AS SJALA's membership continues to grow and change, it has become increasingly clear to me that we need to educate and re-educate ourselves on the history and function of the National Association of Legal Assistants, otherwise known as NALA.

The National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc., was founded in 1975; the affiliated association program was established in 1978.

NALA offers individual membership to legal assistants and affiliated association status to legal assistant organizations. Its Board of Directors consisting of 5 elected national officers; 9 directors elected by members within geographic regions and 1 director elected by the NALA affiliated associations governs the association. Affiliated associations are represented on the Board through the regional director for their state, through the national officers, and through the affiliates director elected by the associations.

Active members of NALA and NALA affiliated associations may submit resolutions for consideration during the association's annual membership meeting in July of each year.

NALA represents over 18,000 legal assistants through its individual members and 87 state and local affiliated associations.

FACTS & FINDINGS, the profession's quarterly magazine; NALA membership newsletter featuring case law and legislative updates; LEGAL ASSISTANT JOURNAL, featuring special news items relating to the profession; the NALA Career Chronicle, an annual publication summarizing signification developments within the profession.

NALA advocates professional standards and guidelines for ethical conduct for adoption by bar associates or supreme courts and legal assistant organizations.

In addition, NALA advocates professional certification of legal assistants on a voluntary basis, and sponsors the CLA Examination and Specialty Certification Programs. NALA believes legal assistants work under the supervision of attorneys and the public is protected by the attorney's license.

NALA believes development and administration of a professional certification program is the responsibility of a national association and its members to achieve professional standards, and recognition.

NALA offers many educational materials and hosts several web sites to keep its legal assistants on the cutting edge. If you would like further information, you can e-mail me at ddodd@sfjlaw.com