JANUARY 2022
A Publication of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and South Carolina Lawyers Weekly
NEW NORTH CAROLINA NALS CHAPTER OFFERS EDUCATION FOR LEGAL SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS By Teri Saylor With a new NALS Chapter in North Carolina, paralegals and other support staff at law firms now have another professional organization available for networking and earning continuing education credits. The North Carolina Chapter of the National Association of Legal Support Professionals opened its virtual doors Nov. 13, 2021, and is already building its membership and programs, according to Alma Friedrich, a certified legal professional at Martin & Jones in Raleigh and the chapter’s founder and president. “Our mission is to offer continuing education and opportunities to get a certification through NALS, but we also want to engage legal staff professionals to be a part of the legal community,” Friedrich said. “We want to have a presence here so our members can have their voice heard as to how they want to receive their education. And we also want to inspire them to be involved.” Friedrich hopes the addition of the new North Carolina NALS chapter will result in a greater level of promoting the legal profession across the state. NALS North Carolina joins 85 other state and local chapters across the country, including Legal Staff Professionals of South Carolina, said Amanda Bureau, executive director of the national organization. “Local networking is one of the cornerstones of having these chapters because they like to get together for networking or education that is specific to their state and community,” Bureau said. And while the COVID-19 pandemic put a dent in the association’s meetings and events, programming is starting to rebound as the economy and society slowly open and people go back to work after being furloughed or laid off. NCNALS has begun conducted organizational meetings on Zoom, Friedrich said, and they hope to begin gathering in person this spring. One of the hallmarks of NALS is its wide range of membership categories. The organization serves not only paralegals, but all types of support staff personnel, including legal assistants, office administrators, receptionists and more. NALS, which was founded in 1929 and headquartered in Indianapolis, helps its members stay up to date on the tools, skills and resources they need to adapt to the ever-changing legal sector and grow professionally, Bureau said. “Becoming a member helps you stay informed, stay connected to fellow legal professionals, and improve your skill set,” she said. “We also advocate on behalf of our members for issues that matter to them.” In South Carolina, the state NALS chapter – Legal
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Staff Professionals of South Carolina — formed in 1965 and celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2015. In addition to the state chapter, there are six local chapters in Greenville, Hilton Head, Charleston, Orangeburg, Spartanburg and Columbia. The statewide organization will hold its annual conference in person April 22-24 in Greenville. Individual NALS dues are $130. Chapters have varying dues levels, and in South Carolina, state chapter dues are an additional $25, and local chapter dues range from $8 to $20. In North Carolina, NALS members automatically join the state chapter, and for now state membership is free. “We are trying to get established and start growing, and we want to make it easy for members to join NALS NC,” Friedrich said. “In the future, that might change, but for now NALS members in North Carolina are also complimentary members of our chapter.” In addition to education and networking, NALS members have access to the association’s career center and resume reviews. They can also receive discounts on goods and services through the organization’s affinity partners. “In North Carolina, we want to go a step further and be an accessible resource to anyone who wants to discuss their career objectives or needs help,” Friedrich said. Friedrich started her career at 18 when she went to work at a Los Angeles law practice and has spent her entire 30-year career working for a variety of law firms. “I really love it, and I have learned a lot,” she said. “I’ve worked in many areas of the law with many different personality types, practice groups and firm sizes, ranging from sole practitioners to international law firms.” She wants to help other legal professionals create career paths they will love as much as she has loved her own. One of the pathways to career enhancement is through certification, and NALS offers a steppingstone approach, starting with the Accredited Legal Professional certification for students and entry-level professionals, seeking an entry into a career in law. The CLP is designed for individuals with a minimum of three years of legal work experience who are working to establish their credentials nationwide as a Certified Legal Professional. The top NALS certification is the Professional Paralegal, established in 2004 for students graduating from an American Bar Associationapproved legal studies or paralegal studies program or individuals with a minimum of five years of paralegal or legal assistant experience. The certifications are available based on exam scores.
Q&A
Alma Friedrich is the North Carolina Chapter president of the National Association of Legal Support Professionals.
More information on NALS in SC, NC To learn more about NALS or the NALS chapters in North Carolina and South Carolina go online: National Association of Legal Support Professionals: www.nals.org North Carolina NALS: bit.ly/NALSNC Legal Staff Professionals of South Carolina: www.lspsc.org NALS 2022 National Conference: September 15-17, 2022, Sonesta Charlotte Executive Park, Charlotte, N.C.
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