The Foundation of the Association of Legal Administrators was formed by the ALA Board of Directors in 1981. The Foundation's mission and goals extend to the development and presentation of educational programs, research on the changing legal workplace and increasing awareness of the value of law firm administrators. The Foundation seeks to complement ALA's directives and initiatives of advancing the legal management profession by way of activities and projects. The stated purposes and goals of the Foundation are to:

• Sponsor and publish research projects that explore key issues relevant to legal management.
• Provide aid, assistance and advice to law schools to develop and implement courses and programs of study related to legal administration.
• Demonstrate the value of professional law office management to the legal community.
• Present lectures, seminars, discussions and similar endeavors in law office management and administration and related disciplines.
• Sponsor, present, produce or finance programs to assist ALA members who volunteer their management expertise to assist nonprofit law-related organizations.

To date, the Foundation has invested over a quarter million dollars in grants, programs and sponsorships aligned with the Foundation's mission and goals. Projects the Foundation has supported have spanned the globe and include a visiting scholars program with the Lagos Business School in Nigeria, grassroots local efforts to improve the legal talent pipeline and print publication of best practices books.

Competent, professional legal managers depend on high-quality education and a strong network of practitioners to foster their leadership growth and development and give them a platform for success.

The Foundation helps leaders in the legal community marshal resources to create opportunities that support and improve the profession and practice of law.

Download a featured work summary.

Grants

The Chapter Challenge Grant Program provides funding to ALA chapter who develop and complete projects that result in products supporting the efforts of legal administrators and promote the legal management industry. The end result or "product" will then be available to other chapters, law firms and other legal organizations, individual ALA members, academic institutions, or other groups.

Please review the complete Chapter Challenge Program Details as well as the Grant Guidelines for more information, or view a complete list of grants awarded under the Chapter Challenge Program.

Publications

The Foundation has sponsored the production of various law firm management publications. The largest series of publications is The Extraordinary series, which includes The Extraordinary Administrator: Career Progression for Law Firm Managers by Paul A. C. Malliate. An addition to the series, The Extraordinary Law Firm: Making Your Firm a Great Place to Work, was written by former ALA President Charles Stinnett. Former ALA Executive Director John J. Michalik wrote the third book in the series, The Extraordinary Managing Partner.

If you wish to purchase a book from the Extraordinary Law Firm series, visit the ALA Bookstore. View the complete list of Foundation sponsored publications.

Educational Programs

In addition to grants and publications the Foundation has supported educational programs that seek to advance the legal management profession. Each year the Foundation sponsors a David W. Brezina Memorial session at the ALA Annual Conference. Topics have included leadership, ethics and diversity. Please review the complete list of David W. Brezina Memorial Sessions.

Another notable educational program the Foundation funded is an international initiative, "Management Development Programme for Legal Practitioners". With a grant from the Foundation, ALA was able to team with the Lagos Business School in Nigeria to launch a higher education curriculum for Nigerian Legal Practitioners. Along with one ALA staff member, five visiting U.S. scholars participated in the launch of ALA's first co-branded international legal administration higher education curriculum.

The Foundation of ALA provides incentive funding to assist ALA Chapters in developing innovative projects and products which benefit ALA members, contribute to the advancement of legal management, or provide needed services to the broader community. A complete history of grant making under the Chapter Challenge Program is included below. To learn more about how your Chapter can apply for the Program, please review the complete Chapter Challenge Program Details.

Supervisor's Manual for St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP)
Gateway Chapter 1997
SLIP was a community-based collaborative effort to prepare high school students with financial needs for the future through economic opportunities and education (especially summer employment). This manual was designed as a how-to guide for supervisors of high school students. In addition to this being a resource for law firms this manual is useful to chapters wanting to form their own chapter-wide internship program.
www.ala-gateway.org

Chapter Leadership Training Program
Puget Sound Chapter 1998
This manual provides leadership training for chapter board members based on ALA's Chapter Leadership Institute (CLI) model. Each module addresses leadership skills that might be needed by board members including agenda planning, project management, motivating and influencing others and other skills useful in a law firm. The information continues to be relevant and is highly recommended to all chapters.
www.psala.org

