HISTORY

NALS of Greater St. Louis, formerly known as Greater St. Louis Legal Secretaries Association, was founded in 1952 at the suggestion of attorney Milton Greenfield, Jr.  Mr. Greenfield became acquainted with NALS while traveling to California.  After returning to St. Louis, he spoke with Katherine Kelly, the proprietor of a stenographers’ service, about the organization.  He indicated that with the organization’s emphasis on continuing legal education, it could be of assistance in obtaining qualified legal secretarial staff.  Ms. Kelly checked into forming a local chapter and the Greater St. Louis Legal Secretaries Association was founded.

While the organization began as an association for legal secretaries, it has evolved into an organization whose members consist of those persons engaged in work of a legal nature and those whose jobs intersect with the legal profession, as well as individuals who provide  services and/or support to the legal profession.

While NALS of Greater St. Louis’s primary purpose is to enhance knowledge of the legal profession through continuing legal education, it also provides many opportunities to improve individual performance and enables networking with other individuals in the legal profession.  When you become a member of NALS of Greater St. Louis, you also become a member of the state and national organizations.

NALS of Missouri’s name changed with the times from the Missouri Association of Legal Secretaries (“MALS”).  MALS was organized in 1956 to unite all people employed in Missouri in work of a legal nature for the purpose of exchanging ideas, increasing knowledge of the law, and stimulating a higher order of business and professional attainment.  While NALS of Missouri is no longer an active Chapter, we are hopeful that will change soon.

Since 1949, NALS has been the premier association for professional legal support staff, providing many opportunities to improve individual performance and enhance knowledge of the legal profession through continuing legal education, networking with peers, national education conferences, and certification.

Through affiliation with NALS, our members are offered corporate-sponsored benefits such as car rental discounts, insurance plans, travel agency assistance, and discounts on shipping via FedEx.

NALS of Greater St. Louis holds its regular monthly meetings on the 1^st Wednesday of the month except June and July.  Guests are welcome to attend all but the April meeting, which is “closed” for the purpose of election of new officers.  The offices and committees of NALS of Greater St. Louis offer a wide variety of activities and great potential for member involvement and leadership growth.