Strategic Plan Update — Q1 2020

Goal #1 — Define Identity

Define a clear, compelling organizational identity that reflects who/what the association represents and that effectively focuses its programs, services and activities.

     
  • ALA's Updated Mission Statement:

    • The Board of Directors announced in April the creation of an updated ALA Mission Statement. The realigned mission statement better reflects our values, our identity and the benefits our membership enjoys. Hear directly from President April L. Campbell, JD, about this change and others in her final episode of The 150. The revamped mission statement is:

    ALA is the premier professional association connecting leaders and managers within the legal industry. We provide extensive professional development, collaborative peer communities, strategic operational solutions, and business partner connections empowering our members to lead the business of law.

    President James L. Cornell III continues The 150 updates.

  • Organizational Pricing:
    In the near future, ALA will be introducing a new model for membership called Organizational Membership Pricing — a concept developed and presented to the Board by the Membership Development Committee. The Board believes this will be an easier and more efficient way to manage your membership within your legal organization AND will allow ALA to reach more legal management professionals, creating a deeper and stronger network of resources and connections for each of you.

    As with any major initiative, to ensure a successful full-scale rollout, a phased approach is being used to implement the Organizational Membership. This approach will allow ALA to work closely with members to build the online experience they want. ALA will work directly with a subset of firms to apply the new structure to its members during the 2020 renewal period. We will use feedback and beta testing to fine tune the process and plan to implement Organizational Membership association-wide for the 2021 dues renewal period.

    With the continued help of the Membership Development Committee, the Board is polishing a concept to better deliver content, products and services through an experience that is aligned with where you are in your career and your role within your firm. Like Organizational Membership, this concept will be developed throughout 2020, with a fuller rollout in 2021.

  • 2020 Dues Renewal Through March 2020:
  • Member Recognition:
    ALA’s Expanded Distinguished Member recognition began in May 2019. These members receive pins distributed annually following completion of the renewal cycle. A Distinguished Member receives a new pin on each 5-year anniversary. The pin is accompanied by congratulatory letter signed by ALA president and executive director.

     

     

Goal #2 — Increase Member and Business Partner Value

Develop relevant, actionable, timely, responsive resources to increase value of ALA to members, business partners and other legal management professionals.

  • Industry Research Support:

    ALA is always looking for opportunities to further advance the legal management industry. In the coming weeks, ALA will be partnering in two new pieces of research:

    • CFO/COO survey: This survey deployed last July. It's about how law firms are managing growth and risk. The final report will be available in the fall.

    Legal Support Staff Retention Survey: This survey deployed last fall. It's about law firm back office staff structures and planning. The final report will be available before the end of the year.

    For more information, visit alanet.org/education/research.

  • Continuing Education Courses:

    This member benefit allows ALA members free access to the Summit Series webcast interviews and a reduced price on products that can help enhance your career and improve skills you use every day. The Summit Series webcasts are: 

    • Series of interviews with legal management experts sharing latest insights on the industry.
    • Each one-hour webcast includes two interviews.
    • After the initial air date, the webcasts will be available to view on-demand at your convenience.


    In this fourth series of webcasts, Ari Kaplan returned to present a series of interviews with legal industry experts and consultants who discussed creating a culture of business development, dealing with irrational people and creating highly functional teams. The webcasts cover the topics of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellness for lawyers; how to grow your influence and impact; and the quick and easy way to go from manager to leader.

    Click here for the latest on the ALA Summit Series Webcasts.

  • New and Improved: Event Planning Plus:

    • If you are looking for help with speakers for your firm’s retreat or for other professional development initiatives, ALA can help.

    We’ve invited 50 new speakers to be part of the 2019 Event Planning Plus (EPP) Speaker Services program. So far, 17 speakers have registered to become part of the program and three speakers have been hired through EPP.

    Contact us at [email protected] and a seasoned planner will reach out to help you create a memorable experience.

    ALA has meeting professionals who can assist you with planning your organization’s event.

    Event Planning Plus (formerly Retreat Planning Plus), including the all new Speakers Services program.

    Through ALA’s Speaker Services, members can browse a database of vetted speakers or topics and have ALA help them contract the speaker who will give a knockout presentation on the topic of their choice.

    EPP will allow members to hire ALA to help plan events and retreats for their firms and chapters, with a range of services offered including logistical support and education planning.

    Contact us at [email protected], and a seasoned planner will reach out to help you create a memorable experience.

  • Weekly E-Newlsetters:

    • ALA emails cover standard content topics each day, so audiences will learn to expect specific information (education, or events, or leadership, etc.) on set days during the week. Each day of the week features the following topics:

    • Monday — BOLD Bites
    • Tuesday — E-Learning
    • Wednesday — Events
    • Thursday — Membership News
    • Thought Leadership
  • Job Description Toolkit:

    • ALA has designed a format for a toolkit to assist legal management professionals and their employer organizations in the writing of job descriptions using the UPBMS Taxonomy classifications/codes. A PDF version is currently available (free to members) in the ALA e-store. There will be multiple stages of this project, leading to the final goal of an online tool to generate job descriptions using the UPBMS.

