2009 Spirit of AALA Award 

By Sarah Turner, CLM

Every year, the Spirit of AALA trophy is awarded to the person or organization that exemplifies the characteristics necessary to help our organization achieve its mission…

"to promote and enhance the competence and professionalism of legal administrators and all members of the management team; to improve the quality of management in law firms and other legal service organizations; and to represent professional legal management and managers to the legal community and to the community at large"

This year’s recipient was Epstein Becker & Green, PC. They encourage membership in AALA, allow its AALA members to be active and to seek positions at the committee, section and board level and support full participation in all of our events. We have benefited time and again from the involvement and expertise of their people such as:

Jeff Hamrick who is a former Chapter President and has served on the board for six years; four years as Vendor Relations Director. Even before that Jeff served on numerous committees such as Community Service and Vendor Relations. Jeff has also volunteered for almost every community service project since he has been a member.

Michael Steele who has served as the Technology Committee Chair for two years and has volunteered for numerous community service projects since becoming a member in AALA.

Lana Arms who has served on the Business Partnership Lunch Committee for four years and who has also volunteered for numerous community service projects since becoming a member in AALA.

Thank them all when you see them and I encourage each and every one of you to participate and support AALA and its mission.