NALA Affiliated Association Awards

NALA Affiliate Award

Purpose

To recognize members or committees of affiliates for their contribution to the goals and programs of their NALA Affiliated Association.

Eligibility for Nomination

A member of a NALA Affiliated Association in good standing.*
Current NALA Board and Committee members are eligible.

Who Can Nominate

NALA Affiliated Association in good standing may designate one recipient each year.

Nomination Deadline: May 1

Award Benefits

Recognition during the NALA Affiliated Association Annual meeting at the NALA Conference & Expo.

NALA Affiliated Associations Affiliate Award Nomination Form

*Affiliated associations are considered to be in good standing if their annual dues are paid, their NALA Liaison is a NALA Member, and all annually submitted documents have been provided and are current.

Click here for a list of NALA Affiliate Award recipients since 1995
Click here for the list of 2023 NALA Affiliate Award recipients

NALA Affiliated Associations Pinnacle Award

Purpose

To recognize the achievements and contributions of an individual affiliate member, a committee of an affiliate, or of an affiliate itself that have a substantial and long-lasting impact on NALA and/or the paralegal profession.

Criteria for Selection

The achievement or contribution must currently have or could have the potential to make a substantial and long-lasting impact on NALA and/or the paralegal profession;
Nominee must have played or will play a significant role in creating, developing, and/or promoting an important distinctive product, program, or service that positively impacts NALA and/or the paralegal profession for a minimum of three years, whether now occurring or hereafter transpiring; and
The product, program, or service must result in a positive public image for the paralegal profession.

The achievement or contribution may consist of, but shall not be limited to the following:

Influencing, promoting, and/or participating in the advancement of paralegal education (such as publishing a book, establishing a widely accepted test preparation course, collaborating to create and/or update paralegal offerings/webinars, or developing paralegal-based curriculum for a school or university system, regularly preparing and presenting at various CLE events);
Creating a recognizable professional development or career enhancement program (such as working with local paralegal educators to conduct routine mock interviews and resume review sessions for paralegal students or educators who tirelessly endorse the advantages of paralegal certification);
Making sizeable contributions to the advancement of access to justice (such as advocacy and proposed legislation or consistently working with local law school programs or legal assistance programs to aid the underserved and underprivileged);
Generating awareness of the paralegal profession in the legal field and in the community (such as regularly offering presentations to law schools, bar associations, or various attorney groups about the advantages of utilizing paralegals in the workplace).

Eligibility for Nomination

Affiliate member, affiliate committee, or entire NALA Affiliated Association in good standing.*
Current NALA Board and Committee Members are not eligible.

Who Can Nominate

NALA Active type member or NALA Affiliated Association in good standing may submit one nomination per year. Affiliate Award nominees are not automatically nominated for the pinnacle award. This is a separate nomination with its own designated form.

Nomination Deadline: April 1

Award Benefits

Recognition during the NALA Affiliated Association Annual Meeting at the NALA Conference & Expo.
Travel expenses paid by NALA – per diem (2 days), 1-night hotel stay, round-trip airfare, and 1-single day registration for the day of the NALA Annual Membership Meeting for one individual or one affiliate representative if the award is given to a group.

NALA Affiliated Associations Pinnacle Award Nomination Form

*NALA Affiliated Associations are considered to be in good standing if their annual dues are paid, their NALA Liaison is a NALA Member, and all annually submitted documents have been provided and are current.

NALA Affiliated Association of the Year Award

Purpose

To recognize an association for their efforts to further the paralegal profession based on data and information gathered from the annual and mid-year reports. Selection is based on membership statistics, CLE offerings, and volunteer service.

Criteria for Selection

The NALA Affiliated Associations Team (consisting of the AA Director, AA Secretary, and applicable NALA staff members) grants this award. All associations are considered as long as they are an affiliate in good standing.*

Eligibility for Selection

NALA Affiliate Association in good standing.