The Verdict February 2013 Volume 2, Issue 2 Page 1 THE ... Verdict Page 2 NALS Code of Ethics and...

The Verdict

Message from the President

Hello to all. We all have our own idea of ourselves. We are not what we think or write or say, but we are what we do. Doing is more important than saying, knowing or be-lieving. As our actions speak louder than words, we are judged by what we do, not by what we think or say or be-lieve. Acting with mutual respect of others generally achieves more effective results than not being profession-al. The following are some good choices to make: 1. Do more than is expected of you; 2. Do the best in all you do. Good enough is simply not

good enough; 3. Do what you would want others to do to you; 4. Make a difference, not just a living; 5. Become part of the solution, not part of the problem; and 6. Be yourself, not what you think others want you to be. I know a few members have signed up for the Professional Development Conference in Tulsa, taking place February 28—March 2, 2013. We should hear form those attending from our chapter and the State of Tennessee after the conference is over. The TALS state meeting is taking place in Chattanooga on February 9, 2013. I look forward to seeing the members from across the state and speakers who donate their time to participate and share their topics with us on a Saturday morning. We all have a great time when getting together with members all over the state and make many friends. I pray that 2013 is starting off as a great year for all of you. Stay warm dur-ing these cold days and enjoy the sunny one that we can look forward to in the spring. ROARR for NALS, Linda Hulsey

Inside this issue:

Code of Ethics 2

Lunch & Learn 5

LPNO 8

Thank you 9

Court News 21

ROARR with NALS

THE VERDICT February 2013 Volume 2, Issue 2

NALS...Association of Legal Professionals, Nashville Chapter

c/o Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP

511 Union Street; Suite 2700, Nashville, Tennessee 37219

http://www.nalsnashville.com • [email protected]

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NALS Code of Ethics and Mission Statement

2012—2013 Committee Chairpersons

Audit TBD Award of Excellence Tiffany Burford Taylor [email protected] Bosses’ Luncheon Vickie Hellmer, PLS [email protected] Court Observance Donice Alford, PP, PLS [email protected] Employment Tammy Morris [email protected] History Book Betsy DeShano [email protected]

Journalist Tiffany Burford Taylor [email protected] Nominating Committee Tara Wilson [email protected] Past Presidents Donice Alford, PP, PLS [email protected] Reservations Brenda Wolfgang [email protected]

Scholarship Amelia Workman, PLS [email protected]

Technology Tiffany Burford Taylor [email protected]

Donice Alford, PP, PLS [email protected]

We’re on the Web!

nalsnashville.com

Members of NALS, Associ-ation of Legal Professionals are bound by the objectives of this Association and the standards of conduct re-quired in the legal profes-sion.

Every member shall:

Encourage respect for the law and the admin-istration of justice;

Observe rules governing privileged communica-tions and confidential information; Promote and exemplify high

standards of loyalty, co-operation, and courtesy;

Perform all duties of the profession with integrity and competence; and

Pursue a high order of professional attainment.

Mission Statement

We are committed to deliv-er quality legal service through continued legal ed-ucation and increased pro-fessionalism, promote and recognize a high standard for members through the

certification program, and provide networking and personal growth opportu-nities for our members.

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2012-2013 Officers

President Linda Hulsey Burr & Forman LLP 700 Two American Center 3102 West End Avenue Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: (615) 724-3224 Fax: (615) 724-3324 [email protected] President-Elect Tiffany Burford Taylor Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP 511 Union Street, Suite 2700 Nashville, TN 37219 Phone: (615) 850-8883 Fax: (615) 244-6804 [email protected] Secretary Sharon L. Wilcox Bone McAllester Norton, PLLC 511 Union Street, Suite 1600 Nashville, TN 37219 Phone: (615) 248-3726 Fax: (615) 687-5601 [email protected] Treasurer Brenda Wolfgang Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLP 511 Union Street, Suite 2700 Nashville, TN 37219 Phone: (615) 850-8768 Fax: (615) 244-6804 [email protected]

