ALA Chicago

ALA Chicago Welcome to ALA Chicago's page. Welcome Friends of ALA Chicago! Before joining, please read the following expectations when utilizing this site.

The ALA (Association of Legal Administrators) is an international organization with a membership of over 9,000 administrators from law firms and corporate legal departments. This is a professional social media networking site to benefit all Chicago ALA and ALA members, as well as supporting business partners of the GCC. This site has been established to provide ALA members with current information

and news about our chapter. All postings will be moderated in accordance with these guidelines. Professional association members should refrain from any discussion which may provide the basis for an inference that the members agreed to take action relating to prices, production, allocation of markets, or any other matter having a market effect. All anti-trust guidelines enforced on the Chapter’s listserv also apply when using this site (see www.alachicago.com for the listserv anti-trust guidelines). The following list of topics, while not exhaustive, should not be discussed on this site:

• Post only news or other educational information relevant to GCC/ALA Members or to legal administrators generally. All other posting requests will require the appropriate permission.
• Please keep it professional.
• Do not discuss current or future billing rates, fees, fee procedures, disbursement charges or other items that could be construed as "price." Further, be very careful of discussions of past billing rates, fees or prices.
• Do not discuss what is considered to be a fair profit, billing rate or wage level.
• Do not discuss an increase or decrease in price, fees or wages, or disbursement charges. In this regard, remember that interest charges are considered an item of price.
• Do not discuss standardizing or stabilizing prices, fees or wages, or disbursement charges.
• Do not discuss the imposition of credit terms or the amount thereof.
• Do not complain to a competitor that his/her billing rates, fees or wages constitute unfair trade practices. In this context, another law firm (or even a corporate legal department) may be considered a competitor.
• Do not discuss refusing to deal with anyone because of his pricing or fees.
• The site is not to be used for the sale of any items, or to solicit and advertise for any type of employment opportunity. Please remember you represent ALA when participating as a member of this site, and it’s important to uphold the reputation of the ALA in a professional and respectful manner to both members and business partners.

Billable time doesn’t always disappear in obvious ways. A quick email, a call between meetings, time spent commuting bet...
09/01/2026

Billable time doesn’t always disappear in obvious ways. A quick email, a call between meetings, time spent commuting between matters—it adds up.

Join ALA Chicago on September 3 for our next Business Partner Pop-Up, Closing the Gap on Missed Billable Time, presented by Beth Thompson of Actionstep.

In just 30 minutes, Beth will share practical ways firms can identify where billable time is being lost and build better habits for capturing more of the work already being done.

📅 September 3 | 2:00 PM

💻 Virtual via Zoom

Register here: https://alachicago.org/events/event_list.asp

Meet one of the newest members of the ALA Chicago community!Angelique Carter, Billing Manager, at Gould and Ratner, join...
08/31/2026

Meet one of the newest members of the ALA Chicago community!

Angelique Carter, Billing Manager, at Gould and Ratner, joined ALA Chicago with a focus on connection, professional growth and learning from others across the legal management community.

With a particular interest in leadership development and creating opportunities for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, Angelique is looking forward to building relationships and bringing those connections back to her firm.

Outside of work, you’ll find Angelique in the kitchen, taking a cooking class or traveling in search of the next great meal.

We’re excited to have you as part of ALA Chicago, Angelique — welcome!

ALA Chicago leaders are taking the stage this September at the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) Level Up event!...
08/26/2026

ALA Chicago leaders are taking the stage this September at the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) Level Up event!

We’re proud to recognize two of our board members who will be presenting at an upcoming Chicago conference and sharing practical insights for legal management professionals.

Their sessions will explore two important areas of leadership in law firms:

**Stepping Into Legal Management**

Building credibility, navigating changing peer relationships, strengthening communication and developing the knowledge needed to grow as a legal management professional.

**How Law Firms Actually Work: Leading, Influencing, and Managing Across Roles**

Understanding law firm hierarchy, attorney autonomy and the realities of influencing decisions across partners, associates and staff.

We’re excited to see our ALA Chicago leaders contributing their experience and perspective to conversations that help strengthen the legal management profession.

Stay tuned as we spotlight each speaker and their session in the coming weeks!

Katie Sheldon, MBA, CLM and Kristi Seaton, CLM

Join your ALA Chicago peers for our upcoming Large Firm OA Roundtable — a space to connect, exchange ideas and talk thro...
08/25/2026

Join your ALA Chicago peers for our upcoming Large Firm OA Roundtable — a space to connect, exchange ideas and talk through the real challenges of managing today’s law firm environment.

💬 You drive the conversation. Bring a question, challenge or best practice to share and tap into the collective experience of your peers.

📅 August 26 | 12:00 p.m. | Zoom

We hope to see you at the table!

Register here: https://alachicago.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1732114&group=

Meet one of the newest members of the ALA Chicago community!With nearly a decade of experience in legal marketing and a ...
08/24/2026

Meet one of the newest members of the ALA Chicago community!

With nearly a decade of experience in legal marketing and a recent transition into a dedicated marketing role, Megan Welsh, Senior Business Development & Marketing Specialist at Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen, P.C, brings a creative perspective and a genuine enthusiasm for connection to ALA Chicago.

From building relationships across the legal community to creating memorable events, Megan is excited to get involved, exchange ideas and continue growing alongside fellow members.

And when she’s not working? You’ll likely find her exploring Chicago’s restaurant scene, catching a summer festival or talking movies and TV.

We’re excited to have you as part of ALA Chicago, Megan — welcome!

Join ALA Chicago for a meaningful conversation recognizing the contributions of Latinx professionals in the legal indust...
08/14/2026

Join ALA Chicago for a meaningful conversation recognizing the contributions of Latinx professionals in the legal industry.

Together, we'll explore representation, inclusive hiring practices, and culturally responsive engagement while sharing ideas to help create more inclusive workplaces.



Register here: https://alachicago.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2074434&group=

Finance professionals play a critical role in every law firm.Join the ALA Chicago Finance Affinity Group to connect with...
08/12/2026

Finance professionals play a critical role in every law firm.

Join the ALA Chicago Finance Affinity Group to connect with peers, exchange best practices, and discuss timely topics including year-end budgeting, tax law changes, collections, and other challenges impacting legal finance professionals.

We look forward to seeing you at our quarterly virtual and in-person meetings!



Register here: https://alachicago.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2075036&group=

Managing legal support teams comes with unique opportunities and challenges.Join ALA Chicago for an interactive roundtab...
08/10/2026

Managing legal support teams comes with unique opportunities and challenges.

Join ALA Chicago for an interactive roundtable where legal assistant and paralegal managers will share ideas, discuss current trends, and exchange practical strategies for staffing, training, professional development, technology, and building strong support teams.

It's a great opportunity to connect with peers and leave with ideas you can put into practice. We hope to see you there!

Register here: https://alachicago.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2046814&group=

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