NALS News and Updates for December 2018
Please note: NALS Resource Center will be closed for the following dates for the holiday season: December 24-25, 2018, and January 1, 2019. 
Articles

On April 19, 2017, the South Carolina Supreme Court signed an order recognizing the NALS Professional Paralegal (PP) certification as one of three national certifications that paralegals must have earned through passage of a national examination in order to obtain the designation of South Carolina Certified Paralegal (SCCP). 


Whether you're an up-and-coming young professional or a seasoned manager, email is a vital aspect of business communication. And thanks to what's often seen as the mysteries of English grammar and the subtleties of the written word, it can be a daily struggle. That's especially true if you have to motivate busy people to respond or address a potentially touchy subject. To write a great email, you need to know two things: common mistakes to avoid, and next-level strategies to get ahead.

 
Work and Home Balance

You know that "If it is not scheduled, it may not get done." To separate work and home life, you could use 2 planners (paper for home and computer or phone at work.) Or use just a notebook to keep a running list of home to-dos. This way, when you think of something home-related at work while in the middle of a project, write it in the notebook and keep working. You can deal with the home stuff when you get there. This will keep your mind focused at work.
NALS Foundation News

Join the NALS Foundation in this first annual event! Law and Odor 5k/10k is a great and FUN way for you and your legal friends to get together. You, or your team, can run (or walk!) anytime and anywhere, even on a treadmill or on your breaks. All participants will be earning an awesome medal (pictured in the image above) while raising money to support the enhancement of the legal support profession.


Registration Closes January 31, 2019.
Submit Your Run Totals by February 15, 2019!

NALS Foundation is selling Custom Rustic Cuffs for the Fall/Winter Season.   The price is $40 per cuff. Support the NALS Foundation and purchase yours while supplies last. These would make a great gift for your chapter's leadership.

State/Local Chapter News
New Chapter Group Administrator Application Requirements
 
Each year, the NALS Membership Services Department asks each chapter to submit their respective state or local rosters for group administrative permissions for your chapter board leadership. Each group administrator can manage their group and members of the group for chapter marketing purposes.

As of October 4, 2018, the plan is now in place. From here and into the future, the Chapter Officer Roster Form will no longer be the correct way to submit your chapter leaders to gain the proper administrative permissions.  
 
All Chapters! Changes to Rebate Distribution and Action Required
 
NALS is in the process of moving toward a more efficient way of issuing rebates. We will be issuing future rebates via ACH transfer (electronic bank transfer) versus a mailed check. An email to your treasurer will be sent with the member detail on each ACH transfer so you can properly maintain your records. 

This move is especially handy for your chapters as treasurer changes and changes of addresses will cut down on the time it takes for you to receive your rebates, provided your chapter's bank account doesn't change. 

Please fill out the form in the link below and submit it back to us at PO Box 470348, Tulsa, OK 74147 or submit virtually via membership@nals.org. We thank you for your compliance!
 
NALS News and Updates
NALS Announces The 2018 NALS Award of Excellence Recipient

Congratulations to the 2018 NALS Award of Excellence recipient, Kerie S. Trindle Byrne, PP, PLS-SC, CP from NALS of Phoenix!

Kerie has worked in the legal profession for 22-1/2 years and is currently employed as a family law paralegal with May, Potenza, Baran & Gillespie, P.C. 

NALS Releases the Virtual Legal Training Course (VLTC)
This is the moment many of our members, future members, and educators have been waiting for. A compiling of education materials for the legal support professional that rivals all. This easy-to-use course is only the cost of your membership dues, which vary based on state and local affiliations.  
Lisa Cadungug, PP, PLS, from Oregon is named NALS Outstanding Member

Lisa Cadungug, PP, PLS, from Oregon was officially recognized as the NALS Outstanding Member at the December Online Membership meeting for dedicated and exemplary contributions to NALS....the association of legal professionals.
NALS Professional Paralegal (PP) Exam Now Online!

After over two years of hard work, dedication, and development between NALS Certification and Education Manager, Maria Easterly, and the NALS National Certifying Board, the Professional Paralegal (PP) Exam is now online!  