Sharon L. Wilcox Bone McAllester Norton, PLLC 511 Union Street, Suite 1600 Nashville, TN 37219 Phone: (615) 248-3726 Fax: (615) 687-5601 [email protected] Education Director The 2012—2013 Board Marketing Director Sharon L. Wilcox Bone McAllester Norton, PLLC 511 Union Street, Suite 1600 Nashville, TN 37219 Phone: (615) 248-3726 Fax: (615) 687-5601 [email protected] Interim Membership Director Linda Hulsey Burr & Forman LLP 700 Two American Center 3102 West End Avenue Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: (615) 724-3224 Fax: (615) 724-3324 [email protected] Past President Donice Alford, PP, PLS Howard Tate Sowell Wilson Leathers & Johnson 150 2nd Avenue North, Suite 201 Nashville, TN 37201 Phone: (615) 256-1125 [email protected]

Meet the Board!

Parliamentarian Delone Anderson, PLS Robinson & Robinson 2nd Floor, Court Square Building 300 James Robinson Parkway Nashville, TN 37201 Phone: (615) 259-2802 Fax: (615) 259-2804 [email protected] Governor Donice Alford, PP, PLS Howard Tate Sowell Wilson Leathers & Johnson 150 2nd Avenue North, Suite 201 Nashville, TN 37201 Phone: (615) 256-1125 [email protected] Certification Directors Tiffany Burford Taylor Waller Lansden Dortch & Da-vis, LLP 511 Union Street, Suite 2700 Nashville, TN 37219 Phone: (615) 850-8883 Fax: (615) 244-6804 [email protected]

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Sunshine Committee

The NALS Sunshine Committee is responsible for sending cards, flow-ers, etc., to any member in a time of need or celebration. If you know of a member within the Nashville Chapter that is ill, gave birth, or has ex-perienced a loss, please contact any board member, so that the chapter can send a card.

Please remember to ask your office administrator to contact Tammy Morris ([email protected]) at Gullet, Sanford, Robinson & Martin if there is an employment opening at your firm. When opportunities are available, Tammy will send out an email notifying the membership of possible openings.

Employment Committee

Lunch & Learn

Our monthly lunch and learn takes place on every second Wednesday of the month. This month’s topic is “5 Essentials of Health: Mindset, Nutrition, Exercise, Detox and a Clear Nervous System” with Doc-tors Jason and Jenny Kestner, being our guest speaker. Please see the flyer for more information. In addition, the fillable order form is at-tached to the transmittal email. Lunch & Learn

Board Meeting The next Board meeting will take place on Monday, February 18, 2013, at the offices of Burr & Forman, LLP. The meeting will start promptly at 5:30. Please plan to attend.

LPNO The 2013 Legal Professionals’ Night Out will take place on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at the Bourbon Street Blues & Boogie Bar located in Printers’ Alley, from 6—8 pm. Please see the enclosed flyer for more details. We hope to see you there!

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The next NALS Lunch & Learn will take place on Wednesday, February 13, 2013, from 12—

1 pm at the offices of the Tennessee Bar Association, located at 221 4th Avenue N. on the 2nd

floor. This month’s topic is “5 Essentials of Health: Mindset, Nutrition, Exercise, Detox

and a Clear Nervous System” with Doctors Jason and Jenny Kestner, being our guest speaker.

Please come out and support NALS Nashville. Again, you do not have to be a member of

NALS to attend.

If you would like to attend, please select a lunch option from the next page or use the attach-

ment, and RSVP to Brenda Wolfgang ([email protected]), by Monday, Febru-

ary 11th at noon. The orders will be placed immediately thereafter.

Lunch Provided By:

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dr. Jason and Dr. Jenny Kestner are the owners of Kestner

Family Chiropractic. They started the practice five years

ago as a Maximized Living Health Center. They have one

of the largest wellness clinics in the state of TN and were

voted #1 Chiropractor in Nashville. Their vision is to reach

Nashville with powerful information about the 5 Essentials

of Health. Mindset, Nutrition, Exercise, Detox, and a clear

nervous system are “Essential” to living a long and healthy

life. They are on a mission to see lives transformed by tak-

ing responsibility and being pro-active about their health.

