August Volunteer Spotlight – Claire E. Smith, ACP

NALA Volunteer Spotlight – August 2024
Claire E. Smith, ACP

Claire E. Smith, ACP, serves NALA as the Area 1 Director. She was installed at the 2024 NALA Conference & Expo. She works as a paralegal at Tillotson & Martin, LLC in Newport News, Virginia. Claire earned her Bachelor of Arts in political science from Virginia Wesleyan College (now University) in Norfolk, Virginia. She also has a Certificate in Legal Assistance – Litigation and a Certificate in Legal Assistance – Real Estate from Old Dominion University in Norfolk and an Administrative Assistant Certificate from Christopher Newport University in Newport News.

Outside of NALA, Claire is actively involved with the Virginia Peninsula Paralegal Association (VᴀPPA). She is the Recording Secretary, NALA Liaison, and Chair of the Professional Development Committee (formerly the Program Committee). She is also a member of the Nominations and Elections Committee. In addition to VᴀPPA, Claire is a member of the Tidewater Paralegal Association (TPA).

Claire’s first volunteer position with NALA was as a member of the Affiliates Task Force from 2000-2001. She returned to serve as the Credentials/Nominations & Elections Chair from 2006-2007. She later served as Affiliated Associations Secretary from 2012-2014.

“I wanted to be involved with helping the members,” Claire explained about her decision to serve with NALA.

She had wanted to serve on the NALA Board of Directors for years but waited for the right opportunity and the right time.

Claire has been a NALA member since 1994. Her advice to paralegals is to join NALA to show employers that they are serious about the profession. One of her favorite member benefits is the networking opportunities. She loves meeting new people. In an astronomical feat, Claire has attended 32 consecutive NALA conferences.

“I’m determined to go every year,” she said. “I see it as a working vacation.”

Claire became a NALA Certified Paralegal in 1990, back when the exam took two days and was all done on paper. She prepared by joining a study group at Christopher Newport College (now University). She is also an Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP^®), working on her 10th ACP^® credential.

Claire’s role model is her late aunt, Martha, who passed away in June, weeks after her 90th birthday. A woman of many talents, she was a great cook and seamstress. She retired after 30 years as a schoolteacher in South Carolina. Martha was very adventurous and loved to travel. She tended to plan what she was going to do the next day.

When she is not working, Claire enjoys eating out with her brother and friends, going out to the movies, and watching tennis. She has two nephews who are both married, and she became a great-aunt in February. An old adage that Claire lives by is, “Honesty is the best policy.”