In a recent edition of The Paralegal Voice, Vicki Voisin, ACP, hosted NALA President Ann L. Atkinson, ACP, and Professional Development Committee member Elizabeth H. Nellis, ACP, in an enlightening discussion on the importance of soft skills needed for a successful career as a paralegal, and specific programs where paralegals can learn them.

Soft skills are complicated to master. Examples of soft skills are critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and flexibility. A valedictorian may lack a necessary soft skill for a particular assignment, and this could be the deciding factor in favor of hiring someone else.

Click here to learn more and listen to this podcast.

The Advanced Paralegal Certification Board has announced the completion of the third course in the Family Law series - Dissolution Case Management.

This course concentrates on practice and procedure in the area of marriage dissolution case management. Modules in the course begin with the legal framework that provides the substantive and procedural structure for marriage and dissolution; legal requirements, obligations, and benefits of a valid marriage; the process of marriage dissolution; issues to be resolved in dissolution cases; information intake, client interviews, and case assessment; preparation and initiation of a dissolution case; discovery in a dissolution case; and resolution of the case, including entry, enforcement, and modification of court orders.

The course is in final production stages and will be available in early 2014.

Access all of the 22 programs now available plus general review courses, and Certified Paralegal exam review programs, through your mobile device!

 

Paralegal CLE by NALA is now available in  the Apple Store and Google Play for your mobile devices! Through this app, you may register or access previously purchased NALA Campus Self-Study programs and Advanced Paralegal Certification courses.

Today, there are 32 self-study programs offered by NALA through these web-based educational programs. These include:

*    7 Certified Paralegal examination prep courses
*    3 general education courses
*    22 Advanced Paralegal Certification courses

CLE Credit is available for completion of web-based programs, on the basis of 10 hours for the general review and CP Exam prep courses, 20 hours for completion of multiple module APC courses, and 10 hours for the one-module APC PI Specialty courses. Check the courses for more info.

NALA Campus Self-Study courses and the Advanced Paralegal Certification courses are on the internet at www.nala.org>Continuing Legal Education>Online Education. Click below for access to the apps for your mobile devices:

 

 Active members take note! 
Annual Membership Meeting  Information - 2014

The January issue of FACTS & FINDINGS will include information you will need regarding candidacy, voting during the 2014 annual meeting, and the official notice of the annual meeting of members.  

Click here to open voting information and notices.



Details are also on the NALA web site, at Members Area/2014 Annual Meeting News.  Information on this page includes:

• Declaration of candidacy forms, and additional information, for those interested in running for national officer or director of regions
   
• Information about voting and filing your designation of proxy if you are a voting member and unable to attend the annual meeting.
• Deadlines for filing membership resolutions, and proposed amendments to the NALA bylaws.

Voting members present at the 2014 Annual meeting, in person or by proxy, will be electing the following officers and directors:

• First Vice President (one-year term)
• Second Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
  
  Directors (two-year term)
   
• Region 1: New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts,   New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Brazil, England, Ontario
• Region 5: Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio
• Region 6: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri
• Region7: Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming
• Region 9: California, Nevada, Hawaii, Bahrain, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand

Declaration of candidacy forms and information are found on the NALA web site. Click here  to download this information. Completed forms are due by March 15, 2014.

If you are a voting member of NALA and cannot attend this meeting:
    
The Designation of Proxy form is also on the NALA web site, and may be completed electronically. The link is found on the 2014 Annual Meeting Information page or click here.