To explore this question, we conducted an internal review of 2025 registration data from a group of Vocalmeet’s legal clients. Our aim was simple: identify which broad CLE categories and course topics attracted the most registrations in this sample, then translate those observations into practical planning ideas for the year ahead.

Note: This overview is based on aggregated data from a limited set of Vocalmeet clients and is intended for informational purposes only; it should not be relied on as legal advice or as a definitive market study.

Our Method

With Vocalmeet’s platform, clients can choose the names and number of taxonomies applied to a product (including online courses). As a result, each organization structures its catalogue differently, creating tags and categories tailored to its needs.

When it comes to broad analysis, however, we would need a consistent way to compare continuing legal education (CLE) topics across multiple clients.

Here’s the method we used to standardize and analyze the data:

1. Collected 2025 enrollment data

We reviewed CLE enrollment data from participating Vocalmeet legal clients for the 2025 calendar year.

2. Standardized course categories

We created a shared list of 20 broad categories to use across all participating clients (for example, Administrative Law, Family Law, Practice Management).

This step allowed us to compare “like with like” across organizations that use their own internal taxonomies. After all, you can’t compare apples to oranges!

3. Mapped client catalogues to the shared taxonomy

We reviewed course titles and descriptions and assigned each course to one primary category from the standardized list.

When a course could fit into more than one category, we used the primary learning objective to determine its place.

4. Ranked categories by enrollment

We calculated the total number of completed registrations for each standardized category and ranked them from highest to lowest within this sample.

5. Identified high-enrollment course themes

Separately, we looked at the individual courses with the highest total registrations.

We noted the main topic and standardized category for each to pinpoint which themes appeared most often among high-enrollment offerings; this allowed us to determine whether a popular topic did not match a top 10 category.

Please note: As this was an internal analysis, the results provide only a snapshot of a subset of clients and do not reflect a comprehensive view of the legal profession as a whole.

Our Top 10 CLE Categories of 2025

From most to least popular by registration:

1. Administrative Law
2. Professional Responsibility
3. Equity, Diversity & Well-Being
4. Litigation
5. Ethics & Professionalism
6. Bankruptcy/Insolvency Law
7. Technology & Innovation
8. Practice Management
9. Real Estate Law
10. Wills, Estates, and Trusts
11. Family Law
12. Criminal Law
13. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
14. Government Law
15. Elder Law
16. Constitutional Law
17. Business / Corporate Law
18. Employment / Labor Law
19. Immigration Law
20. Federal Practice

Our Top 10 CLE Topics of 2025*

From our list of most-enrolled courses, several recurring themes emerged. Below is a generalized snapshot of the kinds of topics that appeared most frequently, along with their standardized category:

1. Bankruptcy Law: Considerations – Bankruptcy/Insolvency Law
2. Social Security: Considerations – Administrative Law
3. Social Security: Managing Overpayments – Administrative Law
4. Social Security: An Introduction – Administrative Law
5. Legal Considerations that Arise from Disasters – Government Law
6. Social Security: Family Benefits – Administrative Law
7. Social Security: Disability – Administrative Law
8. Negotiation and Mediation Strategies in Family Disputes – Family Law
9. Legal Considerations Affecting Military Service Members and Veterans – Litigation
10. Time-Saving Techniques for Crafting Documents in Word – Practice Management

*Topics have been generalized for confidentiality.

What This Tells Us

1. Social security featured prominently

Five of our top ten courses focused on social security, from introduction to specifics. This suggests an interest in practical guides on this topic, whether in an introductory course or a deep dive into a specific section or issue.

This also highlights the value of practical, “how-to” CLE series that help practitioners navigate complex topics and regulatory frameworks. An added benefit of hosting themed CLEs is that they can be grouped into course bundles with a tidy discount to encourage members to buy.

2. Ethics, inclusion, and well-being were key considerations

At the category level, Professional Responsibility, Ethics & Professionalism, and Equity, Diversity & Well-Being all appeared in our top five.

For bar associations and regulators, this underscores the importance of keeping ethics, professionalism, bias, and wellness programming current and practical.

3. Practical technology and time-savers attracted steady interest

While many high-enrollment courses in our sample dealt with complex legal subjects, we also saw strong interest in practical “how-to” courses focused on:

• Effective use of everyday tools (such as word-processing software)
• Practice management efficiencies
• Broader Technology & Innovation topics

For bar associations, these indicate a desire for CLE that helps members leverage their existing tools, improve their hard skills, and stay up to date with technology advancements and trends.

4. Administrative Law sat at the top of our list

In our dataset, Administrative Law ranked first among the standardized categories.

While this is just one sample, it’s broadly consistent with commentary highlighting in-demand fields. For instance, Donna Campbell of The National Jurist noted that labour and employment law were highly popular fields in 2025, while compliance and risk management were hard to ignore (2025).

5. Specialized topics still mattered

Only ten categories can occupy the “top 10,” but that doesn’t mean the rest are unimportant. Areas like Family Law, Criminal Law, ADR, Government Law, Elder Law, and Immigration Law continued to attract registrations.

These topics support areas of practice that are often described as “evergreen” (Campbell, 2025) and offer variety for members who have already met the core requirements. The key is balance: a strong CLE portfolio often mixes broad, high-demand topics with more specialized, high-value offerings.

Key Technology Takeaways

Regardless of your specific course mix, how you organize and analyze your online catalogue has a significant impact on how members find content and how your team learns from the data.

1. Use Clear, Consistent Categories

A helpful rule of thumb: avoid having more categories than you have courses in a given area.

• Keep category labels clear, intuitive, and descriptive; the clearer your catalogue navigation, the easier it will be for members to find the courses that suit them best.
• Standardize your internal taxonomy as much as possible (especially if you manage multiple programs, sections, or jurisdictions).
• Review your categories periodically to remove duplicates and merge overlapping terms.

