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.

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2025-26 Section Co-Chairs: Julie Dietrich, Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and Greg Miarecki, University of Illinois College of Law 

July 2025 Board Report (PDF)

Work Groups:

Annual Education Conference / Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning / PDI
Brainstorm with section members to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2026 Annual Education Conference, the 2025 Professional Development Institute, and topics for NALP Bulletin+ articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for each. Brainstorm current topics and suggest at least 2 educational webinars to be produced in a timely manner throughout the year.

Law Student and Lawyer Professional Development Sections Collaboration
Collaborate with the Lawyer Professional Development Section to create and deliver programming on legal career development strategies for law students and lawyers from recruitment through retirement and assess the effectiveness of professional development courses/programs from the perspectives of students and associates. Ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are considered for all programs.

Leadership Work Group
The Leadership Working Group looks to accomplish three things: 1) Create a list of NALP members interested in leadership program and activities; 2) Host three Zoom calls during the course of the year, designed to share ideas and resources relating to teaching leadership to law students and lawyers, potentially co-sponsoring these sessions with other sections as needed; and 3) Work to develop at least two sessions focused on leadership training for legal professionals for the Annual Education Conference, as well as a lunchtime working group meeting hosted by the working group at that AEC.

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.

ABA Section 303 Professional Identify Compliance
Review and update ABA Standard 303 Professional Identity Guidance best practices and resources.

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: Greg Miarecki, University of Illinois College of Law and Tiffany Tucker, University of Houston Law Center

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 / Bulletin+ Article and Webinar Planning / PDI
Brainstorm with section members to develop ideas and identify speakers for the 2025 Annual Education Conference, the 2024 Professional Development Institute, and topics for NALP Bulletin+ articles. Assist members through the completion of the RFP processes for each. Brainstorm current topics and suggest at least 2 educational webinars to be produced in a timely manner throughout the year.

Employer/Office of Student Affairs Collaboration

Law Student and Lawyer Professional Development Sections Collaboration
Collaborate with the Lawyer Professional Development Section to create and deliver programming on legal career development strategies for law students and lawyers from recruitment through retirement and assess the effectiveness of professional development courses/programs from the perspectives of students and associates. Ensure diversity, equity and inclusion are considered for all programs.

Leadership Work Group
The Leadership Working Group looks to accomplish three things: 1) Create a list of NALP members interested in leadership program and activities; 2) Host three Zoom call during the course of the year, designed to share ideas and resources relating to teaching leadership to law students and lawyers, potentially co-sponsoring these sessions with other sections as needed; and 3) Work to develop at least two sessions focused on leadership training for legal professionals for the Annual Education Conference, as well as a lunchtime working group meeting hosted by the working group at that AEC.

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.

ABA Section 303 Professional Identify Compliance
Continuing the work of the ABA Section 303 Professional Identity Compliance Task Force.

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: Elizabeth Carr, Mercer University School of Law and Diana Mercer, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

November 2023 Board Report (PDF)

2022-23 Section Chair: Alexander Piller, University of Illinois College of Law

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: Freda Coleman-Jackson, Washington & Lee University School of Law and Shar Poormosleh, Southwestern Law School

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

2020-21 Section Chair: Jennifer Salyers, William & Mary Law School

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

2019-20 Section Chair: Elisabeth Beal, University of South Carolina School of Law

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

2018-19 Section Chair: Eric Bono, University of Denver Sturm College of Law

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

2017-18 Section Chair: Eric Bono, University of Denver Sturm College of Law

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

2016-17 Section Chair: Katelynn McBride, University of Notre Dame Law School, katelynn.mcbride.52@nd.edu

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

2015-16 Section Co-Chairs: Susan Fine, The George Washington University Law School and Gerald Slater, Suffolk 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: Susan Fine, The 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)

A Law Student's Guide to Strategic Career Management: Tools for Career Decision-Making, Satisfaction and Success (PDF), a resource from The NALP Foundation

2013-14 Section Chair: Kristine Bridges, University of Tulsa College of Law

April 2014 Board Report (PDF)

February 2014 Board Report (PDF)

November 2013 Board Report (PDF)

July 2013 Board Report (PDF)

2012-2013 Section Chair: Kristine Bridges, University of Tulsa College of Law

April 2013 Board Report (PDF)

February 2013 Board Report (PDF)

November 2012 Board Report (PDF)

July 2012 Board Report (PDF)

2011-2012 Section Chair: Marina Feehan, University of San Francisco School of Law

April 2012 Board Report (PDF)

February 2012 Board Report (PDF)

November 2011 Board Report (PDF)

July 2011 Board Report (PDF)

Law Student Professional Development Resources (PDF)

2010-2011 Section Chair: Sandee Magliozzi, Santa Clara University School of Law

April 2011 Board Report (PDF)

February 2011 Board Report (PDF)

November 2010 Board Report (PDF)

July 2010 Board Report (PDF)

2009-2010 Section Chair: Josie Mitchell, University of Washington School of Law

April 2010 Board Report (PDF)

February 2010 Board Report (PDF)

November 2009 Board Report (PDF)

July 2009 Board Report (PDF)