In this issue
EAST BAY CHAPTER ALA CONNECTION (August) 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear EBALA Members and Business Partners,
In July, Javier Morelos (Treasurer) and I attended ALA’s annual Chapter Leadership Institute (CLI) in Tempe, Arizona. We were grateful to have the occasion to connect with leaders from other chapters, share ideas, and return energized and inspired. I attended many sessions, but there were three that really stood out: “Unsubscribe: Reclaim Focus, Amplify Performance and Cultivate Alignment” with Ginny Priem; “The Ownership Shift: Moving from Intention to Execution” with Dr. Michael Dorsey; and “From Transition to Continuity: Creating Sustainable Committee Playbooks” with John Beyer and Hilary Martin from the Orange County Chapter. This year there was a musical theme, and to demonstrate how much “[We]’ve Got You, Babe,” we really committed to the bit at the welcome reception. Chapter leadership is not only an opportunity for networking and growth, it can also be really fun!
I have been incredibly lucky to attend CLI for the last four years and would like to thank our business partners and members for the opportunity. While I would love to attend CLI every year, it would be great to send a fresh face next year. Have you been waiting for a reason to volunteer and serve on the chapter board? Maybe that fresh face is you! Save the date -- next year, CLI will be held in San Antonio, Texas from July 22 through 24, 2027.
If you’re thinking about earning the Certified Legal Manager (CLM)® credential, but the cost of the exam has been standing in your way, now is a great time to apply to take the exam. In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the CLM credential, the Foundation of ALA is awarding 30 scholarships throughout 2026 — 15 were awarded in the spring and 15 will be awarded this Fall. The CLM application deadline is September 4, 2026 for test dates November 2-25 and the Foundation’s scholarship application window is from July 27 through August 21, 2026.
If you’re not quite ready for the CLM exam, you might check out Level Up: ALA’s Legal Management Fundamentals, taking place September 18-19 in Chicago or LegaLeaders: ALA’s Executive Leadership Summit, taking place October 23-24 in New Orleans. Level Up is tailored specifically for professionals in the early stages of their legal management careers or those transitioning into management roles within the field and LegaLeaders is designed exclusively for C-suite professionals and senior managers seeking forward-thinking strategies, practical leadership tools and actionable insights to make a greater impact within their organizations.
Closer to home, I am excited to share that the locations for EBALA’s new quarterly-or-so series of no host social hours across the East Bay have been selected and you should see those invitations in your inbox very soon. We hope to see you at an event soon!
Truly yours,
Crystal Ludlow
East Bay Chapter President
ALA CHAPTER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (CLI)
Photos from ALA's annual Chapter Leadership Institute (CLI) in Tempe, Arizona. Attended by EBALA's president, Crystal Ludlow, and treasurer, Javier Morelos.
Javier Morelos (Treasurer):
"This year’s ALA Chapter Leadership Institute Conference in Tempe, Arizona, had a musical theme and every session was a certified hit! I had the opportunity to attend this year’s conference along with our esteemed President, Crystal Ludlow, to learn about ways other chapters are employing to bring new ideas to their members and Business Partners.
The conference provided many networking opportunities and Crystal and I brough the EBALA energy to the desert during the welcome reception mixer with our costumed homage to Sonny and Cher!
My conference schedule was full of a variety of sessions, which included sessions on strategic planning (brainstorming ways to address and increase chapter growth), rethinking member experience, value, and connection (looking at new ways of doing chapter business), a DEIA Exchange session with other chapter leaders, an opportunity to connect with the Chapter’s CCC liaison, a session on moving from idea intention to execution, and a very important session on creating committee playbooks for future chapter leadership. The conference keynote speakers underscored the theme of the event with their messaging on tips on practical leadership skills that create results and ways that chapter leaders can create inclusive and welcoming spaces for all.
I find the energy at these conferences to be incredible. While the conference calendar is always packed, I tend to leave feeling excited and energized with a sense of purpose of bringing these ideas back to the chapter.
EBALA Social Hours
EBALA is pleased to announce our Almost Quarterly Social Hours! These no-host events are meant to bring EBALA Members and Business Partners together to connect and catch-up. We hope to see you at a Social Hour event soon!
Thursday, November 12, 2027, at 5 pm at Western Flyer Brewing – Lafayette https://wfbrewing.com/
Thursday, February 11, 2027, at 5pm at Calicraft Upstairs – Walnut Creek https://www.calicraft.com/pages/calicraft-upstairs
ALA CONTINUING EDUCATION and CALENDAR
DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY SPOTLIGHT
August - National Civility Month
August is National Civility Month that was founded to help the world remember to treat others the way we wish to be treated ourselves — with kindness, empathy and respect.
August 9 - International Day of the world's indigenous peoples
The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on 9 August each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection.
August 27 - Raksha Bandhan
Raksha Bandhan is a Hindu holiday commemorating the loving kinship between a brother and sister. “Raksha” means “protection” in Hindi and symbolizes the longing a sister has to be protected by her brother. During the celebration, a sister ties a string around her brother’s (or brother-figure’s) wrist and asks him to protect her. The
brother usually gives the sister a gift and agrees to protect her for life.
August 17 - Marcus Garvey Day
Marcus Garvey Day celebrates the birthday of the Jamaican politician and activist who is revered by Rastafarians.
August 21 - National Senior Citizens Day
National Senior Citizens Day was proclaimed a holiday by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 as a time to raise awareness to the issues that affect senior citizens and their quality of life.
August 26 - Women's Equality Day
Women’s Equality Day commemorates the August 26, 1920, certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote.
August 26 - Eid Milad-un-Nabi
Eid Milad-un-Nabi is an Islamic holiday commemorating the birthday of the prophet Muhammad. During this celebration, from sundown to sundown, homes and mosques are decorated, large parades take place and those observing the holiday participate in charity events.
August 27* - Hungry Ghost Festival or Zhongyuan Festival
Hungry Ghost Festival, or Zhongyuan Festival, is a Chinese holiday where street, market and temple ceremonies take place to honor dead ancestors and appease other spirits.
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].
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.