NALS Leadership Identification Committee Application Deadline Extended

Let your voice be heard and become a part of the future of NALS! Join the Leadership Identification Committee by January 1, 2019. 

The Leadership Identification Committee (LIC) is responsible for selecting the best and brightest from within the legal industry to serve as candidates for each vacant position on the NALS Board of Directors. 

NALS Board Introduces a Leadership Vision Board Activity To National Conference

The NALS Board of Directors introduced a new session for the NALS 67th Annual Education + Networking Conference in Phoenix, AZ - Invitation to National Leadership - which was held on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.

This session was not an invitation-only session and was open to anyone who would like information about our committees, serving on the national level, or brainstorming ideas. Guests did not need to be part of a national committee to attend this session.

NALS Resource Center has compiled the vision boards for all the current NALS committees, task forces, and boards. 

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The NALS Resource Center is here for you!

If you have any questions or comments regarding the programs and content in this email, please email us at DirComm@NALS.org and we will be glad to help.
Earn CLE by Volunteering. . .
This is YOUR Association. 

We have opportunities that fit what you are interested in!

Do you have the ability to find leadership qualities in others? 
Consider the Leadership Identification Committee (LIC). This committee currently has two openings.

Are you a legal support professional with years of experience to qualify other legal support professionals through certification exams?
Consider the Certifying Board. This committee has five openings.

Are you a legal support professional with years of experience to qualify other legal support professionals through mentorship and teaching online?
Consider SAGEs (Someone who Assists, Guides, and Educates). This committee has several openings. You can do this for short-term or long-term.

Are you interested in finding vital partnerships with legal vendors and suppliers across the U.S.?
Consider the Sponsorship Committee. This committee has three openings.

Are you interested in grammar, legal writing, legal education, and publications?
Consider the Editorial + Marketing Board. This committee has several openings.

Chapter Leaders and Online Examinees!
Webinar Playback: Let's Talk About Online Exams
 
NALS Certification + Education Manager hosted  an in-depth look at the online exam process, from application to viewing test results. After viewing the webinar playback, you will know the following objectives: 
  • The professional relevancy of online exams
  • NALS' impact on the legal support profession by implementing online exams
  • How the new online exam application process works
  • What to expect after an examinee takes an online exam
  • How to schedule a one-on-one talk with Certification + Education Manager about online exams
NALS Online Exam Provider Produces a How-To Video for Examinees

PSI Services LLC, our online assessment provider, has developed a five-minute step-by-step tutorial on the online exam process for taking any of the NALS Certification Exams. 

The video covers logging in and setting up the exam and proctoring service. 
Thank you NALS Foundation Donors and Supporters!
NALS Foundation Recognizes 2017 Circle and 2018 Full Circle 30/360 Donors

The NALS Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational foundation working hand-in-hand with NALS...the association for legal professionals to enhance educational opportunities. Since its inception, the NALS Foundation has awarded grants and contributions of over $200,000 for the benefit of chapters and states.

A special thanks to each of our individual and organizational donors!

December 2018 CLE Quiz Challenge
This month's featured topic: Real Estate Law Definitions

Ready, Set, Learn, and Earn! 
 
Each month the NALS Certification and Education Department releases an online  quiz that will test your knowledge of the featured topic of the month.  Members who score an 85% or better will receive 1 FREE CLE automatically upon completion.
 
You may use outside sources for the answers, if necessary. You must be an active member with NALS to receive this free CLE!

Log in today and access the quiz below.

Continuing Legal Education Opportunities
Resource Center Staff 
Tammy Hailey, CAE -  NALS Executive Director -  NALS Foundation Director 
Maria Easterly  - Certification & Education Manager 
Lydia Goodner -  Meetings & Communications Manager
Morgan Ballou - Membership Services Coordinator 

Advertise with us.  Contact Us to Request a Media Kit.

Thank you to the NALS Editorial + Marketing Board for the contributions made in the organization and creation of this publication. Help the NALS Board of Directors and Resource Center Staff in saying "Thank You!" by sharing this email.
 
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The views expressed in articles published by  the NALS docket are those of the authors alone. They do not represent the views or opinions of NALS, Inc.