| 2024-2025 Sections and Interest Groups |
Committees and Work Groups |
Advisory Groups |
Event Planning Work Groups |
NALP thrives on member involvement, and one of the many benefits of NALP membership is the opportunity to actively participate in the NALP community. Sections are a great way to join colleagues with whom you share interests and work responsibilities, and also provide an ideal way to get involved in the work of NALP. Sections provide an opportunity for networking and for sharing information, ideas, and best practices. Sections also provide information and education to the rest of the NALP community on the Section members’ particular area of interest or expertise.
Work Groups will address specific tasks; they will work on the specified project, and will disband when the target task is completed. Several Work Groups fall under the auspices of a Section, while others are stand-alone. Where already known, Work Group projects are listed below within each Section description (follow the "learn more" link). Section members are encouraged to identify additional issues and projects of interest to the group.
All Sections have open membership, and many Work Groups need volunteers. NALP members are invited to contact Section Chairs to learn more about Section activities and involvement. Section membership is based on individual membership with NALP. Click on the "learn more" link for each section to find out about the work of that section and how you can get involved.
2024-2025 Sections and Interest Groups
Canadian Section
The Canadian Section is for NALP members with a particular interest in Canadian legal education, Canadian law school career services, and issues surrounding legal employment and admission to the bar in Canada.
Section Co-Chairs: Lindsay Kantor, Torkin Manes LLP and Laura Pringle, University of Victoria Faculty of Law
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Section
NALP has a longstanding commitment to be an advocate for diversity in
the legal profession and in our membership. The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Section is for NALP members with a particular interest in or responsibility for advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in legal education and legal employment. This section will serve as a resource for all NALP members on matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Section Co-Chairs: Jennifer Mencarini, Fox Rothschild LLP and LaNitra Webb, O'Melveny & Myers LLP
Experienced Professionals Section
The section includes NALP members who self-identify as “experienced” in the legal recruitment and professional development industry and seek to collaborate with similarly situated colleagues for purposes of networking and professional development. The section will contribute to activities, services, and educational programs to benefit NALP. Section members can be characterized by years of NALP membership, years in the industry, and/or levels of leadership or engagement within their organizations or with NALP. (It is suggested that members have at least eight years of experience in a lead role and have actively participated in NALP.)
Section Co-Chairs: Joe Christian, Bass, Berry & Sims PLC and Jessica Hoffer, Chapman and Cutler LLP
International and Advanced Degree Advising and Recruiting Section
The International and Advanced Degree Advising and Recruiting section is for law school professionals who support and advise domestic and international LL.M. students as well as students and alumni seeking international opportunities. This section is also for employer members who hire graduates with LL.M. degrees, who are involved in international recruiting, and who evaluate international experience for both international and domestic positions.
Section Co-Chairs: Claire Lee, Boston University School of Law and Caroline Ruhle, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
JD Career Advisors Section
The JD Career Advisors Section is for NALP members who have an interest in or responsibility for the career development of law students and alumni. The section will include work groups on developing resources and conference programming on career development. The section will also serve as the home for the CSO Employer Outreach Work Group, and for those interested in JD advantage careers and alumni career services.
Section Co-Chairs: Kathy Greenier, University of Richmond School of Law and Elizabeth Bernstein, Southwestern Law School
Judicial Clerkship Section
The Judicial Clerkship Section is for NALP members who have responsibility for preparing law students for judicial clerkships or for managing the departure and return from employer organizations of associates who pursue judicial clerkships. This Section will be a clearinghouse for information on judicial clerkships at all levels.
Section Co-Chairs: Jennifer Pollard, University of Maryland Carey School of Law and Amy Nixon, Chicago-Kent Law School
Law Student Professional Development Section
The Law Student Professional Development Section is for NALP members
with an interest in or responsibility for educating law students about professional standards of behavior required for the practice of law.
Section Co-Chair: Greg Miarecki, University of Illinois College of Law and Tiffany Tucker, University of Houston Law Center
Lawyer Professional Development Section
The Lawyer Professional Development Section is for NALP members with an interest in or responsibility for a law firm or other legal employer’s professional development programming.