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TALS—Legal Professionals of Tennessee 2012—2013

Date Purpose Location

10/18-21/2012 61st Annual Education Conference Portland, OR & National Forum

11/3/2012 TALS Fall Meeting Nashville

2/9/2013 TALS Winter Meeting Chattanooga

2/28—3/2/2013 Professional Development Tulsa, OK & Education Conference TBA TALS Seminar/Annual Meeting Memphis

10/17-20/2013 62nd Annual Education Conference Atlanta, GA & National Forum

NALS offers this service to anyone who has items to sell or trade, look-ing to buy, and/or have any other services to offer. The Bulletin Board email is sent out on a request ONLY basis. If you wish to be included in the NALS Bulletin Board periodic listings and/or have anything you would like to list, please contact Vickie Hellmer, PLS, at [email protected]

Bulletin Board

TALS State Meeting

Please be mindful that the next TALS state meeting will take place on Saturday, February 9, 2013 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We hope to see you there!

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Thank you so much for the beautiful flowers that you sent to me at the passing of my

brother, Owen Warren. I also appreciated all the cards and visits to the funeral

home. It made a difficult time easier to know that my friends in NALS were thinking

of me.

Sincerely,

Amelia Workman

Congratulations to Sharon Smith on the birth of her new granddaughter, Julia.

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The ladies from ALPHA Reporting Corporation were our guest speakers at the January lunch &

learn. We had a great time!

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Linda Holsey - February 14

Frances Earle - February 27

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Remember to let your Office Administrator or Firm (member/nonmember) know about our employment e-mail. Also keep in mind that in order to publish a position through NALS, we must receive it from the office administrator or someone of equal authority.

Employment Opportunities

Assistant/Secretary/Paralegal McKellar Hyde, PLC

We are a small civil litigation firm looking for an assistant/secretary/paralegal to replace our current assistant who is moving out of town. The job duties encompass everything from typi-cal secretarial duties of typing, mail, copying, etc. to more paralegal-type duties of drafting let-ters, discovery, handling filings, etc. Preferably, we would like someone with 1-5 years experi-ence. Our practice consists of primarily civil litigation; however, one of the attorneys also han-dles a small amount of transactional work and is beginning to focus more on real estate and ti-tle work. So, a candidate with title experience would be a plus. We have a business casual environment and typical work hours for the candidate will be 9:00 am-4:30 pm. However, like any litigation setting, when we are in trial or fighting a filing deadline, the hours will be much longer. We are looking to pay $12-$15/hour. Lauren Houser McKellar|Hyde, PLC 411 Broadway, Suite 302 Nashville, TN 37203

Administrative Assistant Nathan & Nathan, P.C. Immediate opening for litigation law firm in Franklin. Must be self motivated, detail minded and be proficient in MS Office. Email resume and salary requirements to [email protected].

Paralegal Taylor, Pigue, Marchetti & Blair, PLLC

Experienced paralegal for small, well established general practice firm near Centennial Park. Practice areas include insurance defense, products liability, commercial litigation, credi-tor’s rights, bankruptcy and condemnations. Requires a self-starter, able to prioritize, multi-task, and meet deadlines. Must be familiar with state and federal court filing proce-dures. Skills should include drafting of complaints, motions, orders, discovery and general correspondence. Daily use of Word, Excel Acrobat, and frequent use of WestLaw. Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include free parking and health insurance. E-mail re-sume to [email protected].

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Legal Assistant Howard, Tate, Sowell, Wilson, Leathers & Johnson, PLLS

Small downtown defense-oriented law firm has immediate opening for a full-time Legal Assis-

tant with knowledge of general liability defense and workers’ compensation; knowledgeable

with Timeslips a plus; salary commensurate with experience and a full benefit package as well;

equal opportunity employer – no phone calls please; send Resumes to dal-

[email protected]

Receptionist Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin, PLLC

Gullett Sanford Robinson & Martin, PLLC has an opening for a full-time receptionist from

8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday. Avaya IP Office phone system experience a plus. In ad-

dition to front-desk reception duties and handling all incoming calls, other responsibilities in-

clude maintaining all conference rooms and client beverage area along with other miscellane-

ous general office duties. Please e-mail resumes to Judi Martin at the following email ad-

dress: [email protected]. No phone calls please.

