About
Welcome to the website of NALS of Oregon… the association for legal professionals. We are proud to say we have been serving many of the legal communities in Oregon for 53 years!
WHO WE ARE
NALS of Oregon… the association for legal professionals is part of a professional tri-level association and nonprofit organization, placing emphasis on education. Affiliated with NALS… the association for legal professionals, NALS of Oregon encourages all members to serve their employers to the utmost of their ability and with the highest degree of professionalism, to foster knowledge and instill confidence to effectively handle client relations, to stimulate a high order of business and professional attainment, and to further knowledge of the law and to uphold its honor and dignity.
Our membership is open to any persons employed in work of a legal nature, including legal secretaries, legal assistants, paralegals, court personnel, law librarians, law office administrators, and even attorneys and judges. We are a nonpartisan, nonunion, nonprofit organization whose main objective is to further the education and training of legal support staff to enhance the competencies of members in the legal services profession.
There are local chapters throughout the state of Oregon and members are typically career legal support staff who are interested in learning as much as possible about the legal profession and keeping up to date on changes in the law.
Links
Employment
If you would like to notify our membership of a job posting, please contact the current NALS of Oregon Employment Chair, Susan Smith.
Corporate Sponsorship Program
NALS of Oregon is pleased to provide its Corporate Sponsorship Program, which provides our sponsors with increased advertising, marketing and networking opportunities at regularly scheduled educational seminars, and other recognition throughout the year. We encourage everyone to support our Corporate Sponsors.
Additional information regarding sponsorship may be obtained by contacting our Marketing Director, Catherine Helle.
We value our Corporate Sponsors, and invite you to visit their websites to learn more about their services.
NALS of Oregon Scholarship Fund, Inc.
Please visit NALS of Oregon Scholarship Fund, Inc. here
Scheduled Meetings
Our Fall Board Meeting is scheduled for October 6-7, 2023, at the Waypoint Hotel, Bend, Oregon.
Register here to attend.
Chapters
NALS of Oregon is part of a tri-level organization composed of (national) NALS…the association for legal professionals, state, and local levels. Each offers professional growth through seminars, quality publications and networking.
The chapters located throughout the State of Oregon are listed below. You can access each of their pages from the drop down menu at the top of our site, or by using the links below.
Each local chapter is individually chartered through NALS … the association for legal professionals. Local chapters generally hold monthly meetings and assist the state level with various educational, social, and welfare functions. Currently there are six active chapters in Oregon, and many have monthly educational seminars or speakers at their monthly meetings, listed here.
Membership is also available to individuals in areas where no local chapter exists. These are designated below as Members at Large. Please contact our Membership Director, Rachel Barbour, at for information about becoming a member where there is no local chapter.
Central Oregon Legal Professionals (Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties)
NALS of Mid-Willamette Valley (Marion and Polk Counties)
NALS of Portland (Greater Portland Area – Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties)
Members at Large (no local chapter in their area)
For more information regarding chapters throughout the United States, please visit the national link to all states at NALS…the association for legal professionals.
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Board
NALS of Oregon Officer Roster 2023-2024
You may reach any board member via email at nalsoforegon@gmail.com
Education
Education is offered many different ways for NALS members. There are conferences and seminars presented on the local, state, and national levels, online courses presented by NALS, and articles by legal experts on relevant legal topics.
NALS of Oregon conferences are held throughout the State of Oregon. Please visit our meetings page for more information, including specific dates and topics.
Educational conferences are also presented around the nation. Please visit NALS…the association for legal professionals for more information.
Education is also available through the following member benefits:
- @Law Magazine from NALS. Members receive this award-winning publication quarterly.
- Affinity Programs – Members enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services.
- Certification – Accreditation for everyone, whether beginning a new career or enhancing your current one.
- ALP (Accredited Legal Professional) – the basic certification for legal professionals
- PLS (Professional Legal Secretary) or CLP (Certified Legal Professional)
- Professional Paralegal -advanced certification
- Career Center – A national resource for legal staff and law firms to find the perfect match . . . another benefit offered free to members.