Best-practice guidance from content and taxonomy experts consistently emphasizes that well-designed taxonomies improve searchability, navigation, and reporting (Nav Thethi, 2024).

If your catalogue is cluttered with unclear or redundant categories, it becomes harder for both members and staff to see what’s working.

2. Tag Courses Thoughtfully

Categories are only one layer of wayfinding; tags help you add precision.

• Apply consistent tags for more specific themes (such as social security, attorney wellness, bias and inclusion, or artificial intelligence (AI)) as needed.
• You can then use these tags to cross-sell related programs and create niche store bundles.

This is also how you can reflect member search terms (e.g., by problem, audience, or scenario) without overexpanding your main category list.

3. Let Your LMS Reports Inform Your CLE Roadmap

You don’t need to wait for a yearly review to learn from your data. With a capable learning management system (LMS), you can:

• Generate reports by category, course, date range, and more.
• See which courses are gaining or losing traction.
• Spot patterns (such as high registration but low completion rates, which may signal a need to revise areas of course content).

Because every member base is different, your own data should guide your decisions. You can reuse our method of analysis to test which topics, formats, and series work best for your audience.

4. Turn Insights Into Action

Once you’ve identified your own high-interest areas, you might consider:

• Developing a short series around topics that attract sustained interest
• Creating course bundles that connect related themes (like wellness, professionalism, practice management, or technology)
• Featuring high-performing categories more prominently in your CLE storefront, newsletter, or social media
  • Some LMSs even allow you to promote “featured courses”; you can take advantage of this capability to further boost your most popular courses.

The goal here is to use the data you collect to make your upcoming catalogue more strategic, relevant, and easy to navigate.

Conclusion

While our top 10s of 2025 provide an interesting snapshot, the real story is written in your own data. Consider:

• Which categories and topics attracted the most enrollments last year?
  • Which had the most completions?
• Which formats (single course, series, bundle) performed best for your members?

By pairing these insights with clear categories, thoughtful tagging, and regular reporting, you can build a data-driven CLE roadmap that reflects the needs of your members.

So…what were your top 10 CLEs this year?

Works Cited

Campbell, D. (2025, June 9). Fastest-growing and most in-demand legal specialties in 2025. National Jurist. https://nationaljurist.com/fastest-growing-and-most-in-demand-legal-specialties-in-2025/

Nav Thethi. (2024, September 26). Master Taxonomy Management for Digital Success. CMSWire.com. https://www.cmswire.com/digital-experience/master-taxonomy-management-for-digital-success/

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Let’s face it: no matter who you are, your schedule is probably jam-packed and chaotic. And these days, time has become a more precious commodity than ever before. Attention spans are shrinking, and traditional training methods don’t always fit into the daily lives of professionals. This is where microlearning comes in: a modern learning strategy that delivers bite-sized, focused content in short, engaging formats.

If you’re hesitant about incorporating microlearning into your member-based organization’s strategy (or aren’t sure where to start!), now is the perfect time to explore how it can help your organization.

Microlearning can be a powerful benefit for enhancing member engagement while also supporting professional development. Its flexible and accessible nature serves up valuable knowledge in small, digestible lessons, keeping learners engaged and up to date without the information overload!

Whether it’s reinforcing key industry insights, providing on-the-spot training, or boosting skill development, microlearning ensures learning happens wherever and whenever in ways that really stick!

Imagine giving your members access to quick, impactful learning experiences that fit seamlessly into their day, whether that’s between meetings, while commuting, or during a short break. By incorporating microlearning into your educational strategy, you can empower your members to develop professionally, stay up to date with industry trends, and gain even greater value from their membership.

Are you ready to transform how your organization educates and engages its members? Keep reading, and you’ll soon know all the tricks!

Key Takeaways

Microlearning helps member-based organizations deliver learning that’s easier to complete, remember, and apply.

• Enhanced engagement: Short, interactive lessons keep members focused and involved.
• Flexibility and convenience: Members can learn anytime, anywhere, and on any device.
• Cost-effectiveness: Smaller lessons are easier to create, update, and share.
• Improved knowledge retention: Focused content and repetition help learning stick.
• Adaptability to diverse learning styles: Videos, quizzes, infographics, podcasts, and scenarios support different preferences.
• Simple implementation: Assess your members’ needs, create concise content, use the right learning platform, and iterate and improve with feedback. 

What is Microlearning?

Microlearning is a modern approach to lessons that breaks down educational content into small, easy-to-digest chunks, helping learners absorb information fast.

Unlike traditional training, which can take hours, microlearning is designed to be quick, engaging, and efficient, making it easier for learners to pick up (and retain!) knowledge in a snap. It’s ideal for busy professionals in need of skills here and now, which also means it pairs well with just-in-time learning.

According to the Association for Talent Development (n.d.), many people find microlearning valuable because it can be consumed quickly while learners are on the job, unlike longer in-person or virtual training that may require them to carve out time in their work schedules.

At its core, microlearning focuses on one clear learning objective at a time, helping learners grasp and apply information without feeling overloaded. It can stand alone as a quick lesson, act as a refresher for bigger programs, or provide specific education to tackle workplace challenges exactly when needed.

Why Your Organization Needs Microlearning

In a world where every minute counts (and information overload is a real issue!), it’s crucial for organizations to be flexible and creative in order to deliver educational content that works better.

Microlearning is one of the best solutions: its bite-sized, impactful lessons can fit perfectly into even the busiest of schedules! Here’s why microlearning is a total game-changer for your organization:

1. Enhanced Engagement

Long training sessions can be a drag, sometimes leading people to tune out and lose interest. Microlearning delivers short, visually appealing content that captures and retains learners’ attention.

