April 2025 Volunteer Spotlight – Nita Serrano, ACP
NALA Volunteer Spotlight – April 2025
Nita Serrano, ACP
Nita Serrano, ACP, is a dedicated senior litigation paralegal, passionate leader, and enthusiastic volunteer whose energy and warmth have made a lasting impact on NALA and the paralegal profession.
Currently serving on NALA’s Continuing Education Council (CEC) and the Ambassador and Hospitality (A&H) Team for conference, Nita brings a wealth of experience and a heartfelt commitment to creating meaningful connections within the paralegal community. She is also the President of the NALA affiliate, the Tampa Bay Paralegal Association, Inc., where her leadership inspires at the local level. Nita was selected by the Hillsborough County Bar Association’s 13th Judicial Circuit as the 2025 recipient of the Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Paralegal Award.
With an associate’s degree in paralegal studies, an Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP®) credential, and a Florida Registered Paralegal designation, Nita’s professional credentials are matched only by her dedication to service, which is why she chose to serve with NALA.
“I enjoy volunteering and being active in leadership roles,” Nita shared. “I have served on my local and state paralegal associations in various leadership roles, and I wanted to get more involved with NALA.”
As a member of the CEC, Nita helps shape NALA’s educational offerings by recruiting Facts & Findings authors and webinar speakers. Nita has contributed to Facts & Findings, presented webinars, and played a key role on NALA’s inaugural Ambassador and Hospitality Team for the 2024 NALA Conference & Expo. From providing information on local food and events to judging the crowd-favorite Derby Hat Contest, her dedication to enhancing the conference experience was apparent.
“Having been a first-time convention attendee before, I remember not really knowing anyone or what to expect,” she recalled. “I really wanted to help first-time attendees feel welcome and navigate the conference.”
That sense of empathy and community spirit continues to guide her volunteer work. In preparation for the 2025 NALA Conference & Expo, Nita hopes that potential and registered attendees will come to a “Discover Atlantic City” virtual information session hosted by the A&H Team on either April 24th or 29th.
“You should come if you are on the fence about attending conference and have questions,” she recommended. “If you’ve decided to attend conference, you should come to get information about getting there, things to do, and places to eat.”
These sessions are also an opportunity to meet the A&H team, so you can put faces to their names and recognize them when you arrive at conference. If you cannot attend live, the sessions will be recorded so you can watch them on demand.
Looking ahead to the conference, Nita encourages everyone to join in for an opportunity to learn, form lasting bonds, and have fun.
“Aside from the fantastic CLE sessions, NALA is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and I hear that there are exciting things planned to celebrate, including the Gala,” Nita gushed. “One of my favorite things about attending is seeing friends and meeting new people. It is a great networking opportunity.”
Nita’s journey to NALA certification is a testament to her resilience and determination. She and a friend had been talking about taking the exam for a while, and she decided to take it in early 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down.
“Since everything was closed, I spent a lot of time at home and my community pool preparing for the exam,” she explained. “The memorandum part gave me the most anxiety. I wrote some practice memos and had one of the attorneys I work with review them. I knew he would be brutally honest.”
Along with her attorney-reviewed memos, Nita also prepared using NALA’s CP® Exam Fundamentals book (now The Paralegal’s Companion) and Quizlet. In May 2020, she took both parts of the CP® Exam and passed. Later that year, she obtained her ACP® in Trial Practice.
Outside of her professional and volunteer commitments, Nita enjoys reading, listening to true crime podcasts, scrapbooking, photography, and spending time at the beach and pool. One of her greatest joys is being with her grandson—her very own “chef in training.”
“I spend a lot of time with my grandson going to theme parks and cooking.”
She strives to approach life according to her favorite quote:
“Live well, laugh often, and love with your entire heart.”
Nita Serrano exemplifies what it means to lead with heart, share your gifts, and lift up others. NALA is proud to showcase her contributions and the light she brings to the NALA and paralegal communities.
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