Sections and 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.

For information on elected and appointed groups, see Committees, Work Groups, and Task Forces below.

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.

2013-2014 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 Chair: Jennifer Lau, University of British Columbia Faculty of Law, lau@law.ubc.ca
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CSO Employer Outreach Section
The CSO Employer Outreach Section explores goals and best practices (including technology, long distance vs. local employer relations and visibility issues) of law school employer outreach.
Group Chair: S. Christian Smith, Elon University School of Law, csmith25@elon.edu
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Diversity & Inclusion Section
NALP has a longstanding commitment to be an advocate for diversity in the legal profession and in our membership. The Diversity Section is for NALP members with a particular interest in or responsibility for advocating for diversity in legal education and legal employment. This section will serve as a resource for all NALP members on matters of diversity. Diversity directors and those focusing on diversity matters at law firms and law schools are encouraged to join their colleagues in this section.
Section Chair: Lori Lorenzo, Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, llorenzo@lcldnet.com
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Experienced Professionals Section
The Experienced Professionals Section includes NALP members who self-identify as "experienced" in the legal recruitment industry and seek to collaborate with similarly situated colleagues for purposes of networking and professional development and to 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 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 Chair: Marguerite Durston, Quarles & Brady LLP, marguerite.durston@quarles.com
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International and Advanced Degree Advising and Recruiting Section
The International and Advanced Degree Advising and Recruiting Section is for NALP career services members who advise domestic and international advanced degree and LL.M. candidates and for NALP legal employer members who hire graduates with advanced and LL.M. degrees. The Section is also for NALP members who advise JD degree candidates and alumni regarding international opportunities and NALP legal employer members who are involved in JD international recruiting and the evaluation of international experience for both international and domestic positions.
Section Chair: Clara Solomon, New York University School of Law, clara.solomon@nyu.edu
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Judicial Clerkship Section
The Judicial Clerkship Section is for NALP members who have an interest in or responsbility 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 serves as a clearinghouse for judicial clerkship information important to the NALP membership.
Section Chair: Amy Perez, University of Miami School of Law, agperez@law.miami.edu
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Law School Alumni Career Services Section
The Law School Alumni Career Services Interest Group is for NALP members who work regularly with alumni, or have an interest in developing resources and services to provide their alumni.
Group Co-Chairs: Julie Anna Alvarez, Cardozo School of Law, jalvare1@yu.edu
and Robert White, UC Berkeley School of Law, rwhite@law.berkeley.edu
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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 expectations of professionalism in the legal profession.
Section Chair: Kristine Bridges, University of Tulsa College of Law, kristine-bridges@utulsa.edu
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Lawyer Professional Development Section
The Lawyer Professional Development Section is for NALP members who are interested in or have a responsibility for law firm professional development programming.
Section Chair: Molly Peckman, Dechert LLP, molly.peckman@dechert.com
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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.
Group Chair: Sheri Askinazi, Shearman & Sterling, sheri.askinazi@shearman.com
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LGBT Section
NALP has a longstanding commitment to be an advocate for diversity in the legal profession and in our membership. The LGBT Section is for NALP members with an interest in issues concerning LGBT law students and lawyers, and law schools and legal employers.
Section Chair: Mark Goldfarb, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, mgoldfar@yu.edu
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Newer Professionals Section
The Newer Professionals Section is for NALP members who have been in the profession for two years or less.
Section Chair: Nicole Oddo, Ballard Spahr LLP, oddon@ballardspahr.com
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Public Service Section
The Public Service Section is for NALP members who have an interest in or responsibility for advising law students 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 Chair: Samantha Kasmarek, Syracuse University College of Law, kasmarek@law.syr.edu
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Recruiting Section
The Recruiting Section is for NALP members who are responsible for, or who have an interest in, issues related to recruiting and hiring law students, new graduates and lateral attorneys.
Section Chair: Dyana Barninger, K&L Gates LLP, dyana.barninger@klgates.com
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Solo & Small CSO Section
This Section is for NALP members working in career services offices with two or fewer career services professionals.
Section Chair: Jennifer Zwagerman, Drake University Law School, jennifer.zwagerman@drake.edu
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Committees, Work Groups, and Task Forces

NALP Committees, Work Groups, and Task Forces are either elected by the membership or appointed by the President to complete a specific task or project.

Ad Hoc Work Group on Lawyer Career Pathways & Satisfaction
Members: Karen Britton, University of Tennessee College of Law; Marcy Cox, University of Miami School of Law; Kelly Voight, Yale Law School.

New Career Models Task Force
Chair: Carrie Weintraub, Holland & Knight LLP. Members: Betsy Armour, Suffolk University Law School; Bill Chamberlain, DePaul University College of Law; Georgia Emery Gray, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton; Linda Sheer Jones, Ohio State University Moritz College of Law; Randy Liss, Bryan Cave LLP; Sonia Menon, Neal Gerber & Eisenberg LLP; Laura Saklad, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP.

Nominating Committee
Chair: Mina Jones Jefferson, University of Cincinnati College of Law. Vice Chair: Kelly Mixon Morgan, Fish & Richardson, P.C. The Nominating Committee will cultivate nominations for and develop a slate of officers and board members for the 2014-2015 NALP year. The Committee will also oversee the nomination and election process of regional representatives , conference planning coordinators, and nominating committee members. NALP members elect regional representatives to the Nominating Committee each year. For more information and a list of committee members, see Board of Directors and Leaders.

