Accurate Serve®
Member Newsletter
October 2023

NALA is the Nation's Leading Professional Association for Paralegals

Equipping paralegals for the challenges of the future through certification, professional development, and advocacy.

-NALA Mission Statement
Ensuring paralegals are known and valued as an integral part of the legal ecosystem.

-NALA Vision Statement
Association News

If you are having trouble viewing this message, please click Web Version in the top right corner of the email.
If this email was forwarded to you, click here to subscribe. 

It is time for the October highlights from NALA President, Debbie Overstreet, ACP. She is here to tell you all about what is going on at NALA this month, and she is coming to you from the site of the 2024 NALA Conference & Expo: the Louisville Marriott Downtown. Click below to watch.

 

NALA Volunteer Spotlight – Vicki L. Kasper, ACP

In this month’s Volunteer Spotlight, we would like to introduce you to Vicki L. Kasper, ACP.

Here are two truths and a lie about Vicki:

  1. She first served NALA on the Continuing Education Council (CEC).
  2. She collects decorative plates.
  3. Her favorite book genre is suspense/thriller.

Can you guess the lie? To find out, click here to read the October Volunteer Spotlight!

 
   

Hurry! Your chance to be entered into the 2023 grand prize drawing for a $500 Amazon gift card ends soon. Complete the NALA Census to have a chance at winning $100 or even $500. Log in and participate now!  Congratulations to Ellen Koven, CP, the winner of September's Census giveaway! Tune in to November's newsletter to see October's winner.

If you have already completed the census, keep an eye on your email for an invitation from Credly to accept your exclusive census badge!

 

Enhance Your Career With a Vanderbilt MLS
Vanderbilt®
Set yourself apart with an Online Master of Legal Studies program from a Top 20 law school. The MLS program from Vanderbilt Law School will help those who are not seeking to become lawyers acquire a thorough understanding of the legal system. Take courses from the same world-class faculty of scholars and educators who teach at Vanderbilt, and complete your degree in less than two years.
Learn more
Advertisement
 
Boston University Metropolitan College
AWS Health
Membership

Renew or Upgrade: NALA Membership Opportunities Await! 

It may be time to renew your NALA membership. If you are still a paralegal student, you can renew for an entire year for just $50! If you are almost finished with school, you need to consider upgrading your student membership to an Active type membership. You get the same great benefits plus an $80 education voucher to use on continuing education or conference registration! You also receive voting privileges and can serve on a committee or board. Upgrade or renew here!

Great news awaits our NALA student members! We are thrilled to offer you FREE access to not just one or two but FOUR on-demand webinars. These sessions are designed to kickstart your paralegal journey with valuable insights. Dive in and enhance your skills by clicking on the links below. Let the learning adventure begin! 

2023 Technology Rollouts - 1 CLE

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - 1 CLE

Stay Healthy as a Leader - Learn Your Stressors - 1 CLE

The Ethics of AI - 1.5 CLE

October 10th was World Mental Health Day. If you are a NALA member, we would you for you to answer this question in NALA Commons:

What do you do to prioritize your mental health?

Education
 
   

For October, NALA shines a spotlight on National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and marks the 50th anniversary of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. 

Why should you care as a paralegal? This month's DEI theme, 'Advancing Access and Equity,' directly impacts the legal ecosystem. NALA is here to guide you in understanding and championing the cause for workers with disabilities. Dive into this month's DEI article to explore how you, as a paralegal, can play a vital role in advancing access and equity. Join us in fostering a more inclusive and just legal ecosystem.  

Read this month’s DEI article here.

October 10th was World Mental Health Day. The theme was that mental health is a universal human right. To help you prioritize your mental health and well-being, we are bringing back a DEI article from earlier this year called Breaking the Stigma: Prioritizing Well-Being in the Legal Industry. It contains valuable resources to help you focus on the five aspects of your well-being, including your emotional well-being, or mental health. You can read it here.

September's FREE live webinar was a sold-out show! If you missed it, do not worry! It is now available on-demand! How to Make the Most of Your Paralegal Career covers how to advance your paralegal career with certifications, educational opportunities, networking, and mentoring. It is FREE for NALA members, and non-members pay only $23 (over 60% off)! Register now to gain valuable insight into making the most of your paralegal career.

 

Click on the title of any webinar you would like to register for to go straight to the registration page.

New legal ethics alert! Join us for Ethics of Online Notarization, as Genna Rubolino assists us in troubleshooting the legal questions that arise during the facilitation of an online notarization, on October 19th at 12:00 PM CT. 

You asked. NALA’s providing. Join us for a webinar on International Arbitration 101, featuring bilingual paralegal, Kelby Ballena. This course debuts on October 24th at 12:00 PM CT. 

Spots are filling up fast for Lawsuits of the Fairytale Kingdom: Civil Litigation From the Complaint Through the Verdict, presented by Camille Chirillo on October 25th at 12:00 PM CT.  

