EAST BAY CHAPTER ALA CONNECTION June 2026 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear EBALA Members and Business Partners,
I hope your summer is off to an excellent start and that you made some time to nurture your mental health in May during Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental Health America has some great resources to continue (or begin – it is never too late!) to support your mental health journey. I also highly recommend joining the Mental Health & Wellness Group in the ALA Online Community, where the discussion is focused on education, certification, awareness and other issues related to mental illness/crisis, response, wellness programs, and self-care. The group also hosts an invaluable monthly, members only mental health meetup.
In our continued commitment to supporting our DEIA Mission Statement, on June 13, EBALA will host a community event at the Contra Costa Food Bank. Members, Business Partners, and guests are invited to attend. Register here or email our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Chair, Lorie Gehrke, for more information.
In July, representatives from EBALA’s Board of Directors will head to Tempte, Arizona to attend ALA’s 2026 Chapter Leadership Institute (CLI). CLI is a wonderful opportunity for current and aspiring chapter volunteers to share ideas, strengthen connections, advance leadership skills, and enhance our chapter. Think you might be interested in chapter leadership? Would you like to attend CLI in 2027? EBALA is always looking for volunteers! Email me so we can match you with opportunities that fit your schedule and interests. You can also check out ALA’s monthly Chapter Leadership Educational Series for more information.
Finally, I would like to thank EBALA’s Business Partners for their generous support of our chapter. Members, please take a moment to check out our Business Partner Service Listing page. Our Business Partners offer a wide range of services, and you just might discover exactly the partner your firm needs.
Truly yours,
Crystal Ludlow
East Bay Chapter President
EAST BAY CHAPTER - CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Cyber Chapter Webinar: Do We Need a Website Redesign? (Maybe) - 5 Questions Law Firms Should Ask First
Before committing valuable time, budget and internal resources to a full website redesign, law firms should take a strategic pause and evaluate what’s actually broken and what isn’t. This webinar is designed to guide legal managers, marketing directors , and managing partners walk through five practical questions that help determine whether their website requires a full redesign, targeted improvements, or simply smarter ongoing maintenance. The goal is to help firm’s avoid unnecessary overhauls, allocate resources wisely and make a strategic, data-driven that strengthens performance and return on investment.
To register, please visit: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_qRoyoRRoTu-KXNB_XMawaA#/registration.
For more information about the Cyber Chapter of the ALA, please visit: https://cyberala.org/.
2026 Chapter Leadership Institute (CLI)
Omni Tempe Hotel at ASU
Up Your Leadership Game!
ALA CONTINUING EDUCATION and CALENDAR
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DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY SPOTLIGHT
June - LGBTQ+ Pride Month
June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month. It was established to recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ individuals have had on the world. June 28 is also the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots. LGBTQ+ groups celebrate this special time with pride parades, picnics, parties, and memorials for
those lost to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS, and other group gatherings.
June - Immigrant Heritage Month
June is Immigrant Heritage Month, which was established in 2014. It gives people across the United States an opportunity to annually explore their own heritage and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of America. It celebrates immigrants across the United States and their contributions to their local
communities and economy.
June 2 - American Indian Citizenship Day
American Indian Citizenship Day commemorates the day in 1924 when the U.S. Congress passed legislation recognizing the citizenship of Native Americans.
June 14 - Flag Day
In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress
June 19 - Juneteenth or Freedom Day
Juneteenth, or Freedom Day/Emancipation Day, honors the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas and Louisiana finally heard that they were free — two full months after the end of the Civil War. This date, therefore, became the day of emancipation for thousands of Black people in the United States. Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, slaves in Texas
waited more than two and a half years to learn of their freedom — until the Union Army arrived in Galveston and ordered that slavery end in the Lone Star State. Ever since, many Black Americans have celebrated that date as “Juneteenth Independence Day.” Juneteenth is an official state holiday in Texas and became a federal holiday in 2021.
June 20 - World Refugee Day
World Refugee Day is an international day organised every year on 20 June by the United Nations. It is designed to celebrate and honor refugees from around the world. The day was first established on 20 June 2001, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
June 25 - 26 - Ashura
Ashura is an Islamic holiday commemorating the day Noah left the
ark and the day Allah saved Moses and the Israelites from the
Egyptians.