Trial Attorney III Nationwide Insurance - Trial Division

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Paralegal Nationwide Insurance - Trial Division

To apply, please visit https://careers.nationwide.com/hcm/Nationwide-jobs-apply.html, or fax

your resume to Gary’s attention at (615) 391-1668.

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To apply, please visit https://careers.nationwide.com/hcm/Nationwide-jobs-apply.html, or fax

your resume to Gary’s attention at (615) 391-1668.

Legal Secretary Rubenfeld Law Office Immediate opening at family practice law office. Email resume and salary requirements to [email protected].

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Member Contact Information

In an effort to have up-to-date contact membership contact information, please complete the

following information and either email, mail, or fax to President Linda Hulsey:

Full Name:___________________________________________________________________

Firm/Company Name:__________________________________________________________

Address:_____________________________________________________________________

Preferable Contact Number:_____________________________________________________

Fax Number:_________________________________________________________________

Area of Practice:______________________________________________________________

Birth Date (Month/Day):________________________________________________________

Year joined NALS:____________________________________________________________

Preferred Email Address:________________________________________________________

Send this form to:

Linda Hulsey Burr & Forman LLP

700 Two American Center 3102 West End Avenue Nashville, TN 37203

Phone: (615) 724-3224 Fax: (615) 724-3324 [email protected]

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WHAT IS NALS, ASSOCIATION OF LEGAL PROFESSIONALS,

NASHVILLE CHAPTER?

NALS, Association of Legal Professionals, Nashville Chapter (“Nashville Chapter”) is a multi-level organization. Membership in the local chapter brings membership in TALS–Legal Profes-sionals of Tennessee (“TALS”), NALS Region 4, and NALS…the association for legal profes-sionals (“NALS”). The Nashville Chapter was first organized in 1949 and was chartered with TALS and NALS in 1972. WHAT IS TALS? TALS holds an annual convention and quarterly meetings throughout the state. In addition to the business meetings, legal education seminars are offered at these meetings. Each local chap-ter sends a Governor to report all business transacted to the chapter; however, members are en-couraged to attend. State meetings and seminars afford a wonderful opportunity for networking with other legal professionals from across the state that have the same goals and objectives. WHAT IS REGION 4? Region 4 is led by an elected regional director that plans yearly for our region. The states within our region are Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennes-see. This meeting is not as large as the NALS national educational or professional development meetings; but, they are generally larger than the state meetings. It is a wonderful way to meet other legal professionals that have the same goals and objectives as you do; but, closer to home. WHAT IS NALS? NALS is a non-partisan, non-profit, nonsectarian corporation based upon principles of service to all areas of the legal field. Membership is open to all persons engaged in service in the legal forum, including, but not limited to, attorneys, legal assistants, paralegals, secretaries, typists, word processors, court clerks, clerks employed in law offices, persons employed by the courts, trust departments of banks or trust companies, and those persons employed in public or private institutions directly engaged in work of a legal nature. WHEN ARE MEETINGS HELD? Nashville Chapter Membership meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the law offices of Burr & Foreman, LLP. A monthly Lunch & Learn is offered at a nominal cost by reservation on the second Wednesday at the Tennessee Bar Association.