Do you work in environmental law? If so, Vapor Intrusion Investigation Challenges and Solutions is designed to help you understand the basic concepts of vapor intrusion. Tune in on November 1st at 12:00 PM CT.  

It is important to understand how trauma affects our work. Join us on November 2nd at 12:00 PM CT to learn about Becoming Trauma Informed in the Legal Profession.

Firm leaders, this one is for you. Learn about The Importance of DEI Training With Your Firm Admin on November 8th at 12:00 PM CT.

Everybody has one. In Difficult Clients: De-Escalation Techniques, discover how to navigate and de-escalate tough client interactions to create a more productive client relationship. Join us on November 9th at 12:00 PM CT.

Paralegals, we have a resource to help you better understand your responsibilities and how to uphold ethical standards. Tune in on November 15th at 12:00 PM CT for the Ethics of Today’s Paralegal.

To view all upcoming live webinars, click here

 
   

The wait is over! The 2023 Conference Recording Bundle is now available! It includes all CLE sessions for a total of 38.75 CLE hours.

2023 In-Person Conference Attendees: You get FREE access to the bundle.

Virtual and Single Day Attendees: You can purchase the bundle at a HUGE DISCOUNT.

Missed the conference? No worries! You can still catch every CLE session and snag up to 38.75 CLE hours. Say no to buying sessions one by one, and go for the conference bundle to pocket over 50% in savings! We have got you covered even if you missed the live action. Dive into the bundle and save big on legal enlightenment!

Purchase the bundle today here. On-demand access to the recordings is available for one year after purchase. If you attended a session live, you are not eligible to earn additional CLE hours for it.

Upcoming Events
 
   

The 2024 NALA Conference & Expo is coming up from July 11-13, 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. Registration is coming soon, and it is never too early to start planning and saving. To stay up to date on the 2024 conference, keep an eye on our website. To find things to do in Louisville, go to the visitor's site and plan your downtime. No matter who you travel with, there is something for everyone in Louisville.

AffiniPay
Skribe.ai
Certification News
 
   

For a year now, we have been highlighting the upcoming changes to the 2024 CP® Exam specifications. The essential question remains: Are you ready? In January, new specifications will be in place. If you do not take the test in 2023, you can be among the first to take the updated CP® Knowledge Exam. For the January 2024 testing window only, you do not have to pay a testing center fee. If you have already paid it, we will refund it once we receive your testing data. Scores will not be available until March 2024 to allow for data analysis, scoring, and standard setting. The Knowledge Exam should reopen on April 1, 2024. To decide the best time for you to take the exam, check out the 2024 CP® Exam specifications here.

 
   

Join us on a transformative journey toward becoming a NALA Certified Paralegal. With expert guidance from Leanne the Lawyer and the right tools at your disposal, your path to success is clear. Register for the CP® Skills Exam Prep course today, and step confidently into your legal future! 

DISCLAIMER: The NALA CP® Exam creators do not develop or deliver any CP® Exam study materials. Producers of study materials do not have access to actual CP® Exam content. Use of any suggested study materials does not guarantee success on the CP® Exam.

 

We have important information for you on the cost of recertification. Starting on January 1, 2024, your recertification fee will vary, depending on whether you are a NALA member. For more information, click here.

 
   

Celebrating Success: Cheers to Our 62 New Certified Paralegals (CPs)

A thunderous applause to the outstanding 62 individuals who have triumphed in earning their Certified Paralegal (CP®) status from NALA in July 2023! Your unwavering dedication and months of hard work have paid off, propelling you into an esteemed group of professionals within the paralegal community. 

By achieving this prestigious certification, you have displayed your commitment to upholding the highest standards of professional excellence and ethical conduct. As a CP®, you now possess a wealth of knowledge and experience that can fuel positive change in the legal ecosystem, propelling you to new heights in your career. 

This is your moment to shine and lead in the paralegal profession, setting the stage for others to follow. We are bursting with pride for your achievements and eagerly anticipate the incredible impact you will make in your paralegal career. Here is to your success and the remarkable journey that lies ahead!  

Store
 
   

For just $20,1 you get style, comfort, and a splash of legal sass. Crafted with love, this shirt screams confidence with its sleek design and comfortable fabric. It is perfect for those epic office days or casual coffee runs. Be the office trendsetter or turn the sidewalk into your runway. Snag yours now and let the world know that paralegals always look this good!

 

1plus shipping

Affinity Discounts

As a NALA member, you receive exclusive local and national discounts on hundreds of products and services.

To access these deals, go to the Affinity Discounts page on our website and log in.

Your NALA Office Depot® Member Benefits Program, previously Office Depot Business Solutions Division, has been rebranded to ODP Business Solutions™. Now a B2B-focused company serving small, medium, and enterprise level companies like yours. You will receive savings of up to 75% on the Best Value List of preferred products with free next-business-day delivery or in-store and curbside pickup. To continue to receive your member discounts, you will need to re-enroll or register for an account through our dedicated ODP site.