The Business Side of the Practice of Law: What Law Firms Expect of Their New Lawyers
Knoxville Chapter 1998
This three-part introductory law office management program was designed for second and third year law school students. This manual is useful to chapters who want to provide information to law school students and begin the education process before they start careers in the legal profession. The sessions include the lawyer as a team player, producing the firm's work and practicing profitability. In 1998 the chapter also created "An Insider's Look at Law Office Management," a half-day seminar directed toward solo and small-firm attorneys. The materials provide three pages of topics and some very good questions, which could be useful for chapters that want to organize a brief seminar for attorneys regarding law office management.
www.knoxala.org

Careers in a Law Firm
Wisconsin Chapter 1998
Development of section of chapter website on "Careers in a Law Firm." Note: Completed, but no longer available on chapter website.

Career in the Legal Profession: A Guide to Becoming a Legal Secretary
Columbus Chapter 1998
A tri-fold brochure is directed toward prospective legal secretaries. It serves as a useful template for chapters considering similar projects with high schools, community colleges and career fairs. Although it will need to be rewritten for each individual chapter, the layout and information included in the original brochure would be helpful in getting you started.
www.alacolumbus.org

Project LEAP, Phase I, II, III
San Diego Chapter 2001, 2001, 2009
Project LEAP is a three part project working with students interested in the legal profession. The first phase of the program includes a DVD of high school students interviewing employees in the legal profession, while producing videos to be voted upon in their high school class. The second phase of the project included the creation of a worksheet to accompany the DVD. The third phase of the program covers the areas of community service, the visibility of legal careers and a template for other chapter internships and a website where other ALA chapters could direct students as a resource. This product is recommended to chapters to use with junior and senior high school presentations, counselors and career fairs.
www.projectleapsd.com

Innovative Paralegal Studies Lab
Knoxville Chapter 2006
Joint project between Chapter and Pellissippi State Technical Community College Foundation for establishing an "innovative paralegal studies lab" on the college campus.

CLM in a Flash
Valley of the Sun Chapter 2006
CLM in a Flash is a deck of more than 500 study cards specifically designed to help prepare for the Certified Legal Manager (CLM) exam. Each flash card includes a "term", definition and corresponding resource. Individual ALA members can purchase them through the ALA Bookstore for their own use, and chapters can provide them to members studying for the CLM exam or participating in chapter-organized CLM study groups.
www.alaphoenix.org

Online Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate Program
First State Chapter 2006
Online course component of Legal Administrative Assistant Certificate Program in partnership with Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia.

Roadmap to Leadership Success Women's Symposium
Austin-Central Texas Chapter 2007
The ALA Austin Chapter partnered with the Travis County Women Lawyers Association to host a luncheon themed, "Roadmap to Leadership Success - Advancing and Retaining Women Attorneys in Today's Law Firms."

Talk Logic
Rochester Chapter 2008
The "Talk Logic" project was designed to teach reasoning and public speaking skills to urban high school students. Through a partnership with the Academy of Law, Justice and Government at John Marshall High School the Rochester Chapter developed a series of workshops and group sessions in a variety of areas in law, communication, public presentation and personal development. Six students were selected to participate in the four month program. During the first phase of the project students participated in educational sessions where topics included interviewing techniques, resume development, and office etiquette. During this phase of the project students participated in several activities that were designed to develop and educate them including a moot court program. The next phase of the project involved training in public speaking in a series of workshops coordinated with a local Toastmasters group. During this time each student selected a topic, developed a ten-minute presentation and presented it to Chapter members, faculty from the school and family members. At the end of the program students participated in the five-day National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington D.C.
www.rocala.org

Best Practices in Legal Management - A Comprehensive Guide
New York Chapter 2009
The Foundation awarded a grant to the New York Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators to support Best Practices in Legal Management - A Comprehensive Guide, which was written in conjunction with the New York Bar Association. The book features contributions from numerous law firm managers and provides a blueprint for running a successful law practice. Topics in the book include strategic and organizational planning, business development, legal practice management, and financial management.
www.alanyc.org