According to the Digital Learning Institute (2014), there is a 50% higher engagement rate with microlearning, and learners achieve a higher retention rate. The precise learning chunks and wide variety of formats benefit both the learner’s experience and the amount of information they retain by reducing the likelihood of cognitive overload.

This is consistent with Balasundaram et al. (2024)’s research, which also demonstrated microlearning’s ability to reduce cognitive overload among learners, which, in turn, allows for enhanced learning and better knowledge retention.

That’s why content like videos, quizzes, and interactive (“gamified”) modules can help encourage members to actively participate in their learning, rather than just passively consume information!

When training is engaging, members are much more likely to stick with it, retain it, and later apply it to real-world situations.

2. Flexibility and Convenience

Microlearning is designed for today’s on-the-go professionals. It allows them to learn anytime, anywhere, on any device. Now, when members have fifteen minutes between meetings or are taking a breather from their current project, they have the ability to access quick, focused learning that doesn’t disrupt their workflow.

Simanjuntak and Haris (2023) explain that microlearning offers flexibility and convenience because the modules are typically focused on a specific learning objective and can be accessed on demand.

Microlearning means members don’t have to dedicate large blocks of time to learning. Instead, they go at their own pace, making it easier to balance professional development with other daily responsibilities.

3. Cost-Effectiveness

Developing and delivering traditional training programs can be expensive and time-consuming. Microlearning, however, is more affordable to create, update, and distribute–especially when using digital platforms! Since content is delivered in smaller chunks, organizations can continuously refresh training materials without investing heavily in large-scale course redesigns.

Lower costs mean more opportunities to provide ongoing education to members while maximizing the return on investment (ROI) of training initiatives.

4. Improved Knowledge Retention

According to Clearwater (2024), people tend to forget a large portion of new information within days or even hours unless they reinforce their learning. Microlearning helps combat this by using repetition and quick, focused lessons that are easier to remember. Interactive elements like quizzes and real-world scenarios also help learners retain knowledge, ensuring that they can apply what they’ve learned when it counts.

After all, better retention leads to stronger skill development, making learning more valuable and impactful for members!

5. Adaptability to Diverse Learning Styles

Every person has a unique learning style, including your members. Some members may prefer watching videos to understand difficult concepts, while others learn best by participating in more interactive activities, and others still excel through reading and reflection. Microlearning can come in a variety of formats (such as videos, infographics, quizzes, and podcasts), which ensures that you can create content that suits every member.

Level up your member-based organization’s learning and accessibility by tapping into each of these different preferences to make your education more inclusive and effective for everyone!

How Can Your Organization Implement Microlearning?

Now that you know the benefits of microlearning, the next question is: how do you make it work? While it’s not rocket science, success comes down to having a solid game plan. Here’s how to get started:

1. Assess Member Needs

Before developing microlearning content, you’ve got to put yourself in your members’ shoes. To pull this off, take the time to gather insights through various methods such as surveys, interviews, and an analysis of past training data to identify important areas like:

• Skill gaps and professional development goals
• Preferred learning formats
• Helpful topics for their professions

By tying microlearning to the actual needs and experiences of your members, you ensure that your content is not just fun to engage with but also (and perhaps more importantly) practical and impactful.

2. Develop Quality Content

Microlearning is effective when it’s clear, concise, and engaging. Cover specific topics and focus on one learning objective per module. Consider implementing:

• Short videos to explain concepts visually
• Infographics for quick reference guides
• Scenarios and case studies for real-world application
• Quizzes and interactive elements to reinforce learning

Content should also be mobile-friendly so that members can access training anywhere–whether they’re in the office or on the go!

3. Leverage Technology

The right learning platform can make or break your microlearning strategy. When choosing a Learning Management System (LMS), look for something that:

• Supports various microlearning formats (such as videos, PDFs, SCORM files, and images)
• Can easily be used on mobile devices
• Tracks learner progress and engagement
• Allows for on-demand content delivery

Organizations can also use email campaigns, social media, or mobile apps to deliver this bite-sized learning directly to members, ensuring even easier access!

4. Gather Feedback and Improve

Continuous improvement is vital to ensuring that your members always have the highest quality learning experiences. To achieve this, all you have to do is ask and look!  You can gather feedback through methods like:

• Surveys and polls
• Course analytics (such as completion rates or quiz scores)
• Discussion forums or feedback sessions

Conclusion

Microlearning can be a powerful way to engage, educate, and empower your organization’s members. By offering short, flexible, and effective learning experiences, you make sure knowledge is easy to access, remember, and use. Whether you’re boosting professional growth, getting new members up to speed, or reinforcing important ideas, microlearning keeps you relevant in a world that’s constantly changing.

Ready to transform the way your organization delivers learning? Start small, think big, and watch your members thrive!

References

Association for Talent Development. (n.d.). What is microlearning? Www.td.org. Retrieved May 27, 2026, from https://www.td.org/talent-development-glossary-terms/what-is-microlearning

Balasundaram, S., Mathew, J., & Nair, S. (2024). Microlearning and learning performance in higher education: A post-test control group study. Journal of Learning for Development, 11(1), 1–14. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1423546.pdf

Clearwater, L. (2024). Understanding the science behind learning retention | reports | what we think | indegene. Www.indegene.com. https://www.indegene.com/what-we-think/reports/understanding-science-behind-learning-retention

Digital Learning Institute. (2014). Microlearning & the benefits. Digital Learning Institute. https://www.digitallearninginstitute.com/blog/microlearning-the-benefits

Simanjuntak, F. P., & Haris, D. (2023). Development of digital-based learning modules using the microlearning method to improve mathematical literacy skills for 7th graders at SMP Swasta Bina Bersaudara Medan. Asian Journal of Applied Education (AJAE), 2(1), 27–48. https://doi.org/10.55927/ajae.v2i1.2788

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Regardless of when your association’s CE credits are due (not all organisations go by calendar year-end, after all!), it’s important to remind members early–and often!–about the approaching deadline.

