meetings at all levels.  If your chapter does not have a study group, check with your chapter to see if it would be possible to get one started.  The certification exams are not easy and require diligent study habits in preparation for sitting for them.  However, any goal worth having is certainly worth the effort and time expended to reach that goal. 

If you are already certified, help someone else reach their goal.  Volunteer to help with a study group or to be a study partner for someone.  Do you remember the rush you had when you received notification of passing the exam you sat for?  The day I received “the letter” from NALS in the mail with the ALS designation behind my name, I felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment and I was totally exhilarated.  I felt that same exhilaration of accomplishment when I obtained the PLS designation.  When I passed the PP exam, Tammy Mullins, NALS Education and Certification Manager at that time, called me personally to let me know I had passed the exam.  That phone call is one I will never forget.  When she called she simply asked me how the weather was on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  I asked her if she needed anything else and she said, “Well, I guess I should let you know that you passed your exam.”  What a moment!  I was overwhelmed and flooded with excitement.  I am certain you had that same feeling when you received word that you obtained your goal.  I urge you to share your experience and help someone else feel that same sense of accomplishment you felt when you had reached yours.  Sometimes helping someone else can be as rewarding as doing something for yourself. 

If not now, then when?  What better time could there be to take action than now with the beginning of a new year?  Many of us make New Year’s resolutions, but never put into place what it takes to make those resolutions happen.  Whether you call it a resolution or a goal, it’s the same thing and it takes work to make it happen.  Go ahead—set your goal, make a commitment to yourself to do what it takes, and take action.  You are worth it!