I have been a legal secretary with Burr & Forman for more than 25 years. After my first few months at Burr & Forman I was reassigned to a young attorney who had just recently made partner and who had a very heavy workload. I still work for Jack P. Stephenson, Jr.25 years later. In my work with Mr. Stephenson, I have been able to get to know and work closely with his clients — my clients — and I have learned a great deal about client relations. Mr. Stephenson appreciated my work, and he gave me the encouragement I needed to pursue my professional goals.
When I first came to work for the firm, I had just joined BLSA - my local chapter of NALS… the association for legal professionals. I wanted to be the best legal secretary I could be, and I felt that membership in a professional association would help me do that. There were no other NALS members at Burr at that time, but the managing partner noticed my work and my interest in promoting teamwork and continuing education for the staff, and he asked me to “round up some of the secretaries” and the firm would pay their dues. So I did, and that was the beginning of something I never imagined in my wildest dreams. Because of the support of the firm, I was able to chair committees and hold offices in BLSA. I eventually served as chapter president and then moved on to the state level. Once again Burr & Forman offered me the support and encouragement I needed, not only to become certified as a Professional Legal Secretary, but also to hold offices on the state level - again all the way to president.
I eventually moved on to the national level of NALS, served on the board for a few years, and then in 2003 I became the national president. I am now a very proud “Past President” of NALS, and will be eternally grateful for the opportunities and encouragement I received from my firm and my boss to follow my dreams. As a fairly green legal secretary 25-plus years ago, I never would have imagined that I would lead a 6,000 member organization. And it never would have happened without the backing of Burr & Forman. Is this a great place to work? You bet it is!
— Susan S. Turner, PLS