By being proactive, creative, and supportive, you can ensure your members finish strong—and feel good about their membership! So, without further ado, let’s dive into ways you can nudge your members without being just another email they ignore.

1. Timing Is Everything

Let’s face it—no one likes a flood of last-minute reminders. Instead, start early and build momentum:

• October: Lay the groundwork with friendly emails about deadlines and upcoming courses.
• November: Shift into “helpful reminder mode” with updates on available programs and easy-to-access course links.
• December: Finish strong with countdowns and “last chance” notices that add just the right touch of urgency.

A well-planned timeline ensures members feel guided—not nagged.

2. Blast Some Multi-Channel Communications

Emails are great, but they’re not the only way to reach your members. For best results, make sure to diversify your communication:

• Text messages: If your organization offers text reminders, a quick “Only 2 weeks left to complete your CE credits!” can work wonders.
• Social media: Post fun countdown images, share member success stories, or highlight key courses.
• Automated alerts: If your learning management system (LMS) supports notifications, make sure to use them!

A multi-channel approach ensures your reminders actually get noticed–not buried in inboxes.

3. Tailor Your Messages

Generic reminders are, frankly, boring. Tailor your communications to show members you’ve got their back:

• Make it personal: Use your LMS to generate individualized updates showing members what they’ve completed and what’s left.
• Segment your messaging: Send an “Almost there!” to members close to completion, and a “Let’s get started!” to those lagging behind.

For example, automated progress dashboards and customizable notifications can help you turn a basic reminder into a personalized pat on the back!

4. Incentivize Early Action

Deadlines may get results, but it’s incentives that drive early action. Why not reward members who complete their CE credits before the rush?

• Offer discounts on next year’s membership renewals.
• Provide exclusive access to premium content, webinars, or other benefits.
• Recognize achievers with a social media shout-out or a badge on their member profile.

It’s amazing what a little motivation can do to nudge people into action. Besides–everyone loves a nifty little reward!

5. Remove the Guesswork

Confusion about progress can be a major barrier to completing CE credits. Make it easy for members by:

• Providing an intuitive member portal where they can track their progress and see what’s left.
• Make progress easy to follow with a checklist of how many course activities a user has completed (“6/11 activities completed”).
• Offering a filterable, searchable course catalog that makes finding the right course fast and simple.

With built-in reporting and real-time tracking, an advanced LMS can streamline the process for everyone involved.

6. Demonstrate Value

Sometimes, all members need is a reminder of why this matters. Highlight the benefits of completing CE credits:

• Career development: Improved skills and credentials mean more opportunities.
• Compliance made easy: Staying certified keeps them in good standing.
• Professional growth: Continuing education isn’t just a box to check–it’s an investment in their future!

By framing CE completion as a win for them (and not just a requirement), you shift the conversation from obligation to opportunity.

7. Automate, Automate, Automate!

Why handle everything manually when your systems can do the heavy lifting? Automating reminders, progress reports, and course suggestions isn’t just efficient—it’s smart.

With tools that integrate learning management and member profiles, you can:

• Customize and schedule reminders based on member activity.
• Enable self-serve options so members can check their progress anytime.
• Use advanced data insights to identify at-risk members and reach out proactively.

With a smart all-in-one platform, your team can focus more on strategy than administration.

You may also like: 11 Challenges (and Solutions!) of Digital Transformation

Conclusion

Helping members complete their CE credits doesn’t have to be a headache—for you or for them. With a little planning, some well-placed nudges, and a solid platform to make the process effortless, your association can turn a looming deadline into a story of success!

So go ahead, send those reminders. Your members will thank you for it come reporting season!

Want to learn more about how Vocalmeet can help you with these initiatives? Book a meeting with our eLearning expert today!

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In this blog post–based on the exciting presentation that Vocalmeet’s own Dr. Laurelle Jno Baptiste gave at ACLEA’s 60th Mid-Year Meeting–we’ll be taking a look at the not-so-distant history, current trends, and future possibilities of association CLE.

As association leaders, you’re likely well aware of the vital role that staying ahead plays in the ever-evolving legal field–in which CLE serves as everyone’s trusty guide!

So, let’s fasten our seat belts and get ready to explore the past, present, and future of CLE!

The Past: Geography and Scheduling and Bonus Costs, Oh My!

Once upon a time–but not that long ago!–legal professionals found themselves in a largely lecture and theory-based atmosphere. They were limited in their interaction opportunities and faced geographic, financial, and scheduling barriers that often left them missing out.

But, fear not; things were about to change!

Operations, programming, marketing, and website presence have undergone massive transformations, each playing a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of member-based organizations. Today, we’ll be looking at the evolution of each. Let’s start with the past:

• Operations:  Administrative staff were tasked with tracking and recording credits, renewals, and course registrations manually, requiring massive amounts of time and effort.
• Programming: Prior to the virtual shift of 2020, many CLE programs were held in-person, limiting accessibility for those with geographic, physical, or financial restrictions.
• Marketing: In 2009, direct mail was considered most effective by 46% of those surveyed; in 2018, marketing emails and in-person promotion were considered most effective. (Wasserman et al., 2018)
• Website Presence: In Marketing General’s 2018 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report, several of the surveyed associations mentioned their website as being a concern. (Wasserman et al., 2018)

Now, this isn’t to say that the years before 2020 were the dark ages–certainly not! eLearning is not new, and lecture-based continuing education continues even now.

