The Hidden Powerhouse of Minnesota Legal Management: What ALAMN Is and Why You Should Attend its Conference

The Association of Legal Administrators Minnesota Chapter (ALAMN) is an affiliate of the international Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) with membership comprised of over 200 legal administrators and legal professionals. Its membership spans firms ranging from solo firms to large regional and national law firms. Its mission is to help its members enhance their career by providing education, networking, mentoring, and practical resources for managing law firms and other legal service organizations.

Its purpose is to advance the professionalism of legal administration and legal management by providing continuing education on topics of finance, human resources, technology, DEIA, leadership, facilities, and so much more. Furthermore, it gives members access to educational meetings, conferences, webinars, and industry experts on legal management topics on the local and national level. In addition, it created a strong network where legal management professionals can discuss best practices, common challenges, and share practical solutions. It promotes career growth through mentorship, leadership opportunities, and professional development.

Beyond professional education and networking, ALAMN provides valuable resources that supports members and the broader legal community. Members also have access to the chapter’s annual salary survey, a highly regarded benchmarking resource in Minnesota that provides current compensation data for the legal profession, helping firms make informed hiring and compensation decisions. ALAMN’s  job bank further connects employers with qualified legal management professionals and provide members with access to career opportunities throughout the region, making it a valuable resource for both career advancement and talent acquisition.

ALAMN has been recognized on the national level with the DEIA Award in 2025, and the Chapter Award for Business Partner Relations (Large Chapter) and the Elevate Award in 2026 by ALA. ALAMN earned this distinction for its unwavering commitment to supporting legal management professionals across Minnesota. The chapter serves as a key resource for continuing education, leadership development, and industry collaboration, consistently providing opportunities that help members grow professionally and build meaningful connections within the legal community

The Annual Education Conference and Business Partner Expo is widely regarded as ALAMN’s premier event because it brings together its members, business partners, and industry experts for a full day of comprehensive learning experience which embodies the chapter’s core mission. It features a keynote speaker, breakout sessions, exhibit hall with business partners, opportunities to connect with peers from law firms across the state, and a community service event. This year’s Annual Education Conference and Business Partner Expo will be held on September 22, 2026 at the Hilton Airport located in Bloomington, and members and non-members are all encouraged to attend.

Conference topics are selected from the most current pressing issues facing legal administrative professionals. This year’s keynote, Dr. Meg Myers Morgan, is an award-winning, best-selling author, keynote speaker, University of Oklahoma college professor, and nationally recognized expert on negotiation, leadership, and self-worth. Her inspiring Tedx talk sparked her bestselling book and has helped audience across the country rethink the power of everyday negotiation. Blending research, humor, and practical advice, Dr. Morgan’s Know Your Worth: How to Negotiate for Everything You Want in Life and Work, will leave you motivated, empowered, and ready to advocate for yourself, team, and organization.

This year’s speaker lineup brings together industry experts and thought leaders to deliver actionable sessions on leadership, finance, cybersecurity, staffing, moving, and remodel.

Kara Hardin, founder of the Practice Lab, Registered Psychotherapist, mental health educator, and former corporate lawyer, will explore the hidden beliefs that drive high achievers and shares practical strategies for achieving excellence without burnout or resentment in The Hidden Beliefs of High Achievers.

Affinity Consulting will be presenting Stop Wasting Everyone’s Time: How to Run Meetings That Actually Work. A practical facilitation toolkit for legal administrative professionals to improve meeting effectiveness by distinguishing between meeting types and applying the right structure to each, utilization of techniques to increase engagement and decision quality, and designing streamlined cadences to reduce time while improving outcomes.

Stop Chasing Remittances: Modernizing Law Firm AR with Integrated Receivables presented by UMB Bank and FIS, will explore how law firms can modernize accounts receivable through Integrated Receivables, reducing manual payment matching and improving cash flow. Learn how to unify payment channels, leverage AI to extract remittance data, integrate with legal ERPs, eliminate manual processing, and reduce Days Sales Outstanding (DSO).

The Robert Half Team will be presenting The Legal Talent Playbook: Hiring and Compensation Trends for 2027. Understand how labor market trends are reshaping legal hiring in 2026 and use those insights to address key challenges like skill gaps, candidate scarcity, and rising compensation expectations. Apply practical, data-driven strategies to strengthen talent pipelines, and stay competitive in attracting and retaining legal talent.

BMO Commercial Bank will be presenting on Cybersecurity because law firms continue to be prime targets. It is no longer an IT issue because it impacts operations, client trust, regulatory compliance , and firm reputation, all of which are key concerns for legal management professionals. This session will provide steps to help identify risks, address vulnerabilities, and strengthen controls.

Lastly, representatives from Gardner Builders, Fluid Interiors, Perkins & Will, and Saul Ewing will comprise a panel speaking on Contemplating a Law Office Move or Remodel – What You Need to Know. Attendees will learn how law firms are adapting to hybrid work models, optimizing existing layouts, and making strategic real estate decision that balance cost, culture, and client experience.

Minnesota law firms face constant change, and success depends on strong leadership, smart operations, and a network of professionals who understand the challenges of managing a modern legal organization. ALAMN membership provides the education, resources, and connections needed to stay ahead. Invest in your firm and join ALAMN and don’t miss Minnesota’s premier legal management event.