- The NALS Docket – A bi-weekly electronic newsletter sent to all NALS members who provide an email address, which includes timely information and details of NALS activities, with links to educational information and topics of interest to legal support staff.
- NALS Online Learning Center – Education and personal development offered on a variety of subjects with the added bonus of networking across the United States.
- NALS also presents a host of other professional development programs including the Legal Training Course, Online Study Group, and college credits.
For additional questions regarding education, please email Diana M. Chin, NALS of Oregon Education Director at nalsoforegon@gmail.com.
Membership
Qualification
Any person engaged as a legal secretary, legal assistant, law office administrator, stenographer, paralegal, or clerk in any law office; any person employed in the courts, trust department of banks or trust companies, or in any public or private institution or office, directly engaged in work of a legal nature, including the public offices of the United States government, state, cities, counties or municipalities is eligible for membership.
Associate membership is available to educators, judges and attorneys. Student memberships are available to those attending an accredited program relating to work of a legal nature as a “full time” student.
Members support and abide by the Code of Professional Responsibility of the American Bar Association, as well as the NALS Code of Ethics.
Benefits
Opportunities for professional and personal development abound when you join NALS of Oregon, a tri-level organization composed of (national) NALS … the association of legal professionals, (state) NALS of Oregon, and (local) levels. Each offers professional growth through seminars, quality publications and networking.
By joining NALS of Oregon you have the opportunity to attend local and state association meetings, where you will be exposed to some of the top legal experts in your state. The purpose of NALS is to provide continuing legal education for all legal professionals and provide networking opportunities at local, state and national levels.
The value of membership in NALS of Oregon will benefit you professionally and personally. You have the opportunity to attend local chapter meetings, take advantage of discounted member rates for state seminars, ALP, PLS/CLP and PP (Professional Paralegal) certification, study courses and reference materials, and national conferences. At NALS conferences, outstanding education is presented by excellent speakers from across the country to address issues of national importance, enlightening NALS members with a national perspective.
Additionally, the following are included:
- @Law Magazine from NALS. Members receive this award-winning publication quarterly.
- Affinity Programs – Members enjoy discounts on a variety of goods and services.
- Certification – Accreditation for everyone, whether beginning a new career or enhancing your current one.
- ALP (Accredited Legal Professional) – the basic certification for legal professionals
- PLS (Professional Legal Secretary) or CLP (Certified Legal Professional) – the advanced certification for legal professionals
- Professional Paralegal -advanced certification
- Career Center – A national resource for legal staff and law firms to find the perfect match . . . another benefit offered free to members.
- The NALS Docket – A bi-weekly electronic newsletter sent to all NALS members who provide an email address, which includes timely information and details of NALS activities, with links to educational information and topics of interest to legal support staff.
- NALS Online Learning Center – Education and personal development offered on a variety of subjects with the added bonus of networking across the United States.
- NALS also presents a host of other professional development programs including the Legal Training Course, Online Study Group, and college credits.
Please Email NALS of Oregon Membership Director regarding membership questions.
Membership Dues
Membership in a local chapter also includes membership in NALS of Oregon and NALS … the association of legal professionals. Membership Dues are as follows:
- $165 for New Member Dues
- $75 for Associate Member (educators, judges, attorneys)
- $29 for Student Member (minimum 9 credit hours required)
Please contact the NALS of Oregon Membership Director for a breakdown of local, state and national dues.
Applying for NALS Membership
You can apply for NALS membership in several ways:
- Fill in the secure application using a credit card and join immediately OR
- Print out the PDF format application and mail or fax it to NALS (If you don’t already have it, here’s the link to Adobe’s free reader) OR
- Call the NALS Resource Center at 918-582-5188 to find out more and have an application mailed or faxed to you
Please also email a copy of your completed application to: Rachel Barbour, NALS of Oregon Membership Director.