The Experienced Professionals 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. 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.)

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2025-26 Section Co-Chairs: Jessica Hoffer, Chapman and Cutler LLP and Paul Johnson, Chicago-Kent College of Law Illinois Institute of Technology

July 2025 Board Report (PDF)

Work Groups:

Annual Education Conference Planning / Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with section members to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2026 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin+ articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Brainstorm current topics and suggest at least 2 educational webinars to be produced in a timely manner throughout the year. Serve as a resource for other groups and sections about programs/articles on pathways to leadership.

Experienced Professionals and Newer Professionals Collaboration
Collaborate with the Newer Professionals Section on the continuation of the mentoring program, identify several “panel of experts” topics and resulting webinars, explore the concept of videos highlighting experienced professionals sharing their experiences on pre-determined topics, and consider other ways to impart helpful assistance to newer professionals. Serve as a resource and assist in recruiting mentors for the New Professionals Mentor Program.

Legal Career Pipeline
Building off the work of the Member Advancement & Pipeline Development Work Group, this group will explore how we can market the importance of our professional experience to our employers and recent graduates to entice them to enter our professions.

DEI Liaison
The DEI Liaison will identify and address issues related to DEI that are specific to the section and work with the VP of DEI and the DEI Steering Committee to address these issues.

Retirement Advisement Network
Provide mentors to members contemplating retirement, provide guidance and advice to experienced members considering retirement, and serve as a resource to managers supporting their staff members navigating retirement decision-making. Share best practices for succession planning for members and their staff. Encourage and foster continued involvement in NALP of both retirees post-retirement, as well as members who move to other positions outside of traditional NALP member categories, through affiliate membership. Support the NALP staff to further publicize the existence and benefits of affiliate membership. Review NALP’s Alumni status membership and consider ways to continue the relationship with our most seasoned members.

Well-Being Champion
Identify specific well-being issues faced by the section and propose and institute well-being initiatives to address these issues. Participate as a member of the Well-Being Section.

2024-25 Section Co-Chairs: Joe Christian, Bass, Berry & Sims PLC and Jessica Hoffer, Chapman and Cutler LLP

June 2024 Board Report (PDF)
November 2024 Board Report (PDF)
February 2025 Board Report (PDF)
March 2025 Board Report (PDF)

Work Groups:

Annual Education Conference Planning / Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning
Brainstorm with section members to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2025 Annual Education Conference and topics for Bulletin+ articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for both. Brainstorm current topics and suggest at least 2 educational webinars to be produced in a timely manner throughout the year. Serve as a resource for other groups and sections about programs/articles on pathways to leadership.

Experienced Professionals and Newer Professionals Collaboration
Collaborate with the Newer Professionals Section on the continuation of the mentoring program, identify several “panel of experts” topics and resulting webinars, explore the concept of videos highlighting experienced professionals sharing their experiences on pre-determined topics and consider other ways to impart helpful assistance to newer professionals. Serve as a resource and assist in recruiting mentors for the New Professionals Mentor Program.

Legal Career Pipeline
Building off the work of the Member Advancement & Pipeline Development Work Group, this group will explore how we can market the importance of our professional experience to our employers and recent graduates to entice them to enter our professions. In particular, this group will continue to work on three member pipeline videos: Value of NALP Membership, Intro to the Profession, and Leadership Pathways to NALP.

DEI Liaison
The DEI Liaison will identify and address issues related to DEI that are specific to the section and work with the VP of DEI and the DEI Steering Committee to address these issues.

Retirement Advisement Network
Provide mentors to members contemplating retirement, provide guidance and advice to experienced members considering retirement, and serve as a resource to managers supporting their staff members navigating retirement decision-making. Share best practices for succession planning for members and their staff. Encourage and foster continued involvement in NALP of both retirees post-retirement, as well as members who move to other positions outside of traditional NALP member categories, through affiliate membership. Support the NALP staff to further publicize the existence and benefits of affiliate membership. Review NALP’s Alumni status membership and consider ways to continue the relationship with our most seasoned members.

