Certified Legal Manager (CLM)SM Certification Program
The Association of Legal Administrators now offers legal administrators the opportunity to demonstrate
mastery of the body of knowledge necessary for successful performance in managing a law firm or office.
ALA members, like most members of professional societies, expect their Association to
promote the profession, to set and educate members to certain standards of practice, to
provide a professional journal of some type, and to facilitate social contact/networking.
ALA has become a leader in the areas of networking and publications. As the Association
matures, it has concentrated on ways to enhance the profession and increase the competency
level of legal administrators as stated in ALA's mission:
To improve the quality of management in legal services organizations; promote and
enhance the competence and professionalism of legal administrators and all members of the
management team; and represent professional legal management and managers to the legal
community and to the community at large.
Law firm administrators feel intense pressure to keep up with the demands of their
jobs. This is reflected in heightened concern for quality education programs.
Disseminating information through journals and conferences is important, but leading
associations also must take an active role in assessing learner needs and designing
programs that more fully support the member.
While the ultimate responsibility for competence rests with each legal administrator,
ALA provides guidance and direction in the process, through a program by which an
individual measures his or her ability to perform the job of legal administrator. This
assessment process, commonly called certification, is strictly voluntary, and is open to
all qualified legal administrators.
