Los Angeles Area Legal Recruitment Association

The Los Angeles Area Legal Recruitment Association (LAALRA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the professional development of legal recruitment administrators and career services professionals in the Los Angeles area. LAALRA was formally established as a non-profit organization in 2023, marking a significant milestone in its evolution.

History

LAALRA's origins trace back to February 1, 1979, when recruiters from 16 prominent Los Angeles law firms gathered for an informal luncheon. This event, held at the V.I.P. Palace, was the precursor to the formation of the organization. The initial participating law firms included Cox, Castle & Nicholson; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; Irell & Manella; Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue; Latham & Watkins; Lillick McHose & Charles; Loeb & Loeb; Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg & Tunney; McCutchen, Black, Verleger & Shea; McKenna & Fitting; Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp; O’Melveny & Myers; Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker; Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton; Tuttle & Taylor; and Wyman, Bautzer, Roghman & Kuchel.

As the organization grew, LAALRA amended its bylaws in 1999 to expand membership to include law school career services professionals and government legal recruiters as voting members, leading to a name change from "Administrators" to "Association." This move underscored the organization's recognition of the importance of collaborative efforts across different legal sectors.

Goals and Mission Statement

LAALRA focuses on several core objectives:

• Promoting Professional Quality: It aims to enhance the reputation and image of law firm and law school career service professionals.
• Exchange and Education: Facilitating the exchange of ideas and experiences regarding legal recruiting and placement.
• Professional Development: Offering educational programs and relevant information to its members.
• Community Building: Encouraging a spirit of cooperation and mutual support among its members.
• National Collaboration: Supporting the goals of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) and acting as a local voice on hiring and training issues.

Structure and Activities

LAALRA hosts regular meetings, typically every other month, at various venues including law firms, law schools, and local hotels. These meetings focus on addressing specific recruitment challenges and fostering discussions among professionals. Committees are formed to research and report on relevant issues, sometimes communicating findings to NALP. The organization thrives on the collaborative efforts of its members, who share resources and solutions to common problems.

LAALRA has evolved into a pivotal platform for legal recruitment and career services professionals, providing a network for professional growth and innovation in the legal recruitment field.