The 2025 NALA Conference & Expo in Atlantic City, New Jersey, was one for the books! Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this year’s conference a resounding success. From inspiring sessions and unforgettable events to meaningful connections and valuable insights, this event was truly special. This year, we also celebrated a major milestone: NALA’s 50th anniversary! We are honored to commemorate five decades of advancing the paralegal profession, and we are excited to continue that legacy together. Let us never stop looking back with pride and moving forward with purpose!

The President's Pulse is the monthly update from NALA's Board President. In the July 2025 edition, Cheryl Nodarse, ACP, sits down with Ken Harold, ACP, and Lisa Stone, ACP, on site at the 2025 NALA Conference & Expo in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Ken and Lisa, members of the NALA Membership Task Force, discuss the "Tell Me Your WHY" initiative. Click below to watch.

What is your favorite way to earn continuing legal education (CLE) credits?

Share your answer in Commons to inspire fellow paralegals. Post by July 31st for a chance to be featured in the August newsletter!

June’s question was: What is one resource (book, podcast, webinar, etc.) that has helped you grow professionally?

The featured answer comes from Laura Reaves, ACP. “My local affiliate. The networking opportunities have been essential. Being involved in my local affiliate has opened up so many opportunities professionally.”

Cheryl Nodarse, ACP, is entering her second term as President. Peonca Grier, CP; Debby Sawyer, ACP; and Vicki Kasper, ACP, were reelected as Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, respectively. Jeanne Elliott, ACP, and Bridget Stuhr, ACP, were reelected as At Large Directors. The new Affiliated Associations Director is Melissa Klimpel, ACP, and Nita Serrano, ACP, is the new Affiliated Associations Secretary. Jennifer Salisbury, CP, was appointed as Continuing Education Council (CEC) Chair, and Jennifer Devine, ACP, was appointed as the Certifying Board Chair. We are excited to see NALA continue to thrive under their leadership!

NALA members save $70 on the 2025 Conference Recording Bundle, which contains 42 CLE hours. Preorder the bundle today, which will be available by October.

On August 6, 2024, National Paralegal Day was officially recognized in the Congressional Record. This year, we are celebrating the occasion with a party at Guthrie Green in Tulsa, OK, on August 6th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT. For event details and sponsorship opportunities, click here. We encourage you to visit our National Paralegal Day web page to learn more about how this day came to be and how you can get involved.

The 2025 President’s Award winner is Melissa J. Hamilton, ACP! We honor Melissa’s inspiring leadership and impactful efforts during her time as NALA President from 2020 to 2022.

The winner of the 2025 Founders’ Award is the Alabama Association of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPi)! We acknowledge AAPi’s outstanding commitment to advancing the profession through education, advocacy, and leadership.

The 2025 Student of the Year is Carrie Warr! We recognize Carrie’s incredible accomplishments and contributions to the paralegal profession, including her role in establishing the Commonwealth of Virginia Paralegal Association, a new NALA Affiliated Association.

The two winners of the 2025 Unsung Heroes Hall of Fame Award are Candy Reilly and Karin Scheehle, ACP. We applaud their leadership, dedication, and extraordinary contributions to NALA and its members.

The winner of the 2025 NALA Affiliated Association of the Year Award is the Nebraska Paralegal Association in acknowledgement of their efforts to further the paralegal profession.

The 2025 NALA Affiliated Associations Pinnacle Award goes to the Los Angeles Paralegal Association (LAPA) Newsletter Committee in recognition of their achievements and contributions to NALA and the paralegal profession.

To support our members who were unable to join the conference in person, NALA is offering early access to seven curated on-demand webinar bundles with different themes, featuring sessions from the 2025 NALA Conference & Expo. NALA members save $50. Preorder by July 31, 2025, for a discounted rate. The bundles will be available by October.

1. AI Bundle – 4.5 CLE – Members pay $100 through 7/31, then $150. 
   This bundle offers a comprehensive exploration of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on law.
2. Privacy and Compliance Bundle – 7 CLE – Members pay $125 through 7/31, then $175. 
   This bundle offers a comprehensive overview of legal and ethical issues surrounding AI adoption, global compliance regulations, and privacy laws in the US.   
3. Contracts and Consumer Protection Bundle – 5 CLE – Members pay $100 through 7/31, then $150. 
   This bundle provides a thorough examination of class action litigation, including federal statutes and case structure, with a focus on data breaches.
4. Criminal Law Bundle – 4.5 CLE – Members pay $100 through 7/31, then $150. 
   This bundle provides a foundation in criminal law, from statutes and courtroom procedures to the impact of evolving legislation on criminal defense.
5. Legal Ethics Bundle – 4.5 CLE – Members pay $100 through 7/31, then $150. 
   This bundle is designed to help you sharpen your understanding of legal ethics. Explore the ethical challenges of using AI in legal work, review key concepts for the Certified Paralegal Exam, and discover how settlement planning impacts client recovery in personal injury cases.
6. International Law Bundle – 5.5 CLE – Members pay $100 through 7/31, then $150. 
   Explore the essentials of international law and compliance with this comprehensive bundle.
7. Professional Development Bundle – 5.5 CLE – Members pay $100 through 7/31, then $150. 
   Gain actionable insights to boost efficiency and enhance outcomes with this comprehensive bundle. 

🎉Our 70s Costume Contest was far out, and we loved seeing your groovy getups! Congratulations to the winners: 

🪩 Most Groovy: Lucinda Calhoun
🎯 Most Realistic: Debbie Overstreet, ACP
🎨 Most Creative: Laurie Robinson

You each won a totally rad prize and eternal disco glory! 🏅Thanks to everyone who participated and helped keep the vibes funky.