AFFILIATES

ARTICLES

CAREER CENTER 

CAREER GUIDANCE

CERTIFICATION

EDUCATION

HOME

LINKS

MEETINGS

MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERS AREA

OFFICERS/DIRECTORS

PRIVACY/SECURITY

SPONSORS

Chartered in 1995

On April 27, 1995, the Texas nonprofit corporation was chartered and has recruited members in 35 states, D.C., Canada, England, Russia, India, The Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Argentina, with 22 affiliates. Affiliates of Legal Secretaries International Inc. are completely autonomous organizations, and their members may also be, but are not required to be, direct members of Legal Secretaries International Inc. Affiliates are required to have at least 10 members and pay a fee of $100 a year. The affiliate receives a copy of all publications of Legal Secretaries International Inc.

To see a list of our affiliates click here. To learn how to start a new affiliate organization or how an existing organization can become an affiliate, send email to vicepresident@legalsecretaries.org.

Aims and Purposes

Legal Secretaries International Inc. is an educational association for anyone presently or formerly employed in or interested in the legal secretarial profession. The preamble to the bylaws reads:

We are an educational association for legal secretaries Whose Members value ethics, professionalism, and continuing legal education.
Our mission is to increase the competencies of legal secretaries
So that they may better serve attorneys, courts, businesses, and governments.
Our Members include legal secretaries of all levels of experience
Who support their professional association with their time, talent, spirit, and resources.

The bylaws further declare:
The management of this corporation is to be in the hands of the Members.

Legal Secretaries International Inc. operates on a calendar year with two meetings per year: a mid-year meeting in April and the annual meeting in October, in different cities. Annual dues are $35; meeting registration fee is $15, plus meals.

Specialty certification examinations have been developed in the following specialties:

Certified Legal Secretary Specialists

• Civil Litigation
• Probate
• Real Estate
• Business Law
• Criminal Law
• Intellectual Property

Exams are given in conjunction with meeting dates. Examination fee is $35 for members; $75 for nonmembers. Five years' law-related experience is required, with educational and certification waivers allowed for up to three years.

Structure

Five officers and seven directors are answerable to the members. Every member has a voice and a vote; proxy voting is available to those who cannot attend a meeting. Between meetings, members are encouraged to send ideas and suggestions to all officers and directors. Local, statewide, or regional groups may become affiliated associations, and cross-membership is not required.

Meetings and Benefits

The first meeting was held in October 1995 in Houston. Meetings have been held in, or are planned for, Tucson, AZ (4/96), Louisville, KY (10/96), Portland, OR (4/97), San Antonio, TX (10/97), Dallas, TX (4/98), Chicago, IL (10/98), Salt Lake City, UT (4/99), Wilmington, DE (10/99), Lexington, KY (4/00), Galveston, TX (10/00), Connecticut (05/01), Indianapolis, IN (10/01), Tucson, AZ (4/02), Atlanta, GA (10/02), New Orleans, LA (mid-year 2003), Washington, DC (10/03); Reno, NV (4/04); Portland, OR (10/04); Orlando, FL (4/05); Houston, TX (10/05); and Philadelphia, PA (4/06); Louisville, KY (10/06); Ontario, CA (4/07); and Nashville, TN (10/07).

Legal education seminars are included with all meeting registrations. In each city, we "Leave a Legacy of Love & Security" by bringing stuffed animals for abused and underprivileged children.

What do you get for your $35 annual dues? Quality education; frequent and regular communications; current membership roster, bylaws, and standing rules; networking opportunities; and lifelong friendships.