Section Co-Chairs: Carole Deeter, Thompson Hine LLP and Kelly Ryan, Venable LLP
Legal Employer Alumni Relations/Programs Section
The Legal Employer Alumni Relations/Programs Section is intended to include NALP members who have an interest in or responsibility for alumni related issues within law firms or other legal employers.
Section Co-Chairs: Laura Higgins, Haynes and Boone, LLP and Hayley Niven, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Newer Professionals Section
The Newer Professionals Section is for NALP members who have been in the profession for four years or less.
Section Co-Chairs: Christopher Caruso, Hofstra University School of Law and Emily Udell, Chapman and Cutler LLP
Public Service Section
The Public Service Section is for NALP members who share an interest in or responsibility for law students and graduates whose career paths lead to public sector, public interest, and pro bono work during law school and after graduation. The section supports NALP’s role as one of the leading providers of information and education about public service opportunities for law students and lawyers. NALP’s public sector and nonprofit employer members and those responsible for implementing or marketing law school or law firm pro bono programs also participate in this section.
Section Chairs: Liz Dunn, Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and Chelsea-Leigh Flucus, UC Irvine School of Law
Recruiting Section
The Recruiting Section is for NALP members who have an interest in or are responsible for law school outreach, summer programs, lateral hiring, and lawyer recruiting.
Section Co-Chairs: Olivia Schmit, Sidley Austin LLP and Tanisia Charles, Jones Day
Small and Solo Career Services Office Section
This Section is for NALP members in career services offices of three or fewer total staff. Members of this group have long been a strong support for one another and have been an excellent source of programming and resources for all career services offices that manage with limited resources.
Section Co-Chairs: Lorelei Craig, University of Oregon School of Law and April Giancola, Campbell University School of Law
Law School Career Chief Officers Interest Group
This interest group is open to any NALP member who holds the top role of any sort (i.e., Associate Dean, Assistant Dean, Director, Chief of Staff), broadly defined, in a career office at a law school and is meant to facilitate information sharing and best practices among its members, and to provide leadership and guidance to the Association and its members about issues around industry change and evolution.
Interest Group Co-Chairs: Shawn Beem, Capital University Law School and Lauren Jackson, Howard University School of Law
Legal Employer Chief Officers Interest Group
This interest group is open to any NALP member who holds a chief role of any sort, broadly defined, with any legal employer, and is meant to facilitate information sharing and best practices among its members, and to provide leadership and guidance to the Association and its members about issues around industry change and evolution.
Interest Group Co-Chairs: Jean Durling, Fox Rothschild LLP and Tim Henderson, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
Lawyer Onboarding/Integration Interest Group
This interest group is for informal discussion for law firm professionals involved in onboarding and integration.
2024-25 Co-Chairs: Pascale Bishop, Ice Miller LLP and Tedi Mason, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.
NALP Committees and Task Forces are either elected by
the membership or appointed by the President to complete a specific
task or project. Elected committee members can be found on the Board of Directors and Leaders page.
Change Management Task Force
Co-Chairs: Mina Jefferson, Bricker Graydon LLP and Beth Moeller, UCLA School of Law. Julie-Anna Alvarez, Fordham University Law School; James Boyle, Latham & Watkins LLP; Diane Downs, Morrison Forester LLP; Christina Fox, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; Kristine McKinney, Fish & Richardson PC; Melissa Meyer, Venable LLP.
Credentialing Task Force
Co-Chairs: Kay Nash, Wiley Rein LLP (Recruiting); Rob Cacace, Georgetown University Law Center (Recruiting); Courteney Harris, UNT Dallas College of Law (DEI); Nicole Netkin-Collins, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law (DEI). Members: Jessica Sisco, Scale LLP; Jennifer Henfey, Villanova Charles Widger School of Law; Lisa Feden, Ballard Spahr LLP; Georgia Emery Gray, Hogan Lovells US LLP; Courtney Carter, Jenner & Block LLP; Dana Gray, Fish & Richardson, P.C.; Bendita Malakia, O’Melveny & Myers
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Steering Committee
Chair: Sylvia James, Winston & Strawn LLP.
Governance Review Task Force
Co-Chairs: Lois Casaleggi, University of Chicago Law School and Melanie Rowen, Latham & Watkins LLP. Members: Eric Bono, University of Denver Sturm College of Law; Janet Hutchinson, University of Richmond School of Law; Melissa Lennon, Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.; Kara Sutherland, Dentons Canada LLP; Arturo Thompson, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law; Tony Waller, University of Georgia School of Law.
