Melissa M. Klimpel, ACP, has been appointed to NALA’s Continuing Education Council (CEC).  Her three-year term runs from July 10, 2009 to 2012.  The duties and responsibilities of the CEC center on the educational efforts of NALA.  Melissa has been assigned to the NALA Convention Committee. 

Melissa Hamilton, ACP, has successfully completed the Advanced Paralegal Certification course on Contracts Administration/Contracts Management.  She is now entitled to use the “ACP” (Advanced Certified Paralegal) credential. 

Melissa Hamilton, ACP, has been appointed as the Chair of NALA’s Professional Development Committee (PDC), by NALA President Linda Wolff.  As Chair, Melissa is also a member of the NALA Board of Directors.  Melissa has served on the PDC for the last 2 years. 

Fargo Paralegal Honored

Michelle Erdmann, ACP, a paralegal in the US Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, Fargo, was presented with the President’s Award by NALA, The Association of Legal Assistants/Paralegals during the association’s July annual meeting in San Diego. The award is conferred upon NALA members with a record of promoting high professional standards among paralegals.

      Ms. Erdmann has been a civil litigation paralegal for more than 16 years and has been a member of NALA since 1994. She served as Chair of the Professional Development Committee where she had a key role in developing the LEAP (Leadership Enhancement and Preparation) program. She served on the NALA Board of Directors from 2005–08 and was Editor of the 2005 and 2006 Career Chronicle editions of Facts & Findings, NALA’s magazine for paralegals.

      She was Ethics Chair for 2003–04 and a member of the Continuing Education Council from 2000 to 2003, during which time she was editor of the Facts & Findings “TechnoBits” column and Chair for the 2003 national convention. She completed two years on the Advanced Paralegal Certification Board in July 2009.

      She has also been a dynamic member of the Western Dakota Association of Legal Assistants where she has served as President, Vice President, Historian, NALA Liaison, State Bar and North Dakota Trial Lawyers Liaison, Technology Committee, and the Task Force Coalition of Legal Assistants.