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September 2026 Volunteer Spotlight: Tracie Livesay, ACP, MBA

Tracie Livesay, ACP, MBA, has built a career that spans law firm practice, health care regulation, and higher education, all while maintaining a strong commitment to the paralegal profession. She currently serves as a member of NALA’s Certifying Board, where she helps support the standards and processes behind NALA certification.

“I decided to volunteer with NALA because I believe strongly in the value of the paralegal profession and in the importance of maintaining high standards within our field,” she said. “Throughout my career as a paralegal and instructor, I have seen firsthand how education, professional development, and certification can make a meaningful difference in a paralegal’s confidence, competence, and career opportunities.”

Tracie works full-time for TeamHealth, a national health care company, as Director of Regulatory Operations & Board Liaison. In that role, she researches and analyzes health care law—including Medicare, Medicaid, and state regulations—serves as the liaison to internal departments on regulatory matters, monitors pending federal and state legislation, reviews operational processes for regulatory compliance, drafts and implements service line policies and procedures, and manages regulatory research paralegals.

As Board Liaison, she serves as the primary point of contact for Board and Executive Committee members, plans and attends Board meetings, prepares agendas, distributes minutes, maintains governance documents, and oversees the execution of Board resolutions.

Before joining TeamHealth, Tracie spent more than 18 years working in law firms, primarily in civil litigation. Tracie holds an MBA with a concentration in management and is an Advanced Certified Paralegal (ACP^®) in the areas of Contracts Administration/Contracts Management and Civil Litigation.

She has also been an adjunct instructor for 16 years, teaching legal and business courses in both classroom and online settings. She is passionate about the paralegal profession, teaching, and helping students and professionals reach their goals.

Her experience as a student shaped the way she approaches teaching and mentoring. Tracie completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees while working full-time and raising three boys, giving her a deep understanding of the challenges students face when balancing education with work and family responsibilities.

She has previously served as a Program Advisor for the University of Tennessee Knoxville Women in Leadership group and as an Appointed Observer for the Uniform Law Commission’s Telehealth Drafting Committee.

Her path to NALA certification began after she had worked as a paralegal for several years. Upon changing positions, some of her new colleagues encouraged her to attend meetings for the local NALA Affiliated Association. It was there that she met a few Certified Paralegals. She was struck by how highly they spoke of NALA and how much pride they took in their certification. Their enthusiasm and professionalism made a lasting impression, and earning her certification quickly became a personal goal.

After completing an exam prep course, Tracie sat for what was then a two-day written exam. Once she passed, she immediately began preparing for the advanced exam, which required a three-hour trip to the testing location. While waiting for the results, she came straight home from work every day and checked the mailbox. She was thrilled when they finally arrived.

“I remember my husband and me jumping up and down in our kitchen with excitement,” she said. “It was a wonderful moment of accomplishment and one that I still remember fondly.”

That experience laid the foundation for her service on NALA’s Certifying Board, amplifying her desire to elevate the profession.

“Volunteering with the NALA Certifying Board gives me an opportunity to give back to the profession where I have spent my entire career, while also contributing to its continued growth and advancement,” she said. “Serving on the Certifying Board is especially meaningful because it allows me to support a rigorous certification process and promote the knowledge and skills that define a qualified paralegal.”

She also values the opportunity to work alongside exceptional professionals who are equally committed to strengthening the profession and supporting the next generation of Certified Paralegals.

Outside of work, Tracie enjoys carpentry and building things with her hands. Her father and grandfathers were carpenters, so she grew up as an assistant. After spending her workdays dealing with words and written details, she finds working with something tangible to be particularly satisfying and peaceful.

“There is a real sense of accomplishment in looking at a finished project and knowing I made that,” she said. “I enjoy the creativity, problem-solving, and hands-on work that comes with creating something from scratch.”

Tracie has been married for 30 years and has three grown sons. She lives in a log home in the Tennessee mountains, about 20 miles from where Dolly Parton grew up and from Dollywood. Although she loves to travel, her home remains her favorite place.

“I’ve never been anywhere as beautiful as my Tennessee mountains,” she said, “and I can’t imagine ever living anywhere else.”

Through her regulatory work, teaching, certification, and service to NALA, Tracie continues to invest in the profession from several angles: strengthening standards, mentoring others, and helping paralegals build the knowledge and confidence to advance their careers.