Well-Being Champion
Identify specific well-being issues faced by the section and propose and institute well-being initiatives to address these issues. Participate as a member of the Well-Being Steering Committee.

2023-24 Section Co-Chairs: Heather Spielmaker, University of Kansas School of Law and Joe Christian, Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

February 2024 Board Report (PDF)
November 2023 Board Report (PDF)
July 2023 Board Report (PDF)

2022-23 Section Co-Chairs: Heather Spielmaker, University of Kansas School of Law and Mary Beth Walsh, Dykema Gossett PLLC

April 2023 Board Report (PDF)
February 2023 Board Report (PDF)
November 2022 Board Report (PDF)
July 2022 Board Report (PDF)

2021-22 Section Co-Chairs: Natalie Quinn, Fox Rothschild LLP and Heather Spielmaker, University of Kansas School of Law

April 2022 Board Report (PDF)
February 2021 Board Report (PDF)
July 2021 Board Report (PDF)

2020-21 Section Chairs: Yvonne Denenny, UCLA School of Law and Nicole Oddo Smith, Dechert LLP

April 2021 Board Report (PDF)
February 2021 Board Report (PDF)
November 2020 Board Report (PDF)
July 2020 Board Report (PDF)

2019-20 Section Chair: Erin Springer, Alston & Bird LLP

April 2020 Board Report (PDF)
February 2020 Board Report (PDF)
November 2019 Board Report (PDF)
July 2019 Board Report (PDF)

2018-19 Section Chair: Michele Bendekovic, Bass Berry & Sims PLC

April 2019 Board Report (PDF)
July 2018 Board Report (PDF)
November 2018 Board Report (PDF)

2017-18 Section Chair: Yujin An, Greenberg Traurig, LLP

April 2018 Board Report (PDF)
February 2018 Board Report (PDF)
November 2017 Board Report (PDF)
July 2017 Board Report (PDF)

2016-17 Section Chair: Lee Anne Masetti-Martin, Morrison & Foerster LLP

April 2017 Board Report (PDF)
February 2017 Board Report (PDF)
November 2016 Board Report (PDF)
July 2016 Board Report (PDF)

2015-16 Section Chair: Katie White, The George Washington University Law School

April 2016 Board Report (PDF)
February 2016 Board Report (PDF)
November 2015 Board Report (PDF)
July 2015 Board Report (PDF)

2014-15 Section Chair: Katie White, George Washington University Law School

April 2015 Board Report (PDF)

February 2015 Board Report (PDF)

November 2014 Board Report (PDF)

July 2014 Board Report (PDF)

2013-14 Section Chair: Marguerite Durston, Quarles & Brady LLP

April 2014 Board Report (PDF)

February 2014 Board Report (PDF)

November 2013 Board Report (PDF)

July 2013 Board Report (PDF)

2012-2013 Section Chair: Beth Hansen, Brigham Young University Law School

April 2013 Board Report (PDF)

February 2013 Board Report (PDF)

November 2012 Board Report (PDF)

July 2012 Board Report (PDF)

2011-2012 Section Chair: Esther Rodriguez, Holland & Knight LLP

April 2012 Board Report (PDF)

February 2012 Board Report (PDF)

November 2011 Board Report (PDF)

July 2011 Board Report (PDF)

2010-2011 Section Chair: Mary Hoagland, Brigham Young University Law School

April 2011 Board Report (PDF)

February 2011 Board Report (PDF)

November 2010 Board Report (PDF)

July 2010 Board Report (PDF)

2009-2010 Section Chair: Bill Chamberlain, Northwestern University School of Law

April 2010 Board Report (PDF)

February 2010 Board Report (PDF)

October 2009 Board Report (PDF)

October 2009 Addendum (PDF)

July 2009 Board Report (PDF)

2008-09 Section Chair: Lynne Traverse, Bryan Cave LLP

March 2009 Board Report - PDF

February 2009 Board Report - PDF

July 2008 Board Report - PDF

Report to the Board October 2007 (PDF)
Final Report (PDF)