  • Online Communities:

    • ALA’s Online Communities are a place for members to have discussions and network with one another on daily business questions. The conversations grow organically and often include samples and checklists that other members provide. Top searched terms in the Online Communities include: “job descriptions,” “retention” and “bylaws.” Within the Online Community, the Reference Library continues to grow with content that Regional Representatives previously updated from the old ALA Management Encyclopedia. In the coming months, ALA will be adding additional checklists, forms and job descriptions to the site so members can easily access them. You can easily find the Reference Library in the Online Communities.

  • ALA Business Partners:

    • ALAbp.org: ALA business partners, current and prospective, can find all the information they need related to ALA events and marketing opportunities at the ALA Business Partner Portal. The ALA Business Partner Portal was awarded the 2017 Gold Excel Award by the Association Media & Publishing, recognizing the best, and the brightest in association media and publishing.

    Legal Marketplace: ALA's free, one-stop resource for business solutions and services is visited more than 2,700 times each month by members seeking a competitive edge for their legal organization. Legal Marketplace features enhanced business partner profiles, interactive content, and easy-to-navigate solution categories like “exhibitors,” “business development,” “finance” and “human resources.”

Goal #3 — Enhance Thought Leadership

Become recognized as a thought leader in the legal industry by conducting critical industry research and developing new ideas, innovations and solutions to guide the legal management industry. 

  • ALA and the Global Legal Blockchain Consortium:
    The next Global Legal Hackathon is March 6–8, 2020.

    • ALA is the first membership association to become part of the Global Legal Blockchain Consortium (GLBC), joining more than 30 large companies, law firms, software companies and universities. The GLBC exists to develop standards that govern the use of blockchain technology in the business of law. Members of the GLBC are required to initiate a proof of concept project (a “POC”) on blockchain technology. A blockchain POC evaluates an idea for a real-world application of blockchain technology to a legal challenge. The overall objective of the POC is to find potential solutions to technical and business problems, to define and evaluate core-use cases, and to determine the feasibility of proposed solutions.

    ALA’s proof of concept project was its work in the Global Legal Hackathon. Team ALA focused on how the Uniform Process Based Management System (UPBMS) can play an integral role in capturing data for the many processes and tasks that support the delivery of legal services.

  • Compensation and Benefit Studies:
    • More legal management professionals/firms purchased the 2018 Compensation and Benefits reports than ever before. ALA had nearly 900 participants in the 2019 Compensation & Benefits Survey. The 2019 Compensation and Benefits Survey closed for participation July 12. Survey Reports will release in early September. The ALA team has confirmed partnerships with ILTA and LMA; each partner is providing us with additional legal technology and marketing positions, job descriptions and data collection points. 
  • SALI Alliance:
    ALA is a Founding Member of the Standards Advancement for the Legal Industry (SALI) Alliance, a not-for-profit organization comprised of legal industry professionals leading the development of industry standards for efficient and innovative legal services. The first release of the matter category standard, which includes the publication of area of law and process codes was launched on January 28 during LegalTech in New York. Membership renewal notices were distributed to SALI members in mid-March. For more information on SALI, click here. It has received endorsements from the Association of Corporate Counsel, GlaxoSmithKline, Microsoft, Shell, Citi, Allen Matkins, Baker Donelson, Greenberg Traurig, Honigman, Perkins Coie, Intapp, Prosperoware and Foundation Software Group. SALI currently has seven paid memberships, including ALA and LMA.
  • White Papers:
    The most recent white paper "Workplace Violence and Its Effects on Your Firm,” written by Kathy Scourby, CBCP is available now. The Content and Publications team is working to find new topics for future papers. You can find all our white papers here.
  • UPBMS:

    • ALA has developed a comprehensive system of code, a taxonomy, that encompasses the wide variety of processes needed to support the practice of law. The UPBMS provides standard framework for legal operations to develop, implement and maintain successful management and operational strategies. It encourages use of a common language and approach to legal support operations across the industry.

    The most current UPBMS code set is available on the ALA Website. Using the UPBMS codes, ALA has developed a Job Description Toolkit that is available at no additional cost for ALA members. Updates to the Toolkit are in the works. ALA members have used the UPBMS codes to assist with staffing decisions, work allocation, employee time analysis, business continuity planning, and overall operational process improvement. Please watch the two complimentary webinars, by Catherine MacDonagh, JD, discussing UPBMS utilization. They can be found: upbms.alanet.org The ALA Standards Review Committee is responsible for updating the taxonomy on a regular basis, in addition to promoting its use.

Goal #4 — Advance Legal Management Professional Development

Advance the knowledge, skills and leadership of legal management professionals and strengthen the role of legal management professionals in the legal industry.   

  • ALA's 2020 Annual Conference & Expo:

    ALA’s 2020 Annual Conference & Expo is taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah, May 3–6. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Catherine Sanderson, Manwell Family Professor of Life Sciences (Psychology) at Amherst College. Other top speakers include Danielle Umstead, blind professional skier and three-time paralympic medalist, and Kevin Hines, brain health advocate and storyteller.

