June 2025 Volunteer Spotlight – Kendal M. Cantrell, ACP

Kendal M. Cantrell, ACP, brings decades of experience, passion, and purpose to every role she fulfills. She has been a member of NALA’s Continuing Education Council (CEC) since 2023, where she helps shape the future of paralegal education. In 2022, she received a serendipitously timed email about volunteering. Shortly before she got that email, she had felt called to get involved.

“Something in me kept whispering that I had more to offer outside the law firm setting,” she recalled. “So, I started looking for ways to give back.”

She jumped at the chance to volunteer with NALA and began serving on the Job Analysis Task Force, a rewarding experience that ignited her passion for service. Looking for other ways to contribute, she decided to submit a proposal to speak at the 2023 NALA Conference & Expo in Boston, which was accepted. She presented sessions on best billing practices and foreign subpoenas, discovering a love for teaching along the way.

After the Boston conference, Kendal sent a note to Debbie Overstreet, ACP, NALA’s president at the time, thanking her for the opportunity to speak at the conference and expressing interest in other volunteer roles with NALA. Debbie offered Kendal a vacancy on the CEC, where she currently serves. Since then, she has volunteered with the 2024 Conference Ambassador & Hospitality Team and contributed a standing Access to Justice (A2J) column in Facts & Findings.

“Researching and writing this column has helped me expand my awareness about the inequalities in the justice system,” she admitted.

It has spurred her involvement with A2J initiatives in Mississippi, and she hopes it inspires NALA members to get involved.

“Advocating for the rights of the underprivileged doesn’t require expertise,” she asserted. “It simply requires a heart for others and a willingness to serve.”

Kendal feels that serving with NALA gives her a sense of purpose and perspective.

“Volunteer work adds another layer to my growth and development,” she shared. “When my journey in this world is nearing an end, I want to be able to say I took every opportunity I could to make a difference, and being a volunteer with NALA is one way I am able to do that.”

Kendal has worked as a Senior Litigation Paralegal at Phelps Dunbar, LLP in Tupelo, Mississippi, since 2016, after more than 20 years as a paralegal at Moffett Law Firm. She is a member of the Mississippi Paralegal Association, a NALA Affiliated Association, where she has served on the Board of Directors as Vice President, Central Regional Director, and Student Liaison.

A proud NALA Certified Paralegal (CP^®) since 2006, Kendal also holds a BA in political science from Millsaps College and Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP^®) credentials in Automobile Accidents and Family Law – Child Custody, Support, and Visitation. Kendal encourages other members to pursue their CP^® credential. She vividly remembers completing her CP^® Exam, which she took in person over two days.

“I poured my heart and soul into preparing to take the exam,” she revealed. “I remember breaking down in tears when I was finished. I always likened it to the paralegal version of the bar exam.”

Kendal’s favorite part of being a NALA member is the people she has connected with.

“I love being part of a community of high-achieving, like-minded professionals who are an encouragement and inspiration to be the best at what we do and to never stop learning.”

Her favorite conference memory is meeting Hank the Horse^® at the 2024 NALA Conference & Expo in Louisville, Kentucky. For Hank’s Sake was NALA’s 2024 Charity of the Year, and their Brand Ambassador is Hank, a rescued therapy horse. Kendal was moved by the commitment of Hank’s handler, Tammi Regan, the Founder and CEO of For Hank’s Sake, who showed up despite a recent injury.

“I loved meeting Hank,” Kendal gushed. “I was in awe of Tammi, who made sure she and Hank made it to conference just a day or two after she was released from the hospital. To me, that speaks volumes for how important the work of For Hank’s Sake is, and I am grateful NALA chose to support it.”

Outside the legal world, Kendal enjoys spending time with her family. She has been married for over 30 years to Andy, a self-published author and avid turkey hunter. Together, they have two sons, Reece (22) and Brooks (13).

In her free time, Kendal cares for a menagerie of animals, including dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, and even a white peacock. She enjoys sewing, cross-stitching, and reading, hobbies lovingly passed down from her late grandmother, whom she affectionately called K.K.

“K.K. inspired me to always follow my heart,” Kendal reflected. “She was the epitome of class and elegance, yet she was also a savvy businesswoman.”

Kendal’s favorite quote is often attributed to life coach and author Brendon Burchard:

“You’ve got to be willing to endure the struggle to create something extraordinary.”

With her passion for law, heart for service, and love for learning, Kendal Cantrell is creating something extraordinary within NALA and the entire paralegal community.