EAST BAY CHAPTER ALA CONNECTION January 2026 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Chapter Members and Business Partners,
Happy New Year! As we kick off another year, I want to thank you for being such an engaged and supportive part of our Chapter. Your energy, ideas, and willingness to connect with one another are what truly make this group special.
This past year, our Chapter continued to learn, grow, and adapt together, and that would not have been possible without your involvement. Whether you attended events, shared your expertise, volunteered your time, or simply showed up to connect, you helped strengthen our community and move us forward.
We are excited about our upcoming educational conference, Morning in the East Bay, and hope you will join us. We are pleased to welcome back employment law experts Chad Greeson and Richard Gillespie, Shareholders in Littler’s Law Group, who will present the 2026 Labor Law Update.
We are also especially excited to welcome Michael Cohen from Duane Morris, who will present Become a Destination Law Firm Employer: Status Quo Is Falling Behind. Michael is a highly respected partner in Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration practice and is known for his engaging and insightful presentations that resonate with law firm leaders.
In addition, we are honored that the ALA’s President-Elect Elyssa Goldstein will be in attendance.
The year ahead brings new opportunities to learn, network, and support one another, and your Board is excited about what is in store. We hope you will stay involved, try something new, and continue to share your voice as we build another great year together.
On behalf of the Board, wishing you a happy, healthy, and successful New Year. We are grateful to have you as part of our Chapter and look forward to seeing you throughout the year.
Truly yours,
Helen G. Miranda, SHRM-CP
East Bay Chapter President
Pictures from EBALA Holiday Luncheon
EAST BAY CHAPTERS BOOK CLUB
East Bay Association of Legal Administrators
East Bay Chapters Book Club
is excited to announce our next book selection:
Theo of Golden
By Allen Levi
One spring morning, a stranger arrives in the small southern city of Golden. No one knows where he has come from…or why.
His name is Theo. And he asks a lot more questions than he answers.
Theo visits the local coffeehouse, where ninety-two pencil portraits hang on the walls, portraits of the people of Golden done by a local artist. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and putting them back in the hands of their “rightful owners.” With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life altered.
A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.
Please register today!
We hope you can join us for this fun and enjoyable night on Thursday January 22 at 6:00 pm.
Please register today!
A Zoom link will be sent after you register for this event.
If there is a book you would like East Bay Chapters to consider in the future,
please contact Tina Riehl at: [email protected].
Our book club is open to all EBALA members and business partners as well as members of other ALA chapters.
Please join us at any time.
The only cost to you is the purchase of the book.
ALA CONTINUING EDUCATION and CALENDAR
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ALA MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Renew today!
We know the end of the year can be quite hectic. Cross one thing off your to-do list now: Renew your ALA membership for 2026 and continue enjoying all the benefits you rely on!
It’s been a productive year at ALA, with new programs, resources and networking opportunities designed to support your professional growth. From valuable benefits from our business partners to engaging education experiences, your membership keeps you connected to the tools and community you need to succeed.
Renewing is easy:
• Log in to your ALA profile at alanet.org, view your account and renew online.
• Prefer to pay by check? Download and print your personalized invoice, then mail it with your payment.*
Need help? Email us at [email protected] or call +1-847-267-1585. We’re happy to assist with renewals over the phone using a credit card during business hours.
Don’t wait — renew today and keep connecting, learning and growing with ALA in 2026!
*Please note: We're moving! Effective December 1, 2025. If you're paying by check, please ensure that it's sent to the P.O. Box 7411110, Chicago, Illinois, 60674-1110 USA listed on your invoice.
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.
Spring 2026
Application deadline: April 3
Test dates: May 4-29
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] 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.
ALA 2025 Compensation and Benefits Survey
Build a Stronger Firm. Benchmark Your Compensation.
ALA’s 2025 Compensation and Benefits Survey is now available! Get your copy of the most effective tool your firm can use to stand out in a competitive talent market. With hiring pressures increasing and employee expectations shifting, firms that ground their decisions in real data are the ones that stay ahead.
This comprehensive resource gives you clear, actionable insights you can use immediately. The Salary Calculator adds even more value by delivering personalized results by position based on key inputs, including location, experience and firm size to save hours of analysis and guesswork.
Gain access to data from 200+ law firms, representing nearly 1,000 locations nationwide and more than 400 pages of detailed findings. Results are broken down by region, state and metro area so you can benchmark your firm with precision — and position your compensation strategy where it truly needs to be.
Prepare for 2026 with confidence. This year’s survey equips you with the insight needed to make informed, competitive decisions right out of the gate:
• Differences in compensation across regions and major metro areas
• Benefits trends rising in popularity and importance
• Associate attorney compensation as experience levels increase
• Standard billable hours goals for associates and paralegals
• And much more!
If your firm has 100+ attorneys, consider the Large Firm Key Staff Survey bundle. It includes the full Compensation and Benefits Survey plus expanded data for director-level and C-suite roles — essential insights for large-firm leadership teams.
Start the new year with clarity, confidence and an advantage. Purchase your copy today to strengthen your firm's competitive position.
