EAST BAY CHAPTER ALA CONNECTION May 2026 
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear EBALA Members and Business Partners,
We’re fresh off the heels of ALA’s 2026 Annual Conference & Expo, which was full of engaging sessions, opportunities to connect, and just a little sightseeing. I am very excited to share that, not only did we receive the 2026 Chapter of Distinction Award, but we also received a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Award along with the Golden Gate, Greater Los Angeles, Orange County, and Silicon Valley chapters for our joint October 1, 2025 “DEI Under the Legal Microscope” session with Jonathan A. Segal. The Annual Conference is a truly unbeatable experience, and this year was no exception. If you missed out this year, block your calendar now for the 2027 Annual Conference and Expo in Milwaukee from May 23 through 26, 2027. You can also check out Legal Management magazine’s recap of sessions on financial topics from the conference.
The Board is busy planning another year of educational sessions, opportunities to give back to our community, and occasions to network. If you have ideas for topics, recommended speakers, or any other ideas for engaging, we are all ears and would love to hear from you at [email protected]. Keep an eye on EBALA’s calendar and your inbox for upcoming events.
In the meantime, I hope you’ll join us on May 21st for The East Bay Chapters Book Club discussion of The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins. You can find more information and register here.
Truly yours,
Crystal Ludlow
East Bay Chapter President
ALA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Photos from this year's 2026 ALA annual conference, hosted in Washington, DC, featuring our EBALA President, Crystal Ludlow, and ALA Colleagues.
CHAPTER OF DISTINCTION AWARD
EBALA has earned the 2026 ALA Chapter of Distinction Award! The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) Chapter of Distinction is awarded to chapters that go above and beyond to embody and promote ALA’s Vision, Mission and Strategic Direction and, in doing so, have a true impact on members and the legal community in their area.
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!
EAST BAY CHAPTERS BOOK CLUB
East Bay Association of Legal Administrators
East Bay Chapters Book Club
is excited to announce our next book selection:
Let Them Theory
By Mel Robbins
The Let Them Theory is a step-by-step guide on how to stop letting other people's opinions, drama, and judgment impact your life. Two simple words, Let Them, will set you free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. It’s time to build a life where you come first—your dreams, your goals, your happiness.
"The Let Them Theory taught me how to stop stressing about what I can't control, and focus on what I can: myself. I have never felt so free in my life." -- Mel Robbins, author of The Let Them Theory.
We hope you can join your fellow EBALA members for this fun and enjoyable night on Thursday May 21, 2026 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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DIVERSITY EQUITY INCLUSION & ACCESSIBILITY SPOTLIGHT
May - Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This month was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks on the project were Chinese.
May - Jewish American Heritage Month
May is Jewish American Heritage Month and focuses on the
diverse contributions of Jewish people to American culture.
May - Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and aims to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illnesses and reduce the stigma that surrounds them.
May - Older Americans Month
May is Older Americans Month, which was established in 1963 to honor the legacies and contributions of older Americans and to support them as they enter their next stage of life.
May 5 - Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is a yearly celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza.
May 17 - International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia focuses on diversity in sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, while also drawing attention to the violence and discrimination these groups face.
May 19* - Malcolm X Day
Malcolm X Day is celebrated either on his birthday (May 19) or the third Friday of May. The commemoration was proposed as an official state holiday in Illinois in 2015 and in Missouri in 2019. At present, only the city of Berkeley, California, observes the holiday with city offices and schools closed.
May 21 - World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is a day set aside by the United Nations as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together in harmony.
May 25 - African Liberation Day or African Freedom Day
African Liberation Day, or African Freedom Day, is a day to mark “the onward progress of the liberation movement, and to symbolize the determination of the People of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.”
May 25* - Memorial Day
Memorial Day was first observed after the Civil War as a way to honor the sacrifices of fallen soldiers. It is now observed on the last Monday of May as a way to honor and remember those individuals who served the United States and died in battle.
May 26–27* - Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice, commemorates the story of the Muslim Prophet Ibrahim’s test of faith when he was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Ismail. Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha to mark the end
of Hajj, the five-day pilgrimage Muslims undertake to cleanse the soul of sins and instill a sense of equality and brotherhood.
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.