June 26 - Anniversary of Legalization of Same-Sex Marriages in the U.S.
June 26 marks a major milestone for civil rights in the United States, as the Supreme Court announces its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. By one vote, the court rules that same-sex marriage cannot be banned in the United States and that all same-sex
Marriages must be recognized nationwide, finally granting same sex couples equal rights to heterosexual couples under the law.
CERTIFIED LEGAL MANAGER (CLM)
ALA CLM Exam - Application Deadline
As the legal services industry becomes more diverse and competitive, the need for capable managers has never been greater. That’s why earning the Certified Legal Manager (CLM)® credential — regardless of the stage in your career — shows your commitment to staying on top of the legal management profession.
It’s not an easy credential to earn — but that’s the point. The CLM credential demonstrates to your firm that you’ve mastered the knowledge, skills and abilities to operate at a high level of expertise in the field of legal management. In fact, those who pass the CLM exam have the depth and breadth of knowledge and management skills that enables them to visit any 30- to 50-attorney law office, review practices and procedures, and be conversant about — and offer advice in — each of the areas listed in the Body of Knowledge.
ALA is the exclusive credentialing body of the CLM program, and CLM Certification is offered twice a year — in the Spring and the Fall. (See below for important 2026 dates.)
Fall 2026
Application deadline: September 4
Test dates: November 2-25
ALA’s Certified Legal Manager (CLM)® credential demonstrates to your firm that you’ve mastered the knowledge, skills, and abilities to operate at a high level of expertise in the field of legal management. ALA is the exclusive credentialing body of the CLM program, and CLM Certification is offered twice a year — in the Spring and the Fall.
For more information on ALA's Certified Legal Manager exam, please visit https://www.alanet.org/certification or contact [email protected].
As an additional incentive for EBALA members to obtain their CLM certification, EBALA will reimburse* your application fee when you pass the exam!
*Terms and conditions apply. Please contact [email protected] (Crystal Ludlow) for more information.
ALA Member Benefits
ALA Member Benefits
Get Connected to the Legal Management Industry
It almost sounds like a cliché now: Change is happening rapidly in the industry. But it’s true — from talent wars to generative AI — it’s all having an impact on the way legal managers do business. ALA membership allows you to connect with experts, build leadership skills and gain knowledge to embrace these transitional opportunities for growth.
Members have exclusive access to extensive professional development opportunities, collaborative peer communities, strategic operational solutions and business partner connections. We provide solutions to the most critical strategic and operational challenges you face in your legal management profession today, while preparing you for the opportunities of tomorrow.
- Engaging Education Experiences: Successful law firms innovate, and our content-rich education experiences give you the ideas to bring back to your firms. Through in-person events, webinars and our online learning system, we give members what they need to know to keep their firm ahead of the curve. Members receive discounted rates on all of these educational experiences.
- A Community Ready to Help: There is a lot of noise on the internet. Cut through the online clutter and come to a place where you’ll find a supportive community to help you wade through any challenges. Choose from topic-driven, member-only Online Communities that connect you with peers who are in your professional interest area or work at your management level. Participate in virtual roundtables, chats and meetups. Join an ALA chapter to connect with colleagues locally. No matter your networking need, we’ve got a way to keep you connected.
- Content and Resources at the Ready: ALA’s flagship publication, Legal Management, is delivered digitally 10 times a year to your inbox. You’ll also receive our weekly e-newsletter, BOLD Bites, to stay in the loop of upcoming events. On-the-go? Listen to our podcast, Legal Management Talk. As firms face hiring challenges, you’ll want the data that’s in the annual ALA Compensation & Benefits Survey. Members can participate in the research component and receive discounted pricing. Plus, we’ve created a DEIA Resource Hub and Mental Health Resource Hub so you’ll find our latest content on these vital topics.
- Find Your Next Job in Our Job Bank: Or, if your firm is looking to hire for a position, post it. Members get a discount here, too. Visit our Career Center to learn more.
- Valuable Benefits from Our Business Partners (vendors). Our Value in Partnership (VIP)SM is a select group of business partners that ALA vets on your behalf. As the official member benefits resource, our VIP Program brings savings and solutions exclusively for ALA members. Members also have access to discounts from other business partners. Or, browse our Legal Marketplace to find the solution or service provider for a specific need.
