Hopper spearheads NALS of Lansing
By Sheila Pursglove
Legal News
Taking a bus trip to a casino to learn about gaming law is just one example of how Heidi Hopper has provided innovative education to members of the NALS of Lansing Chapter, one of several creative ideas that landed the Chapter the benefit of NALS Foundation Grants.
Hopper was elected as president of the NALS of Lansing Chapter on March 18, succeeding Vicki Ballinger who will soon become head of NALS of Michigan.
Hopper is returning to a position she held in 2011-12. She has also served as Vice President, Treasurer, and Annual Meeting Delegate, as well as on several committees including Meeting, Newsletter Editor, Law Day, Bar Liaison, Boss of the Year, Certification, Nominations and Elections, Social, Court Observance, Scholarship, Audit, Budget, and Awards Night & Installation of Officers.
For NALS of Michigan, she has served as treasurer for the past two years, and served on several committees including State Bar Liaison Co-Chair, Nominations, Credentials, and the Annual Meeting Committee.
A graduate of Okemos High School and Lansing Community College, where she earned associate's degrees in general and applied arts, Hopper found NALS early in her legal career. While working as a receptionist at a law firm, the human resource administrator suggested she join NALS to advance her knowledge of the legal field. It was the start of a long association with NALS, where Hopper was delighted to find legal support certification exams and a wide circle of friends. In March 2006, she passed the Accredited Legal Secretary (ALS) exam. She then graduated with her Professional Legal Secretary (PLS) certification in 2010 and recently recertified her certification.
Hopper, who in 2009 was elected Legal Professional of the Year and in 2014 was named a first Member of Year for the NALS of Lansing Chapter, has worked in the legal field for 15 years and in the past 5 years as a legal assistant with the municipal litigation practice group for Foster Swift Collins & Smith in Lansing.
"My membership with NALS has broadened my scope of resources, including networking," she says. "Confidence comes from knowledge. The continuing legal educational programs assist me with my day-to-day life issues in both business and personal activities."
According to Hopper, NALS remains top notch in a competitive market for legal education that in turn, will provide and improve opportunities to enrich staff, legal secretaries, paralegals, attorneys, human resource administrators, and others in preparing them to perform well in their jobs. "The value of my NALS membership is never ending- from legal education, social marketing, and social outings, and the available information from those across the country is simply priceless."
Her goals for the 2015-2016 fiscal year at the local level of NALS include leading and guiding members to reach their personal and professional goals in the legal field. She would also like to see more community awareness of NALS and the benefits its members find essential to their lives.
In addition to her legal work, Hopper also holds a real estate license, which she keeps current through continuing education each year.
Married for 15 years, Hopper and her husband, Michael, have an imaginative, high energy 7-year-old son, Taylor, and live in Mason. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family (including her 86-year old father, Kenneth Anderson), camping, gardening, reading, competitive cheerleading officiating, dancing, and sharing a frosty glass of warm milk with friends.
Published: Thu, Apr 02, 2015
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