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WHEN IS NASHVILLE CHAPTER’S LUNCH & LEARN HELD? The Nashville Chapter Lunch & Learn is held on the second Wednesday of each month at noon at the Tennessee Bar Association. Because of the venue, a box lunch is offered, which may change over the course of the year. The cost is $12 for members, $14 for non-members, and is a reservation only meeting. The lunch hour is devoted almost in its entirety to a speaker advising on a legal or community topic. You do not have to be a member to attend. Attend-ance at the Lunch & Learn is a good way to find out more about the Nashville Chapter and meet its members. HOW MUCH DOES MEMBERSHIP COST? The annual fee for new members is $128. Thereafter, the annual renewal is $118. A portion of this amount pays your dues to TALS and NALS. WHAT DOES MEMBERSHIP OFFER ME? You will be a member of a professional organization dedicated to the furtherance of legal

education and having as its main objective the encouragement of its members to attain a high degree of professional excellence in their chosen career.

You will receive publications written for the legal professional, including The Verdict, our local monthly publication; The Junction, the TALS state quarterly publication; Region 4 Newsletter; and @Law, the NALS national quarterly publication.

You will have the opportunity to attend seminars, study groups, workshops, and other activi-ties which will enhance your legal education in a local and national network. You will have access to employment placement at no charge through the Employment

Committee.

You will be given the opportunity to serve on committees which function to promote the goals and objectives of the association and, in the process, allow a greater opportunity for new and lasting friendships among members.

You will be eligible for discounted travel and rental car rates, group insurance programs, a retirement program, loan programs, and credit card applications.

WHAT IS THE PROFESSIONAL PARALEGAL EXAM? The Professional Paralegal (PP) certification was developed by NALS to promote legal profes-sionals who wish to be identified as exceptional in all areas of the law. Certain eligibility re-quirements must be met to take this exam and are available for viewing at www.nals.org.

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WHAT IS THE PROFESSIONAL LEGAL SECRETARY CERTIFICATIONS?

The Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) Certification is received after passing a one-day, four-part examination which demonstrates not only dedication to professionalism but acceptance of the challenge to be exceptional. Any person who has had three years’ experience in the legal field may take the examination. Membership in NALS is not a requirement. A partial waiver of the three-year legal experience requirement may be granted for post-secondary degrees, suc-cessful completion of the ALS exam, or other certifications. The maximum waiver is one year.

The Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS) designation is achieved by passing a half-day examina-tion and is available to persons who have completed one of the following: a secretarial course, the NALS Legal Training Course, or one year of secretarial experience. The ALS Examina-tion:

demonstrates ability to perform business communication tasks;

gauges ability to maintain office records and calendars, and prioritize multiple tasks when given real-life scenarios;

measures understanding of office equipment and related procedures;

denotes aptitude for understanding legal terminology, legal complexities, and supporting documents;

assesses recognition of accounting terms in order to solve accounting problems, and

appraises knowledge of law office protocol as prescribed by ethical codes.

Those interested in sitting for these examinations can attend group study sessions held in ad-vance of the examination. These sessions are provided without charge to members. The exami-nations are given at testing centers throughout the United States with one center being located in Nashville.

NASHVILLE CHAPTER ANNUAL EVENTS Bosses Appreciation Luncheon is held each October. This event affords the legal secretary

the opportunity to invite the attorney for whom she works to a special lunch.

The “Chris Galyon Scholarship Award” is presented annually to a worthy individual who is enrolled in school, furthering his or her education in the legal field.

Legal Professionals Night Out is held each year for the legal community to come together on a social basis for the purpose of promoting NALS and encouraging membership in our Association.

In 1972, the President of the United States proclaimed Court Observance Week an annual event in October. Each year our members sponsor a program to recognize our judicial sys-tem.

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NASHVILLE CHAPTER NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The Nashville Chapter hosted the Annual Meeting and Educational Conference of the Na-tional Association of Legal Secretaries International in July 1985 with approximately 1,000 members, delegates, and their families in attendance.