Inclusion: Native and Indigenous Peoples in the Legal Profession Task Force
Chair: Jennifer Mencarini, Fox Rothschild LLP. Members: Natalie Frost, The University of Tulsa College of Law; Traci Mundy Jenkins, Venable LLP; Mia Kontnik, University of Denver Sturm School of Law; Whittley Pike, Santa Clara Law; Eric Stern, University of California, Berkeley School of Law; Arturo Thompson, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law.
Member Value Assessment Task Force
Co-Chairs: Andy Hales, Venable LLP and Gwen Ferrell, LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Members: Dyana Barninger, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP; Doug Ebeling, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP; Bonnie Hurry, Willkie Farr & Gallagher; Amy Mattock Jones, Georgetown University Law Center; Michael Nguyen, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP; Jim Walsh, Temple University Beasley School of Law; Michele Ward, BakerHostetler.
Well-Being Steering Committee
Co-Chairs: Amy Killoran, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and Alison Plavin, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.
Advisory Groups
Advisory Groups support NALP staff on matters of policy, procedure, and content with our core products and services. Advisory Groups are appointed by the President on an annual basis. Although membership in Advisory Groups is appointed rather than open, all members are invited to share ideas with Group leaders and members.
ABA/NALP Employment Outcomes Reporting Advisory Group
Co-Chairs: Angelica Evans, The University of Texas School of Law and Arturo Thompson, University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law. Members: Eric Bono, University of Denver Sturm College of Law; Karen Britton, University of South Carolina School of Law; Moon Kim, New York University School of Law; Heather Spielmaker, Brooklyn Law School; Diane Quick, University of Miami School of Law; Kimberly Underdown, St. Mary’s University School of Law.
Ethics and Standards Advisory Group
Chair: Amy Jones Mattock, Georgetown University Law Center. Members: Neil Dennis, Blaney McMurtry LLP; Jean Durling, Fox Rothschild LLP; Bruce Elvin, Duke University School of Law; Quaime Lee, Northeastern University School of Law; Sheryl Roberts, Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP; Artavia Warthen, Parker Hudson.
Knowledge Management and Resource Implementation Advisory Group
Chair: Andy Hales, Venable LLP. Members: Lisa Blair, Borden Ladner Gervais; Karl Riehl, Epstein Becker & Green.
NDLE/NDLS Advisory Group
Members: Lindsay Badgerow, Varnum LLP; Liz Jones, University of Richmond School of Law; Gretchen Rollins, Vinson & Elkins; Precillia Soares, Holland & Knight LLP.
PSJD Advisory Group
Chair: Steve Grumm, Legal Aid of Western Michigan.
Research Advisory Group
Chair: Samantha Stern, Richards, Layton & Finger P.A. Members: Maya Fromm, Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP; Lynn Herron, Crowell & Moring; Sheryl Roberts, Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, LLP.
Event Planning Work Groups
2025 Annual Education Conference Planning Work Group
The Annual Education Conference Planning Work Group will plan and present the 2024 Annual Education Conference in Boston.
Chair: Christina Henry, Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP.
Vice-Chairs: Samantha Ciriaco, Case Western Reserve University School of Law; Heather DiFranco, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP; Samantha Zandman, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. The elected Conference Planning Coordinators serve as members of the Annual Education Conference Planning team.
Legal Recruiting Summit Planning Work Group
The Legal Recruiting Summit Planning Work Group plans and presents the annual Legal Recruiting Summit.
Members: TBD.
Professional Development Institute Planning Work Group
The Professional Development Institute Planning Work Group, in
partnership with ALI-ABA and the PDC, plans and presents the annual
Professional Development Institute.
Members: Nicole Llorenz, Latham & Watkins; Greg Miarecki, University of Illinois College of Law; Sandy Minea, Greenberg Traurig; Jennifer Rakstad, Whie & Case LLP; Kelly Ryan, Venable LLP; Lauren Tierney, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP.
Public Service Conference Planning Work Group
The Public Service Conference Planning Work Group plans and presents the annual NALP Public Service Conference with a date in 2024 TBD.
Members: TBD
