SCHOLARSHIPS and AWARDS
Scholarships
KLPI Certification Scholarship
KLPI offers a Certification Scholarship to help defray the costs for members to take a certification exam. This scholarship is available for any certification exam through any professional association. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is March 15, 2024.
Links to professional associations:
Marilyn Johnson PLS Scholarship
The Marilyn Johnson PLS Scholarship is a one-time award to be used toward the cost of the exam fee or reimbursement of study materials etc., for a member to take the Professional Legal Secretary/Certified Legal Professional exam through NALS. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is March 15, 2024.
Click here for a scholarship application.
The Legal Professional of the Year Award
The Legal Professional of the Year (LPY) Award is given annually to a legal professional who has been nominated. Nominees submit applications that are judged by a panel of three persons selected by the chairperson and approved by KLPI’s members. The finalists for the LPY Award are then interviewed by three persons who are likewise selected by the chairperson and approved by the members. The announcement of the LPY Award is the highlight of the banquet Saturday evening during the KLPI’s Annual Meeting.
BENEFITS
Continuing Legal Education
KLPI and local chapters sponsor seminars, educational programs, workshops and professional courses. Continuing legal education (CLE) credits can be obtained by attending approved sponsored events.
Publication
The Whole Truth . . . is KLPI’s official publication, which contains news of members across the state, information concerning KLPI functions, news items of interest pertinent to the legal professional, and educational articles. The Whole Truth . . . is published three times a year.
Certification
Assistance can be obtained in learning more about certification programs offered by national legal organizations: the Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS) and Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) certifications sponsored by the National Association of Legal Secretaries, Inc. (NALS); the Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) and specialty certifications (CLAS) sponsored by the National Association of Legal Assistants, Inc. (NALA); and the Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) sponsored by the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA). See KLPI’s Certification Program section.
Employment Referral
KLPI’s Employment Referral Committee is a referral service for members and other legal support professionals seeking employment in Kansas. The Committee’s service is made available to Kansas attorneys, law firms, members, and other legal support professionals seeking employees in the legal field. Employers may contact the Committee to advise KLPI of open/available positions and receive information from KLPI as to members seeking employment.
For more information, please contact sheryljim09@gmail.com.
Networking
Membership in KLPI and local chapters provides valuable opportunities for networking and contacts with peers to expand the circle of valuable professional contacts statewide.