The Nashville Chapter has the proud distinction of having members Chris Galyon, PLS elected National President for 1984-85 and Tina L. Boone, PLS elected as Region 4 Direc-tor from 2005-2007, and is currently finishing her second year as Chairman on the National Membership Committee. Other members have been or currently serve as officers, commit-tee members, and chairmen at both state and national levels.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP? Individual members consist of those persons engaged in work of a legal nature and who agree to comply with the NALS Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER? You can use the secure online application, or you may choose to print out the application right from the web site or in Adobe PDF format and mail or fax it. Simply choose the method you want to apply, fill out the NALS Membership Application, select a method of payment, and submit your application. You then just sit back and will receive your new member package from the NALS Resource Center within four weeks. Categories of membership:

Regular Member

International Member

Retired Member

National Associate Member (educators, judges and attorneys)

National Student Member (must be a full-time student)

WHY SHOULD I JOIN NALS? Opportunities for professional and personal development are plenty when you join NALS. NALS is a tri-level organization composed of NALS, your state association, and your local chapter. Each offers top-notch professional growth through seminars, quality publications, and local, state, regional, and national networking. NALS offers several regional and national con-ferences each year, packed with outstanding education and featuring excellent speakers from around the country. State and local chapters offer more frequent meetings to give in-depth local educational coverage.

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Additionally, NALS supports its members by providing the following benefits: Affinity Programs - members enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services.

Certification - accreditation for everyone, whether beginning a new career or enhanc-ing your current one.

ALS--the basic certification for legal professionals, PLS--the advanced certification for legal professionals, and PP--Professional Paralegal certification.

@Law Magazine - members receive this award winning publication quarterly.

E-Learn - a monthly update on current topics of interest to legal support staff, deliv-ered via email.

E-News - a bi-weekly electronic newsletter sent to all NALS members who provide an email address, which includes timely information and details of NALS activities, with links to educational information and topics of interest to legal support staff.

NALS Online Learning Center - Education and personal development offered on a variety of subjects with the added bonus of networking across the United States.

NALS also presents a host of other professional development programs including the Legal Training Course, NALS Educational Institute, and college credits. WHAT IS E-LEARN AND HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE? E-learn is a monthly educational subscription received by NALS members via e-mail or fax featuring articles, technology tips, legal community news, etc. If you are currently a member and not receiving e-learn and would like to be on the distribution list, please contact Saundra Bates, NALS Member Services Manager, at [email protected] or 918-582-5188. Saundra will be happy to add you to our list. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE NALS ONLINE LEARNING CENTER? Education, updated information on NALS and various legal topics, networking across the country are just a few of the benefits afforded our members who make it a point to participate in our weekly Tuesday and Wednesday night NALS Online Learning Center sessions. Each week a different topic is chosen as an educational subject or for discussion over online. Come check us out! WHO DO I CONTACT WITH REGARD TO MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS? Saundra Bates, NALS Membership Services Manager, or Linda Hulsey, NALS, Nashville Chapter President.

The Verdict

WHAT DO THE FOLLOWING ACRONYMS MEAN?

ALS . . . the basic certification for legal professionals: The ALS designation is an attainable goal for someone entering the legal support field. Demonstrate your acceptance of the chal-lenge while improving your on-the-job skills in the areas of communication, accounting, office administration, ethics and legal procedures.

PLS . . . the advanced certification for legal professionals: The certified PLS designation is the best way to show off your expertise in areas including legal terminology and proce-dures, ethics, office procedures, and communication skills. That could mean more money and more opportunities for you, or it could mean doing a better job for your present em-ployer! The PLS certification is recommended by the American Council on Education (“ACE”) as valuable college credit for as much as 27 semester hours.

PP: Professional Paralegal, this is the newest of the NALS Certifications

SMC: State Membership Chairman

LMC: Local Membership Chairman

CLE: Continuing Legal Education

CLA: Certified Legal Assistant

@Law: The Official NALS Magazine. As a member of NALS . . . the association for legal professionals, you will receive @LAW four times a year. Each issue features informative articles and time-saving resources. @LAW is so informative it won the coveted Gold Circle Award for Most Improved Magazine from the ASAE. The @LAW subscription rate for nonmembers of NALS is $40.00 per year.

HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NASHVILLE CHAPTER?

Contact any member or:

Linda Hulsey Burr & Forman LLP 700 Two American Center 3102 West End Avenue Nashville, TN 37203 Phone: (615) 724-3224 [email protected]

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