The following information is provided as a service to the Knoxville legal community. Since membership in the Knoxville Bar Association is restricted to licensed attorneys, members of the Knoxville Chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators are not eligible for membership in the Knoxville Bar Association.

The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) was formed in 1971 to provide support to professionals involved in the management of law firms, corporate legal departments and government legal agencies. ALA provides educational opportunities and services to more than 9,000 Members representing more than 6,000 employers in 27 countries.

ALA’s mission is "promote and enhance the competence and professionalism of Legal Administrators and all Members of the management team." The Association’s Members are Law Office Administrators who manage such areas as finance, human resources, systems and technology, facilities, marketing and practice development.

The Association’s information-based site on the Internet’s World Wide Web – at www.alanet.org - provides Law Office Managers and the legal community with news and information about ALA’s educational programs and Member services, print and online management resources, online educational opportunities and jobs available in legal management. The site also provides links to more than 250 law-related management resources and organizations and vendors to the legal industry.

With representation in virtually every region and larger community in the nation, the ALA provides valuable educational, networking and professional development opportunities for Legal Administrators of all experience levels. ALA’s mission is accomplished through very strong educational programs, an annual educational conference and vendor exposition, and smaller regional conferences, as well as through the direct impact of local Chapters.

The latest developments in law office management are covered in Legal Management, ALA’s journal. ALA News, the member magazine, provides the latest Association news and career information for Legal Administrators. ALA offers many other resources, including publications, audiotapes, videotapes, and teleseminars on such subjects as communication and general management, human resources, office systems, finance and client development.

The Knoxville Chapter of the ALA (KALA) currently has a membership of 22 Legal Administrators that meet monthly and actively support the mission of the ALA.

• Promote professionalism of principal legal administrators and the entire law office management team.
• Offer professional assistance to Chapter members.
• Provide quality educational programs and opportunities to Chapter members.
• Provide opportunities for professional growth and development to Chapter members.
• Develop and promote a professional relationship with the Knoxville Bar Association and the UT Law School.
• Provide a local resource for exchange of information.

 

We strongly suggest that Managing Partners in all law firms support and encourage their Administrator to join and actively participate in the ALA. The Knoxville Chapter meets monthly, providing eight to ten educational programs per year, in addition to special projects with the UT Law School, the Knoxville Bar Association, the Knoxville Legal Aid Society and other community organizations. Not to mention the fact that members have a tremendous opportunity to network with other local administrators. Also, each fall the KALA conducts its annual compensation and benefits survey for all downtown law firms, providing valuable and very specific local information – free to ALA members. The ALA conducts a similar national survey each year.

Regular membership in ALA is open to any full-time Administrator or support manager who is employed in a private law firm, corporate, government or university legal department or charitable legal agency. Associate membership is available to certain individuals. Membership is not open to vendors or consultants.

For more information on the KALA, or the ALA in general, interested Administrators and/or Managing Partners can contact any one of the current Chapter officers listed below:

2004-2005 Knoxville Chapter Officers
              
Tom Sims                        President
Jewell Tindell                   President-Elect
Randy Miller                    Secretary-Treasurer