Event Planning Work Groups

Annual Education Conference Planning Work Group
The Annual Education Conference Planning Work Group will plan and present the 2014 Annual Education Conference in Tampa, FL.
Chair: Kristine McKinney, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP. Vice-Chairs: Betsy Armour, Suffolk University Law School, Beth Hansen, Brigham Young University School of Law, Dana Mandell, O'Melveny & Myers LLP. The elected Conference Planning Coordinators serve as members of the Annual Education Conference Planning team.

Diversity Summit Planning Work Group
The Diversity Summit Planning Committee will identify specific topics for and execute the 2013 Diversity Summit.
Members: Lori Lorenzo, Leadership Council for Legal Diversity; and TBD. Advisor: Gretchen Bellamy, WalMart.  Board Liaison, Kisha Nunez, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.

Lawyer Development Institute Planning Work Group
The Lawyer Development Institute Planning Committee plans and presents the annual Professional Development Institute. NALP Members: Carrie Weintraub, Holland & Knight LLP; Georgia Emery Gray, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP.

Newer Professionals Forum Planning Work Group
The Newer Professionals Forum Planning Committee evaluates the event's programming and makes recommendations for changes, if any, for the event for the following year.
Members: Marcy Cox, University of Miami School of Law; Jason McCann, Harvard Law School; Anna Friesenhahn Whitener, Cox Smith Matthews Inc.

Professional Development Institute Planning Work Group
The Professional Development Institute Planning Committee, in partnership with ALI-ABA and the PDC, plans and presents the annual Professional Development Institute. NALP Members: Kristin Blank, Fox Rothschild LLP; Kristine Bridges, University of Tulsa College of Law; Andy Hales, Venable LLP.

Recruiting Summit Planning Work Group
Members: Matt DeGrushe, University of Southern California Law School; Bruce Elvin, Duke University School of Law; Carol Sprague, Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom LLP; Christie Wilson, Wilkie Farr & Gallagher.

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.

Changing Legal Profession Strategic Advisory Group
Chair: Lisa Dickinson, Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Members: Tom Grewe, Bryan Cave LLP; Jon R. Harris, Jr., King & Spalding LLP; Sue Manch, Bingham McCutchen LLP; LeaNora Ruffin, Widener University School of Law; Frank Wu, University of California Hastings College of Law.

Communications Advisory Group
Chair: Katherine Fox, Wayne State University Law School
Members: Jolie Blanchard, Jones Day; Julie Inouye, McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP; Tammy King, Creighton University School of Law; Josie Mitchell, University of Washington School of Law; Susan Reonegro, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP; Craig Spitzer, University of Iowa College of Law.

Member Professional Development and Educational Programming Advisory Group
Chair: Beth Moeller, UCLA School of Law
Members: Jeff Becherer, New York Law School; Michele Bendekovic, Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC; Lois Casaleggi, University of Chicago Law School; Sandee Magliozzi, Santa Clara University School of Law; Melanie Priddy, Bingham McCutchen LLP.

PSJD Advisory Group
Chair: Lauren Dubin, Georgetown University Law Center
Members: Sharon Booth, Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center; Nicole Clark, The University of Texas School of Law; Kate Devlin Joyce, Boston College Law School; Stacy Keehn, University of Ottawa Faculty of Law; Bill Penn, Lewis & Clark Law School; Sara Rakita, New York University School of Law; Alisa Rosales, DePaul University College of Law.
The PSJD Advisory Group supports the use, development, and enhancement of the PSJD service. In addition to working closely with and providing feedback to NALP’s Director of Public Service Initiatives, the advisory group contributes programming ideas for the Public Service Mini-Conference preceding the Equal Justice Works Conference and solicits nominations for the PSJD Pro Bono Publico Awards that are made in conjunction with the mini-conference.

Research Advisory Group
Chair: Kevin O’Rear, University of Notre Dame Law School
Members: Kevin Battle, Schiff Hardin LLP; Lindsay Callantine, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; Lisa Doster, Vanderbilt University Law School; Philip Heavilin, Michigan State University College of Law; Randi Lewis, Miles & Stockbridge P.C.; Susan Schell, University of Arkansas School of Law; Andrea Shaheen, Santa Clara University School of Law; Anna Friesenhahn Whitener, Cox Smith Matthews Inc; Dina Wreede, Foley Hoag LLP; Erin Wright, Roger Williams Law School

Technology Advisory Group
Chair: Christina Fox, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. Members:
Canadian Directory of Legal Employers Vice Chairs: Maryanne Forrayi, University of Calgary Faculty of Law and Nicole Lecours, Stikeman Elliot LLP.
NALP Directory of Law Schools Vice Chair: Traci Mundy Jenkins, American University Washington College of Law.
Social Media Vice Chair: Cristobal Modesto, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.
Website Redesign Vice Chair: Sarah Rohne, University of Minnesota Law School.
NALP Directory of Legal Employers Vice Chair: Sarah Staup, Dykema Gossett, PLLC.