There is a synergy that exists when combining the “old” (or at least, older) ways with the new; consider, for example, webinars. These combine traditional lecture-style presentations with the increased scope of an online audience. Same basic principle, much higher yield!

The Present: Embracing Technology for Enhanced eLearning

Fast forward to today, and CLE is moving to overcome traditional challenges. Communication and collaboration have only increased through the use of online tools, expanding accessibility with on-demand and hybrid courses.

Let’s now take a look at exactly what kind of online tools are being used:

Digital Platforms

Traditional event venues are evolving into digital spaces (or else combining with them!), offering flexibility through online on-demand and/or live streamed lectures. These can be hosted on online learning platforms, which offer members a whole host of resources: event registration, forums, resources, and–once an event is over–even recorded, on-demand versions of that very session!

E-Learning and Webinars

Remote, asynchronous learning is on the rise, allowing professionals to tailor education to their schedules. No more travel or scheduling conflicts; members can learn what they want, when they want, where they want!

Collaborative Platforms

Technology fosters collaboration through communication tools and platforms, enabling efficient teamwork in geographically dispersed settings. Consider, for example, how we no longer need to be in the same room to collaborate; this means something like a mentorship program can match mentors and mentees together, regardless of location, and let them share their skills.

This increased technological integration in the present ensures that associations are well-equipped to help members navigate the complexities of the contemporary legal landscape. The industry may change quickly, but with the right technology, it’s a breeze to keep up!

And what of our four favourite factors (operations, programming, marketing, and website presence)? Let’s take a look at what the present holds!

• Operations: Cloud-based Association Management Systems (AMS) can have a considerable impact on the organizational effectiveness of today’s organizations, as they can increase operational efficiency while also reducing administrative costs and burdens.
• Programming: Fueled by the pandemic, the eLearning industry saw record growth in 2020; it’s expected to reach $465 billion by 2028. This highlights a growing demand for flexible, accessible CLE options. (Holst, 2023)
• Marketing: Hubspot notes that in 2023, segmented emails drive 30% more opens and 50% more click-throughs than unsegmented ones. (Kirsch, 2022)
• Website Presence: Mobile users are projected to increase from 6.95 billion in 2020 to 7.49 billion in 2025. (Taylor, 2023) This indicates the importance of ensuring your association’s website–and CLE!–is mobile accessible and responsive.

One can only ask: what does the future hold?

The Future: AI-Enabled Efficiency

Let’s now gaze into our crystal balls and take a moment to explore the thrilling possibilities that CLE is predicted to meet.

AI simulations will transport us into practical real-world scenarios that provide immersive experiences that enhance practical knowledge and provide a controlled environment for refining skills. Members will be able to use tools like Zoom and the Metaverse to hold mock trials to gain valuable, more hands-on experience than presentations alone.

AI algorithms will also allow associations to create personalized education paths for individual members based on their behaviour on the platform. Consider the YouTube algorithm: it pays attention to the kinds of videos you show interest in, then recommends things it thinks you will like based on this data (and that data of other users with similar interests). Tailored paths will work in a similar vein.

And what of our friends, operations, programming, marketing, and website presence? We expect they will likely be characterized as follows:

• Operations:  By 2028, generative AI will reshape customer service and support. (Gartner, 2023) This will allow associations to transfer the burden of FAQs and common support to AI representatives.
• Programming: The virtual reality education market is expected to grow from 11.8 billion in 2023 to 61.55 billion in 2028, affecting all levels of education. (The Business Research Company, 2023)
• Marketing: The Metaverse is projected to reach 1 billion users by 2030 (Futureiot Editors, 2023), presenting exciting opportunities for associations to host virtual events, build communities, and personalize member experiences.
• Website Presence: Learning Management Platforms will increasingly use AI to track user behavior and recommend personalized learning paths for members, as well as promote content suited to their interests.

Overall, our vision of the future emphasizes advanced technologies, a data-centric approach, and a focus on delivering personalized and immersive experiences.

You may also like: Building Better CLE: Tips for Bar Associations

What Do I Do Now?

While adapting to change can be scary, there are three simple things you can do to ensure that your association–and its members–thrive.

• Focus on Staff Training: We only fear technology when we don’t know it. The best way to ready an association for the future is to ensure staff is consistently trained and up-to-date with what’s out there.

• Boost Your Cybersecurity: This goes hand-in-hand with staff training; after all, you want your staff prepared for the types of attacks (e.g. phishing or ransomware) that could happen. Changing technology means new threats–but don’t worry! Arm yourself with knowledge (and some security audits!) and you’ll be in a better position to stay safe and secure.

• Ethical Considerations: One of the scariest things about AI is the idea that it’s going to replace us. This notion plagues every industry, and legal is no exception! In reality, however, AI is just a tool. The help or harm comes from how it’s used. AI should be used to enhance, not replace–so make sure to ally your association with organizations who understand this important distinction.  

When it comes down to it, the evolution of CLE is one born of the desire to make members’ lives better. The shift from more lecture-based learning to technology-enabled sessions increases collaboration and flexibility, while AI of the near future promises tailored learning paths for every member. Remember: the more intuitive, accessible, and cost-efficient the CLE, the wider the audience it’ll gain!

So, here’s to the evolution of CLE in the ever-changing world of law. May your association’s adventure be ever filled with continuous learning, growth, and success!

Hungry for more? Check out the one-pager version from the event HERE!

