Article of Interest - The Importance of Having a Relocation Policy.

Past Events:
2003 NALP Annual Education Conference
NALP Kansas City Conference 2002

One of the benefits available to your firm as a member of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) is the opportunity to take advantage of the relocation program put in place to help you when you need to move an employee's personal effects. Your association has worked to put together a program that will allow you to take advantage of the combined buying power of hundreds of firms across the country and to give you a resource for high quality relocation services.

Certified Transportation Group has had the privilege of serving the NALP membership for the past ten years. We are agents for Atlas Van Lines, a nationwide household goods carrier with over 450 offices nationwide and some 250 agents overseas. We have forged many terrific relationships and moved literally thousands of families under this program. As a NALP approved carrier we would like to make you aware of the latest developments with the program and, for those not familiar with us, take this opportunity to introduce ourselves.

The continued success of this program is based upon a commitment to providing quality relocation services at significantly reduced cost to the participating firms. The program provides for significantly reduced transportation, packing, and storage rates on a nationwide basis. Replacement Value Protection is also available at a significantly reduced rate. These rates would not ordinarily be obtainable on your own but are available to you as a benifit of your NALP membership.

We know that relocation can be stressful. It can be stressful on you as a coordinator and, it can be very stressful on the individual being asked to make a move. We also know that how you handle a relocation can affect the stress level and, in some cases how successful you will be in convincing people to accept a new position. To address these issues we have several dedicated coordinators that can work with you and the transferee to bring about smooth relocation, conducted according to any policies or guidelines you may have in place. We can even help you establish guidelines if you have none.

In April of 2000 the services of Cornerstone Relocation Group were added to our program as an additional benefit for the NALP membership. Cornerstone is a full service relocation company that can assist you with Policy Consulting, Cost of Living Analysis, Employee Benefit Counseling, Outsourcing, Expense Cost Tracking / Reimbursement, Lump Sum Calculation / Delivery, Gross-Up and Tax Reporting, as well as Home Marketing Assistance, Guaranteed HomeSale Programs, Property Management, Amended Buyer Value Option Sales, Home Search Assistance, Rental Assistance, Mortgage Assistance, Temporary Living Assistance, Real Estate Closing Services. Cornerstone has proven they can save you significant dollars and smooth the relocation process particularly on lateral and partner relocations.

Our key coordinators for the NALP program are Marion (Mel) LoBiondo (x117) and Carol Gordon (x104). Please give either a call whenever you might have an individual to be moved, regardless of size, origin, or destination. We can be reached at (800)645-7210 or click on either individual's name to contact by e-mail.

We have included an "Account Profile Sheet" which is designed to allow you to provide us with some key information about how moves at your firm should be handled, what is authorized, what is not, and, who is authorized to make arrangements for a move for your firm. It helps us serve you better when we have this information on file. If you have an opportunity, we would appreciate your filling it in and submitting it to us. Additionally, you can go here to request specific service from Certified.

We hope that you will take advantage of this valuable program. It has proven to be beneficial to many in the NALP membership, there have been thousands of individuals successfully relocated under the program. Your participation in the program also helps support your organization. A portion of all revenues derived from the program are donated back to NALP to help build and strengthen the association.