The Foundation of the Association of Legal Administrators (FALA) is the educational, charitable and research affiliate of ALA. FALA’s purposes and goals extend to the development and presentation of educational programs, research on the changing legal workplace and workforce, and increasing awareness of the value of professional law firm administrators. FALA also strives to promote other activities that advance legal management and that encourage service to the legal profession.

FALA’s purposes and goals are met by carrying out the following objectives:

• Sponsor and publish research projects that explore key issues relevant to legal management.
• Provide aid, assistance, and advice to law schools to develop and implement courses and programs of study related to legal administration;
• Demonstrate the value of professional law office management to the legal community.
• Present lectures, seminars, discussions, and similar endeavors in law office management and administration and related disciplines; and
• Sponsor, present, produce or finance programs to assist ALA members who volunteer their management expertise to assist nonprofit law-related organizations.

Board of Trustees

FALA is governed by a Board of Trustees. Three trustees are appointed to a three-year term by the ALA Board of Directors, one is the ALA President-elect, and the fifth trustee is ALA’s Executive Director, who also serves as the Executive Director of the Foundation. It is the duty of the Board to oversee fundraising efforts and approve projects and studies in line with the objectives of FALA. Current members of the FALA Board of Trustees are:

Michael E. Palmer
Allen Matkins Leck Gamble & Mallory, LLP
Los Angeles, CA

Char Coulbert
Cairncross & Hempelmann, PS
Seattle, WA

Wendy Rice-Isaacs
Vorys Sater Seymour and Pease LLP
Cleveland, OH

Judy A. Anderson
Riddle & Wimbish, PC
Tulsa, OK

John J. Michalik
ALA Executive Director
Lincolnshire, IL

Donations

Contributions to FALA are tax deductible and can be made in honor of a specific individual or chapter. Checks should be made payable to FALA and sent to the following address: FALA, Attention John Michalik, 75 Tri-State International, Suite 222, Lincolnshire, IL 60069.

Chapter Challenge Program

The Chapter Challenge Program offers FALA incentive funding to ALA chapters who develop and complete projects that result in products supporting the efforts of legal administrators and promote the legal management industry. The end result or “product” will then be available to other chapters, law firms and other legal organizations, individual ALA members, academic institutions, or other groups. Chapters are encouraged to pursue projects in a variety of special interests such as:

• Educational programs and materials;
• Management-related research and activities;
• Diversity enhancement and achievement programs;
• Community service projects;
• Lawyer/administrator relations;
• Career enhancement and development programs;
• Partnering programs with bar associations and other law-related groups; and
• Other projects that promote the Mission and Goals of ALA.

Complete Chapter Challenge Program Grant Details