Sources

Editors, F. (2023, October 20). AI to fuel one billion metaverse users by 2030. FutureIoT. https://futureiot.tech/ai-to-fuel-one-billion-metaverse-users-by-2030/

Gartner. (2023, August 30). Gartner Reveals Three Technologies That Will Transform Customer Service and Support By 2028. Gartner. https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2023-08-30-gartner-reveals-three-technologies-that-will-transform-customer-service-and-support-by-2028

Holst, R. (2023, April 24). Council Post: Growth Despite A Downturn: Predictions For The Hybrid Learning Industry. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2023/04/24/growth-despite-a-downturn-predictions-for-the-hybrid-learning-industry/?sh=5f0466253702

Kirsch, K. (2022, November 30). The Ultimate List of Email Marketing Stats for 2022. Hubspot. https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/email-marketing-stats

Taylor, P. (2023, January 18). Forecast number of mobile users worldwide 2019-2023 | Statista. Statista; Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/218984/number-of-global-mobile-users-since-2010/

The Business Research Company. (2023, January). Virtual Reality In Education Market Size 2022 And Growth Analysis. Www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com. https://www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com/report/virtual-reality-in-education-global-market-report

Wasserman, A., Kerr, M., & Rossell, T. (2018). WWW.MARKETINGGENERAL.COM SUPERVISED BY: Tony Rossell Senior Vice President 2018 MEMBERSHIP MARKETING BENCHMARKING REPORT. https://nacmnet.org/wp-content/uploads/The-2018-Membership-Marketing-Benchmarking-Report-Highlighted.pdf

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Tip: Enhance Your Research

The ability to research effectively is a crucial skill in many jobs–especially when in connection with the law: for bar associations and their members alike, fast, accurate legal research capability is essential. Because of this, it’s important to properly organize your association content and boost its accessibility by making it as easy as possible to find; this is particularly important if your association is promoting CLE training and publications. Thankfully, there are a few proven approaches to do exactly that!

Leverage Document Software Designed Specifically for Legal Research

When providing access to legal material, bar associations should use a solution that facilitates searching, highlighting, and annotating legal documents. It’s important to pick one that’s user-friendly and intuitive, as well as one that fully integrates with your website and your learning management platform. You want something that’s a pleasure to use and that allows seamless navigation with the rest of your web environment. For this reason, white-label integration is a must!

And, because you’ll likely be using it frequently, you’ll want one that loads quickly. Focus on SaaS applications (we’ll get to that in the next post!) so you can access content directly on your browser; no external programs means you don’t need to worry about access points (or about carrying around your work PC!). Not only that–web-based solutions are also more likely to incorporate the latest innovations for saving bandwidth and loading time, such as dynamic caches, lazy-loading, and infinite scrolling.

Provide Advanced Search Capabilities

Any modern legal research solution should allow users to combine full-text search in the body of your documents with search-by fields (such as date, author, field of law, etc.). At the minimum, your search engine should support Boolean operators, including:

• AND: Adding “AND” means all linked words must be included.
  • For instance, searching pink AND blue AND green will only give you results that include all three colors; this limits your results.
• OR: Using “OR” means one or the other–not both.
  • For instance, searching pink OR blue OR green will give you results that give you only pink, only blue, or only green–but not a combination of any of them; this gives you a larger pool of more specific results.
• NOT: Searching “NOT” filters out results that contain the word.
  • For instance, searching pink NOT blue NOT green will only give you results for pink, removing anything that mentions blue and/or green; this considerably fine-tunes your results.

Ideally, however, your research solution should also enable users to complete proximity searches; for instance, it should allow for searching within sentences (/s) or paragraphs (/p). Wildcard operators (*) are also highly appreciated by legal researchers, as they allow truncated words and look for all derivatives of a keyword from a single query. For instance, if one were to search “injunct*” to get documents, the solution would also match either “injunction” or “injunctive”. The best legal search solutions provide stemming capability by default, weighing in the possible derivatives (including singular and plural forms!) in their lists of results automatically. Now, that’s helpful!

You’ll probably agree that a common annoyance when browsing the Web is getting a long list of search results without any context about why you’ve received these results in the first place. To guarantee your members reach the pages and documents you invested your efforts in, make sure your search results page guides them in the right direction.

Employing the use of short snippets that are automatically generated from the body of your content and include keywords in context (in bold) are a must. Various ranking mechanisms (by relevance, but also by date, by popularity, etc) can also aid members in their searches. In addition, your members will greatly appreciate the ability to refine their searches directly from the results page (instead of clicking back and forth between distinct search and results pages)!

Finally, when your members reach their destination on the page or document you’ve produced, why not help them navigate it even faster with keyword highlights? This is particularly relevant for larger publications, in which the significant content may be hidden deep within the document.

Curious to see how all of this advice can be combined in practice? Here’s how the State Bar of Wisconsin has done it for its Books Unbound service!

You may also like: Academic vs Association LMS: 4 Key Differences

Conclusion

Research improvements can’t be overlooked when it comes to boosting value for bar associations. With the right tools and savvy, you’ll be able to offer your members an unparalleled search experience!

Next week: the Cloud!

The post Technology Tips and Tools to Help Bar Associations Build Trust and Support Members – Part 2 appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

Thankfully, we’re here to help! This series of posts produced in collaboration between Vocalmeet and Lexum will cover our top tips and tools to help your bar association make the most of what the internet has to offer:

Tool: Your Website

It may feel like a cop-out to start with what’s arguably the most obvious tool in your association’s belt–its website–but it’s a crucial factor that can be easily overlooked.

Build a Solid Base

Regardless of what you’re making, it needs to have a solid base. The same is true for your association’s website: if your site isn’t visually attractive and user-friendly, you’re already losing out on potential members.

First, make sure your website is modern: if it looks like it was built before Y2K, you’re not going to find much success. It’s hard not to judge a book by its cover when you’re browsing the net, so if you want to keep your audience on your page, make sure your site’s design is snappy, clear, and interesting.

