Our History

In the spring of 1967, Elizabeth (Liz) Tulos, Secretary to Siegel W. Judd of Warner, Norcross & Judd, was a high ranking officer of the National Secretaries Association, and she was asked to speak at a national meeting of the Legal Secretaries Association in Philadelphia.  While there, she heard about the Professional Legal Secretary examination given by the National Association of Legal Secretaries (“NALS”).  In several coffee room discussions, many of us working at Warner, Norcross & Judd decided that we needed more information about the legal secretaries organization and specifically the PLS program. 

Many letters and telephone conversations later, invitations were sent to all law firms in Grand Rapids inviting their staff to attend an informational meeting about the Michigan Association of Legal Secretaries (“MALS”) and NALS.  We met at the Peninsular Club with Marilyn Carlson, the Second Vice President of MALS, and on May .24, 1967, we voted to submit an application for a charter. 

On August 7, 1967, Charter No. 448 was issued to the Grand Rapids Legal Secretaries Association (“GRLSA”) which was comprised of 27 charter members.  Liz Tulos served as our first president.