    The new conference offerings this year include Meeting of the Minds (formerly Idea Exchanges), Meet-Ups (small group gatherings with specific topics and local fun activities), First Five Live!, and Deep Dives. Learn more at ALAannualconf.org.

  • Webinars/Other Online Education:
    The 2020 webinar schedule has been posted online and all sessions are open for registration, including subscriptions and bundle packages. ALA 2018 Annual Conference recording bundles are now available, including bundles focused on HR, finance, law firm management essentials and C-Suite. ALA 2019 Annual Conference recording bundles for HR and finance are also available. 
  • Resource Hubs:
    In a crunch and looking for specific legal management knowledge, information and materials? Then you’ve found the place to be!


    Whether you need assistance with your area of focus in legal management or tips on how to navigate through your career path, ALA is your resource for webinars, articles, podcasts, e-learning and information. And keep checking back — we’re adding new stuff for you all the time.

    Discover recent educational material about human resources management that ALA has produced. It is available in a single place: the new Legal Management Resource Hub for HR.

    Find the recent educational material about financial management that ALA has produced. It is available in a single place: the new Legal Management Resource Hub for FM.

    Find ALA-produced information and education for legal management professionals who want to develop a more comprehensive perspective and sharpen their human resources, financial, operational and leadership skills will benefit most from this program. It is available in a single place: the new Legal Management Resource Hub for Law Firm Management Essentials.

    Find ALA-produced information and education for legal management professionals serving in an executive level management role in their firms and legal departments. C-Suite often includes chief operating officer, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, etc. It is available in a single place: the new Legal Management Resource Hub for the C-Suite.

    Discover ALA content on communications management. Get resources on oral, written and interpersonal communication skills, as well as stress management techniques and time management strategies. It is available in the new Legal Management Resource Hub for Communications Management.

    Get ALA content related to the legal industry and business management. Learn more about law firm management and professional conduct, liability issues, changes and trends in the legal industry, records management and retention requirements in the business of law. It is available in the new Legal Management Resource Hub for Legal Industry/Business Management.

    Access content related to operations management and IT. Learn more about work product quality control, lease/contract agreements, project management, workplace safety, and development strategies. Technology includes knowledge of the features and capabilities of computer and network hardware and software systems, internet, websites and security. It is available in the new Legal Management Resource Hub for Operations Management.

    And keep checking back — we’re adding new stuff for you all the time.

  • CLM Program:
    2020 exam registration is open for the spring and fall exams, and application deadlines will close two months prior to each test date.

    • The Study Guide for the CLM Exam is available! The study guide is a new tool that potential CLMs can use to gain further insights into the type of knowledge they’ll need to pass the test. The guide includes chapters covering financial management, human resources management, legal industry/business management and operations management. Each chapter has additional resources and practice quizzes. It concludes with “Terms and Concepts You Should Know,” an index and “Preparing for the CLM Exam.” Download the Study Guide for the CLM Exam through the alanet.org e-store.

    The first phase the Certification Program update has started. As previously presented, we are starting with internal process improvements that mainly consist of implementing the iMIS certification module and moving all CLMs to a digital certificate.
  • e-Learning:

    • Legal management education in a flexible, on-demand format. The online courses are 6-week instructor-led, and they meet live each week for an hour. Classes are available on-demand later at your convenience.

    Web-Based Training (WBT): Six-week instructor-led online courses for each (HR1 and HR2 OR FM1 and FM2). HR1 and FM1 courses are currently in session. HR1 and HR2 or FM1 and FM2 completion provides the option to earn a Legal Management Specialist Certificate in the respective area. HR and FM courses will be offered again in 2020.

  • Job Bank and Career Center:

    • ALA rolled out a new and improved Job Bank and Career Center. It's easier than ever for members to search and find job postings — and they are! The job listings page is the second highest visited on ALA's website. There are more than 100 jobs posted.

Goal #5 Build Community and Engagement

Build a stronger sense of community and shared purpose and increase engagement among members, chapters, business partners, and other stakeholders. 

  • Social Media:

    ALA has launched the official ALA’s Instagram account — @ALA_buzz. ALA’s social media channels can keep you up to date on the latest in industry trends, education opportunities, chapter news and member events. In 2020, ALA is emphasizing increased engagement on all social media platforms. Be sure to follow us, tag ALA in your posts and use #ALABuzz.

  • Chapter Support:

    The Chapter Resource Team (CRT), formed in April 2019, assists chapters by:

    • Providing guidance in the development of creative strategies that promote and educate members on ALA policies, programs and initiatives.
    • Providing support and resources to chapters.
    • Serving as mentors to chapter leaders.
    • Serving as subject matter experts on a variety of chapter-related matters.


    In addition to serving as mentors to their assigned chapters, the CRT is responsible for hosting virtual sessions provided as part of the Chapter Leader Educational Series. These sessions, which are open to all current or prospective chapter leaders, focus on topics related to chapter leadership. They are similar in content to what you might expect of CLI session and are recorded for future reference. The CRT also assists chapters by providing content for Just the Facts, ALA’s bi-monthly e-newsletter for chapter leaders.