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February 2026 Volunteer Spotlight – Kaila Glaros, ACP

For more than a decade as a NALA member, Kaila Glaros, ACP, has exemplified what it means to be committed to the paralegal profession. As Chair of the ACP^® Special Committee, Kaila has played a central role in strengthening NALA’s Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP^®) Program while serving the profession through education and volunteer leadership.

Kaila has worked for RSM US LLP, an audit, tax, and consulting firm, for about 4 years. In addition, she serves as an adjunct paralegal educator, helping prepare the next generation of paralegals for meaningful careers.

Kaila holds a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies and has earned three ACP^® credentials in Business Organizations – Incorporated Entities, Contracts Administration/Contracts Management, and Trademarks. Her dedication to professional excellence was recognized with NALA’s 2018 Affiliated Associations Outstanding Contribution Award.

Since she began volunteering with NALA nearly nine years ago, Kaila has been deeply involved in advancing the organization’s mission. Before assuming her current role, Kaila participated in NALA’s School Relations Task Force and served three years each on the Continuing Education Council and the Professional Development Committee. Her motivation to volunteer comes from a deeply rooted sense of purpose.

“Helping other paralegals is in my genes, so I wanted to do everything I could,” Kaila explained.

Kaila’s decision to seek her current position grew out of a desire to strengthen and expand the ACP^® Program. Drawing on her experience as a NALA volunteer and Certified Paralegal (CP^®), she saw an opportunity to distinguish the ACP^® Program more clearly as an advanced offering. She stepped forward to spearhead the effort, resulting in the formation of the ACP^® Special Committee.

Kaila revealed that the committee’s guiding purpose is to enhance the ACP^® Program by ensuring it provides material aligned with NALA’s definition of advanced education and establishing a framework for the continued development of high-quality courses.

Since becoming Chair, Kaila has helped review and improve the four most recently updated ACP^® courses: Business Organizations – Incorporated Entities, Discovery, Personal Injury, and Trial Practice. Her goal is to keep up that momentum until all existing courses have been reworked and new courses are introduced.

Kaila is passionate about ensuring that paralegals understand what the ACP^® Program offers. She emphasizes that the program is truly advanced. The courses are presented in a beautiful and easy-to-use format and contain a wealth of knowledge from paralegals, paralegal educators, and attorneys. The ACP^® credential is designed to complement a paralegal’s existing experience and serve as a career stepping stone. It is not meant to introduce an unfamiliar area of law.

When encouraging others to pursue an ACP^®, Kaila’s message is simple but powerful: “Never stop learning.” The ACP^® Program offers paralegals advanced, focused education designed to deepen subject-matter knowledge and support professional growth at every career stage. While the ACP^® credential is only awarded to Certified Paralegals (CPs), anyone can take an ACP^® course to earn continuing legal education (CLE) credits. Those who earn their CP^® within one year of completing an ACP^® course automatically become ACPs. For Kaila, that advanced credential has made a tangible difference.

“I know having an ACP^® has helped me stand out among job candidates,” she asserted. “I have gotten a raise in a couple of situations. It has also fueled my desire to grow and to serve NALA.”

Kaila’s journey to becoming a Certified Paralegal involved a lot of studying. She spent about eight months preparing for the CP^® Exam. One of the most helpful things she did was take the CP^® Review track at her first NALA conference in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2014. The opportunity to ask questions and engage with instructors helped boost her confidence. She became a CP^® in 2015 and earned her first ACP^® in 2016.

As a longtime member and volunteer, what Kaila values most about NALA is the supportive community.

“It has been such a joy to be part of NALA,” she shared. “I couldn’t recommend it more highly.”

Some of her favorite memories are attending her first conference in Charleston and speaking at a conference for the first time in Orlando in 2017. Her advice to fellow NALA members is to find what excites them and get involved in a meaningful way.

Aside from her professional commitments, Kaila enjoys spending time with her husband and kids, traveling, reading past her bedtime, and baking a lot of bread. At her desk, alongside her NALA honors, she proudly displays her kids’ artwork.

When it comes to motivation, Kaila lives by a mantra that perfectly captures her approach to life: “Don’t half-ass anything. Always use your full ass.”

Under Kaila’s leadership, the ACP^® Program is positioned to continue evolving as a premier source of advanced education for paralegals. Her tireless efforts will impact the profession for years to come.