Regular membership is open to professionals who play a key role in managing or supporting the operations of a legal organization – regardless of specific position title.
You may be eligible if you:
(a) Serve in a full-time management or administrative role, either:
- Leading the overall operations of your organization, or
- Managing most of the administrative functions in the absence of a full-time legal manager
(b) Have responsibility for supervising others or leading important functions, which may include:
- Managing or leading team members, or
- Overseeing a critical area such a finance, human resources, operations, technology, or similar functions
(c) Exercise independent judgment in your role, with responsibility for decision-making and outcomes
(d) Work within a legal organization, such as:
- Law firms
- Corporate Legal Departments
- Government or Court Systems
- Legal Aid or nonprofit organizations
- University Legal Departments
- Other organizations primarily engaged in the practice of law
Who This Membership is Designed For
This membership is intended for professionals focused on the business and operational management of legal organizations.
Applicants whose primary responsibilities involve the direct delivery of legal services to clients (such as practicing attorneys or legal assistants focused on client work) may not meet the criteria for regular membership.
Eligible applicants should have primary responsibility for one or more core management areas outlined in the application. These examples are meant to guide you and are not exhaustive:
(a) General Management, including management of a majority of the following activities: policy making; strategic and tactical planning; business development; risk management; quality control; organization development; other general management functions beyond mere attendance at management meetings.
(b) Financial management, including management of a majority of the following activities: planning; forecasting; budgeting; variance analysis; financial-reporting; operations analysis; general ledger accounting; rate determination; billing and collections; cash flow control; banking relationships; investment; tax planning; tax reporting; trust accounting; payroll; ERISA accounting; other financial management functions beyond mere record-keeping.
(c) Human resource management, including management of a majority of the following activities for the legal, paralegal and support staff: recruiting; selection; placement; orientation; training and development; performance evaluation; salary administration; employee relations; motivation; counseling; disciplining; discharging; benefits administration; workers’ compensation; personnel data systems; organizational analysis; job design; resource allocation; other human resource management functions beyond mere record-keeping.
(d) Systems management, including management of a majority of the following activities: systems analysis; operational audits; procedural handbooks; cost/benefit analysis; computer systems design; programming and systems development; information services; records management; library management; office automation; document construction systems; information storage and retrieval; telecommunications; litigation support; legal practice systems; other systems management functions beyond mere procedures manuals and computer program documentation.
(e) Facilities management, including management of a majority of the following activities: space planning and design; office renovation; purchasing; inventory control; reprographics; records management; reception/switchboard services; telecommunications; mail; messenger; other facilities management functions beyond mere purchase order processing.
(f) Practice management, including management of one or more of the following activities: lawyer recruiting; lawyer training and development; legal assistant supervision; practice development; marketing; public relations; advertising; work product quality control; professional standards; substantive practice systems; and other practice management functions beyond mere record-keeping and press release writing.
If you are qualified and interested in membership in LAAT, you must download and complete this application.
Legal Administrators Association of Tallahassee 