Pay attention to both the user interface (how your website is laid out) and the user experience (how it feels to use your website); if either of these is lacking, you’re going to frustrate your members. Frustrated members are more likely to wander, so be sure to make the process of using your site painless for everyone involved.

A good way to achieve this is through integration. If all of your website’s sections–whether that means your store, forums, continuing legal education, blog, or more–are properly integrated, your users will be able to navigate your site with ease. Additionally, integration means a more seamless experience with more consistent branding. If all your pages match, members are less likely to get confused. In this line of thought, make sure to pick white-label solutions (in this case, software that can be purchased and rebranded to match your association) when relying on third-party vendors to power some of these sections.

You’ll also want to beef up your site’s search functionality. This is especially important when it comes to your continuing legal education courses or publications, of course (members can’t purchase material they can’t find!) but it also applies to your site as a whole. Allow for an array of filtering options; you could include sections for keywords, categories, fields of law, popular posts/courses/books, speaker/poster, profiles, pages, and more! (Look out for part 2 in this series, where we’ll go into more detail on this topic.)

If your bar association is partnered with other quality organizations, consider adding a section presenting them and their logo. For instance, if you run a county bar association that belongs to a larger collective (for instance, a state bar association), you can indicate this with their brand image. This will show your members you belong to a larger network of credible organizations–promoting your peers and proving your reliability in a single step! (Just make sure you get permission first.)

Captivate Members

Catching the attention of members may sound difficult, but there are a number of ways you can accomplish it.

First, you’ll want to put context-specific member testimonials at the front and center of your page (or somewhere else easily accessible!). For instance, on a page dedicated to a practice guide, try to include some feedback from practitioners heavily relying on it. After all, who better to promote your products and services than the members who use them? If you don’t have a stock of reviews available, don’t worry; you can offer CE program discounts or vouchers to those who submit them! Soon, you’ll have plenty of quality member quotes to use.

Your association should also establish a knowledge hub section on its site. This can encompass a variety of formats–videos, blog articles, Ask Me Anything sessions (whether they take the form of livestreams, recorded live sessions, or forum threads), news updates, anything! If you find it useful or interesting, your members likely will, too. By establishing a broad, frequently updated body of resources, your members will be more inclined to keep coming back for more.

Finally, you can appeal to the kid in all of us: achievement badges! By offering digital badges (also known as eBadges) for accomplishments like completing programs or course tracks, you get to reward loyal members with a virtual sticker. Members can then display their badges on their profiles or on social media–showing off their accolades and promoting your association at the same time! Everyone likes to be validated for their hard work, and you’ll be scratching that “collector’s itch” for some of your audience.

You may also like: Let’s Get Digital: 3 Strategies to Boost Member Engagement Online

Conclusion

When you’re looking to boost engagement, you can’t go wrong with a sleek, appealing website. Make it intuitive, make it fun, and make it smart–your members will appreciate it!

Looking for more tips and tools? Have no fear, this article is just the start! Check in next week for our tips to enhance your research ability.

The post Technology Tips and Tools to Help Bar Associations Build Trust and Support Members – Part 1 appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

Most states require a certain number of CLE hours each year to maintain a law license, but it can be hard to find quality courses that fit members’ busy schedules. And–let’s be honest–most CLE courses aren’t exactly the most exciting things around!

Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way! By following a few simple steps, bar associations can start building better CLE courses with ease.

1. Harnessing the Power of Niche Content

When it comes to CLE courses, one size does not fit all. Attorneys will often look for courses specific to their particular area of practice, so the more specialized the content you provide, the better!

Let’s take a look at a couple of examples. An attorney who works in criminal law will not be interested in a course on tax law; likewise, a corporate lawyer will not want to sit through a course on family law.

This much may seem obvious, but it can go a step further. Your association should search for interesting, relevant, and unique topics for its courses. Yes, you should have more general courses–these are perfect for introductory programs!–but if you want to really bring value to your membership, try thinking outside the box.

Try to make your content timely. Is there a precedent-setting case in the news? Perhaps you’ll want to do a deep-dive webinar on the details. Are there laws being reexamined or updated? You could cover these, as well!

Additionally, by partnering with experts in various niche areas, bar associations can offer courses that are tailored to specific practices. This will ensure that attendees get the most relevant and useful information possible.

Not only will this make your CLE courses more interesting for attendees, but it will also make your audience more likely to return in the future. You want to capture their intention with insightful, valuable content. After all, why would an attorney take an irrelevant, useless course from their bar association? It’s all about quality!

Once you’ve made your content, make sure to categorize it thoroughly. You want your members to be able to actually find your courses! Keep everything as organized and accessible as possible.

If your bar association is looking to build better CLE courses, consider harnessing the power of tailored content. It’s one surefire way to interest and engage new members! Now, let’s look at a few more:

2. CLE for the Next Generation: Attracting New Members

As the legal profession evolves, so must the way bar associations provide Continuing Legal Education. The needs of lawyers are changing, and bar associations must adapt to continue to meet those needs. In particular, there is a need to engage new lawyers in CLE programs.

First, you have to let your audience know what’s available. Make sure to promote your programs across your association’s social media channels. To spice things up, try offering seasonal packages, keeping things timely and relevant. Remember to be consistent; if you only post rarely and sporadically, you won’t stay in the minds of your members for long!

Next, you want to make things interesting. You can try incorporating gamification into your programs; by making them interactive and offering digital badges as achievement-style rewards, you’ll be upping the excitement factor of your courses. You could even incorporate–selectively!–a few choice memes to amuse your audience.

Third, it’s important to make sure the programs you offer are affordable. New lawyers often have large student loan debts and may be working in jobs that do not pay high salaries. Discounts on CLE programs for new members can make them more accessible to new lawyers.