Law Firms are More than Lawsuits & Lawyers
Indiana Chapter 2010
The program, "Law Firms are More than Lawsuits & Lawyers" is a partnership with Indianapolis Public School's Shortridge Magnet High School for Law and Public Policy and is designed to guide students toward a career in the legal profession and to offer them the tools necessary to develop a variety of skills that will help them be successful, productive citizens, regardless of their ultimate career choice. Through this program students will participate in on-site lunch and learn opportunities where they will be discussing topics such as confidentiality and ethics in the workplace, an overview of how firms work from a financial perspective and discussions on professional behavior and conflict resolution. Students participating in this program will also have an opportunity to have a paid internship with a law firm in Indianapolis.
http://www.alaindiana.org/

Best Practices in Legal Management - A Comprehensive Guide
New York Chapter 2009

The Foundation awarded a grant to the New York Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators to support Best Practices in Legal Management - A Comprehensive Guide, which was written in conjunction with the New York Bar Association. The book features contributions from numerous law firm managers and provides a blueprint for running a successful law practice. Topics in the book include strategic and organizational planning, business development, legal practice management, and financial management.

Get it now from the ALA Bookstore.

 

The Extraordinary Administrator: Career Progression for Law Firm Managers
By Paul Malliate

This book is published with the support of the Foundation of the Association of Legal Administrators in memory of former ALA President David Brezina and outlines what it takes to be an extraordinary administrator and chart a successful career.

Get it now from the ALA Bookstore.

 

The Extraordinary Law Firm: Making Your Firm a Great Place to Work
By Charles Stinnett

Great law firms do not just happen. They are the products of exceptional leadership and sweat equity. This book aims to equip firm managers with the knowledge and desire to transform their offices into the remarkable workplaces that deliver not only superior client service, but also the utmost satisfaction for each and every person who is part of that effort. The author draws from 12 case studies to create specific checklists for firms of any size to use to create an extraordinary law firm.

Get it now from the ALA Bookstore.

 

The Extraordinary Managing Partner: Reaching the Pinnacle of Law Firm
By John Michalik

Essential reading for anyone who is serving as a managing partner in a law firm, or simply interested in acquiring additional understanding of what is involved in law firm management. The third in the Extraordinary Series, this book is based on research obtained from managing partners and their teams, and provides - from a variety of knowledgeable perspectives - what it takes to move beyond doing "very well" to being a highly effective and extraordinary law firm management leader.

Get it now from the ALA Bookstore.

Lagos Visiting Scholars Program
With a grant from the Foundation of ALA, the Association was able to team with the Lagos Business School in Nigeria to launch a higher education curriculum for Nigerian Legal Practitioners. Along with one ALA staff member, five visiting U.S. scholars participated in the launch of ALA's first co-branded international legal administration higher education curriculum. Learn more.

David W. Brezina Memorial Sessions at the Annual Conference Sponsored by the Foundation
David W. Brezina served as ALA President from 1996 to 1997. His career in legal administration spanned more than 20 years. In 1996, Dave was involved in a tragic bicycling accident resulting in paralysis and quadriplegia. Even as he fought this disability, he served his term as President with distinction and vigor. At the time of his death in 1999, Dave was serving as a Trustee of the Foundation. A memorial fund was created in his honor to further the educational and charitable work of the Foundation.

The Extraordinary Administrator
Speaker: Paul A.C. Malliate 2003

Make Your Law Firm a Great Place to Work
Speaker: Great Place to Work Institute 2004

Effective Management Ethics for Legal Administrators
Speaker: Arthur Gross-Schaefer, J.D., Ph.D. 2005

Extraordinary Organizations: How They Think and What They Do to Create and Sustain Success
Speaker: Joe Calloway 2006

Diversity: Leaders Not Labels - A New Plan for the 21st Century
Speaker: Stedman Graham 2007

Professional Ethics: Keep You and Your Law Firm in the Integrity Zone
Speaker: Egil "Bud" Krogh 2008

Honor the Past, Celebrate the Present, Choreograph the Future
Speaker: Billy Mills 2009

The Adventure of Change: Timeless Certainties for Uncertain Times
Speaker: Dr. Jeff Salz 2010

It's Okay to Be the Boss
Speaker: Bruce Tulgan 2011

Managing with Aloha
Speaker: Rosa Say 2012

The Inclusion Paradox
Speaker: Andrés Tapia 2013