ABOUT PLSA
An Introduction
The Philadelphia Legal Secretaries Association (PLSA) is a nonsectarian, nonpartisan, nonprofit, and nonunion organization of legal secretaries and support staff. It is affiliated with NALS . . . the association for legal professionals, which is dedicated to enhancing the competencies and contributions of members in the legal services profession.
Who Are We?
PLSA is a tri-level association of legal secretaries and support staff on
a local, state, and national level. Membership is open to legal secretaries and others employed in a law office, the courts, the trust department of a bank or trust company, or any public or private institution or office directly engaged in work of a law-related nature, including any governmental agency.
Our Goals
Our goals are to further the knowledge and to enhance the ethical standards and professional attainment of our members, to conduct programs for continuing legal education for members and others in the legal field, and to promote fellowship and cooperation among members and with the legal community.
What We Offer
We offer legal education through programs and seminars sponsored by PLSA, NALS of Pennsylvania and NALS, as well as the opportunity to network with other legal professionals on a local, state, regional and national level. Membership includes subscriptions to PLSA's Bulletin, the NALS of Pennsylvania Reporter, and @Law, the quarterly publication of NALS. Each of these publications contains timely legal articles, columns containing practical information to enhance members' skills and keep them abreast of changes in the legal profession, membership news, and news on upcoming educational events.
The Professionals
Those who join our association are career-minded professionals in their field who are willing to expend their own time and energy to learn and expand their knowledge concerning the law, who actively endorse the legal profession, who seek opportunities for professional growth, and who want to further develop their leadership skills.
Local Opportunities
PLSA conducts a one-hour educational conference at each of its regular quarterly meetings held on the third Wednesday of each month. All topics are of a legal nature and all attendees receive a certificate for one hour of Continuing Legal Education.
PLSA's Lunch-n-Learn program runs from September through May each year, providing timely topics such as identity theft, child care regulations, the U.S. Constitution, and legal and non-law related topics.
Further, PLSA organizes study groups to prepare eligible candidates for the ALS Basic Certification, the PLS Advanced Certification, and Professional Paralegal Certification examinations. Also available is the NALS Basic Legal Training Course, providing students with a general office background, but with little legal experience, an opportunity to learn the basic skills necessary for the legal support professional.
Community and pro bono activities have included charitable fundraisers, i.e., collection of backpacks and school supplies in the Fall and Christmas toys in December for a Philadelphia homeless shelter, updating the Homeless Advocacy Project's reference manual, and participation in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure held in Philadelphia in May.
In addition, many of our members participate in the Philadelphia Reads program as tutors to first through third grade students to foster a love of reading and improve reading skills.
PLSA offers all this and much more!
Other Opportunities
At the state level, NALS of Pennsylvania hosts a Fall and Winter Educational Conference and Annual Meeting. At each event, educational seminars are held and leadership workshops and "how to" seminars are conducted. NALS of Pennsylvania also sponsors educational seminars in counties where no local chapter exists. In addition, the state association participates in a regional meeting held annually in July. All seminars are available to both members and nonmembers.
Nationally, NALS sponsors an Annual Education Conference throughout the United States, and the Professional Development Conference is held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, each March to provide leadership skills and additional legal education.
Membership in this tri-level association fulfills a need where people with common interests come together to reach common goals. Professional people belong to their professional association to enhance their careers.
Join Today and Maximize Your Potential!
www.PhilaLSA.org