By offering relevant, convenient, and affordable CLE programs, bar associations can better engage new lawyers with their educational offerings. This, in turn, will help to ensure that your members’ careers–and your association’s membership base–continue to thrive!

3. Two Birds, One Stone: the Value of the Hybrid Events 

As the world becomes increasingly mobile and virtual, it can be difficult to know how to best engage your members; is it better to do in-person or online sessions?

The answer is simple: host a hybrid event!

Hybrid events are a combination of in-person and virtual courses, and they offer several benefits to both bar associations and their members. There are a number of ways to make your event hybrid, like livestreaming the session on your association’s website, or else recording and posting it online after the event–or, even better, both!

Hybrid CLE courses allow members who cannot attend in-person to still participate and receive credit. This is especially beneficial for members who have busy schedules. Livestreamed courses take care of geographical limitations, and on-demand recorded courses open the field up to everyone.

Hybrid CLE courses allow bar associations to further their reach and increase their earning potential at the same time. You’re making your session accessible to an entire second audience–without losing the first–and bypassing the most common barriers to entry for in-person events. This means you can earn more revenue than from an in-person event alone!

The use of hybrid CLE courses is a win-win for both bar associations and their members. By offering these courses, bar associations can ensure that their members are able to receive the education they need–while simultaneously expanding their reach and non-dues revenue!

You may also like: The Top 5 Strategies for Bar Associations to Increase CLE Revenue in 2021 and Beyond

When it comes to building better CLE for your bar association, it’s best to pay attention to the basics: focus on tailoring your content, attracting new members, and increasing accessibility. You want solid, quality courses that no one else offers; you want to attract new members with your value and ease of use; and you want to reach as wide an audience as possible. Follow ACLEA’s footsteps and “Adjust, Collaborate, and Elevate”!

The post Building Better CLE: Tips for Bar Associations appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

To help with this, Vocalmeet and the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) teamed up to host a webinar to discuss strategic planning in 2021 and beyond; this webinar occurred in May 2021 but can now be accessed here.

In This Webinar, You Will Learn:

• How to Leverage Transformational Changes for Success
• Cost-Saving Technology Approaches
• The Importance of Strategic Planning
• Increasing Member Engagement & Growing Non-dues Revenue

For a quick recap of the webinar, you can download the webinar recap pdf here.

During the webinar, we were joined by the following panelists:

Theresa Kane, President of Piper and Company
Margaret Carter, Executive Director of the Ontario Dental Hygienists Association (ODHA)
Edward Byers, Director of Membership & Business Development at the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE)
Dr. Laurelle Jno Baptiste, Vice President of Professional Services at Vocalmeet

As you can see, we were joined by quite the panel of esteemed association leaders and experts! Read on to find out more about them:

Meet Our Esteemed Panel of Association Leaders and Experts

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• E-mail

Theresa Kane

Piper and Company, President

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Theresa Kane brings a business background and a thorough understanding of not-for-profit structures and processes to Piper and Company’s consulting work.

Theresa Kane conducts organizational reviews, creates and evaluates strategic plans, facilitates workshops, carries out qualitative research and incorporates the results of that research in new organizational goals.

Theresa is a graduate of the University of Guelph in Consumer Behaviour and the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, where she earned her MBA. Both York University and Ryerson University have invited her to join their faculties to teach undergraduate courses. Her teaching specialities include marketing and strategic planning.

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Facebook
• E-mail

Margaret Carter

Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association (ODHA), Executive Director

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As Executive Director, Margaret Carter has led the Ontario Dental Hygienists’ Association for more than 18 years. She has overseen transformational changes that have positioned the Association to meet members’ needs.

As a part of ODHA’s mandate, Margaret leads the Association’s advocacy for legislative changes to the dental hygiene profession. Under her leadership, ODHA’s work has led to new regulations that advance dental hygienists’ interests and needs in Ontario.

Margaret has also accelerated the digital transformation of the ODHA. As Executive Director, she has championed numerous digital initiatives that have streamlined ODHA’s member experience and significantly reduced administrative work for her staff.

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Facebook
• E-mail

Edward Byers

The Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE), Director of Membership & Business Development

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A strategic thinker, motivator, and change agent, Ed has 15 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector. Ed has worked for organizations such as Vancouver 2010, London 2012, Special Olympics, The Real Property Association of Canada (REALPAC) and CSAE.

He has delivered over 5M of new non-dues revenue to associations through items like corporate partnership, affinity programs, and the creation of new education and events. Ed has volunteered with organizations like MPI and PCMA, and he currently sits on the board of Wheelchair Basketball Canada.

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Google+
• E-mail

Dr. Laurelle Jno Baptiste

Vocalmeet,Vice President of Professional Services

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Dr. Laurelle Jno Baptiste is the Vice President of Professional Services at Vocalmeet. She has over 12 years of senior leadership experience helping organizations implement e-learning courses and technology platforms.

Dr. Jno Baptiste has spearheaded the development of hundreds of technology platforms and continues to guide organizations as they navigate the digital age. She has vast knowledge of the Continuing Education sector coupled with extensive experience working with associations to build and launch online Continuing Education (CE) platforms.

In addition, she is a leading consultant on Agile project management and uses Agile practices to successfully deliver technology projects on time and on budget. She is a university lecturer, sought-after speaker, accomplished writer, and a skilled consultant on digital technologies and Agile practices.

Dr. Jno Baptiste has won awards for innovation and technology and serves as an advisor to various post-secondary programs. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, an MA, and a Doctorate in Education.

Click here to visit the recap document–you’ll be glad you did!

The post The 4 Strategic Plans Your Association Needs to Survive and Thrive in 2021 and Beyond – Webinar appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.