June 2026 Volunteer Spotlight: Samaria A. Hutchins, ACP

Samaria A. Hutchins, ACP, serves on NALA’s Professional Development Committee (PDC), where she helps shape resources and initiatives that support paralegals across the country. She is also NALA Liaison for the Alabama Association of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPi), a NALA Affiliated Association. As a Paralegal-Contracts Specialist with NaphCare, she is committed to advancing the profession at the local and national levels.

She has built a strong educational and professional foundation, earning a bachelor’s degree in legal studies and a dual-track associate degree in paralegal studies with concentrations in transactional and litigation law. She achieved her Certified Paralegal (CP^®) credential in 2021 and earned an Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP^®) credential in Business Organizations in 2023.

Her involvement with NALA spans over a decade. Since joining as a student member in 2014, Samaria knew she wanted to get involved. When the opportunity to serve on the PDC arose in 2025, she did not hesitate.

“I was ready to advocate for the paralegal profession at the national level,” she revealed.

Through her work on the committee, Samaria has contributed to Facts & Findings, helped review and update NALA’s Model Standards and Guidelines for Utilization of Paralegals, and participated in the PDC roundtable discussion at the 2025 NALA Conference & Expo. She views the committee’s work as essential to moving the profession forward.

“As part of the PDC, you get to be part of a great group of paralegals who love the profession and want to see the growth of paralegal professional development,” she shared. “It is important that we stay up to date on the latest trends to track the progression of the paralegal profession.”

Collaboration is what she likes most about volunteering for NALA. She enjoys meeting new people who share a passion for the paralegal field. She loves being a NALA member because it allows her to build relationships with paralegals across the country and be part of a community dedicated to advancing the profession.

Samaria encourages her fellow members not to be afraid to get involved in their paralegal association, whether nationally or locally.

“You never know what opportunities or connections might come your way,” she expressed.

Her favorite NALA memory is attending her first in-person conference in 2025, where she met longtime professional role models and connected with NALA staff. The highlight was meeting past NALA President Cassandra Oliver-Divens, ACP, someone she had admired since her early years as a member.

When she is not working hard to support and elevate paralegals, Samaria likes to wind down by fishing with her husband and bird watching.