OFFICER'S REPORTS, cont.
Well everyone, here we are! Two weeks away from Thanksgiving and less than two months away from Christmas! I don’t know about you, but time seems to be getting away from me at an alarming rate these days!
With the change of seasons, comes the “sleepy” time of year. The days are short, the nights are long and it is easy to curl up in a blanket with a good book until it is time to go to bed. Many of us suffer from a distinct lack of ambition during this time of year not only due to the lessened amount of sunlight but also because we can’t get outside and enjoy the more vigorous activities done during the warmer months.
Rather than giving in to Mother Nature’s enticement to settle into a period of languid existence, I would encourage each of you to take this time of the year to focus your attention more on your own goals, especially those concerning your professional career! This is the perfect time of year to investigate taking the CP exam, look into obtaining an ACP in one of the numerous areas offered by NALA, or check out the NALA self-study programs (offered on a 24/7 basis) or take in a NALA Campus LIVE webinar. Information on all of these can be found on NALA’s website at www.nala.org.
At the end of this article, you will find the deadline dates for applications to take the CP exam. Becoming a CP not only gives you the satisfaction of knowing that you have accomplished a significant goal but shows your employer that you are one of “those people” that goes the extra mile and takes more than just a passing interest in your job, career, and education.
If you are already a CP, consider Advance Certification! NALA offers advance certification in 20 different areas. The additional, self-paced learning you encounter through pursuit of your advance certification can be invaluable to your career! As an added incentive, WDALA offers a scholarship each year that can be used to pay for your ACP testing.
As mentioned earlier, NALA Campus Live offers web based, real-time seminars that are specific to paralegals in 20 major categories with numerous subcatetories. These seminars are usually 1-2 hours in length and many are taught in multiple sessions. The list of upcoming LIVE seminars can be found on NALA’s homepage. Numerous NALA Campus LIVE seminars are also available for sale/download in case you missed one that you wanted to see. These can also be found on NALA’s website.
NALA also offers Self-Study Programs that are web-based and available 24/7. These programs include practice tests and registrants complete each course at their own pace. As with the CP and ACP exams and the NALA Campus LIVE seminars, the NALA Campus Self-Study Programs offer CLE credit for completion of each course.
NALA has so many things to offer its members and affiliate associations. It is all out there for our use and I would encourage each of you to take some time to browse the NALA website.
As your new NALA Liaison, I will try to keep you all updated on the current happenings at NALA as well as any changes and upcoming events. If any of you have questions, please feel free to contact me!
Don’t let the cold drag you down! Take up the NALA habit!
Alice M. Johnson, CP
WDALA NALA Liaison