Parliamentary Law
Parliamentary Law Services
National Professional Parliamentarian Services
Effective meeting procedures benefit every type of organization, including national conventions, annual meetings, nonprofits, unions, school boards, city councils, county commissions, religious organizations, and community associations (HOAs and condos). An experienced professional parliamentarian helps ensure meetings are orderly, legally compliant, and productive.
Many statutes and governing documents require that meetings be conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised. Misapplying those rules can lead to confusion, conflict, invalid actions, or even legal disputes. A skilled parliamentarian does more than ensure technical compliance. Proper parliamentary procedure promotes transparency, protects member rights, and allows organizations to conduct business efficiently, even when issues are complex or contentious.
Law Firm Carolinas provides national-level professional parliamentarian services grounded in both parliamentary authority and legal training. We regularly serve national associations, multi-day conventions, hybrid meetings, and governing boards across the country.
Law Firm Carolinas is the only law firm in the United States with two parliamentarians who are Fellows in the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers. When you engage our firm, you hire a team-based parliamentary law practice, not a solo consultant. That distinction provides uncommon depth of experience, continuity for critical meetings, and attorney-level governance protection.
Jim Slaughter is an attorney, Certified Professional Parliamentarian-Teacher with the American Institute of Parliamentarians, Professional Registered Parliamentarian with the National Association of Parliamentarians, and past President of the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers. He has authored four books on association meeting procedure, including Robert’s Rules of Order Fast Track and Notes and Comments on Robert’s Rules, Fifth Edition, both updated for the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Carole Albright is an attorney and Professional Registered Parliamentarian and serves as an officer of the American College of Parliamentary Lawyers. She brings additional nationally recognized parliamentary expertise to the firm’s governance and organizational advisory practice.
Between us, we have worked with a broader range of national associations and large membership organizations (including many of the largest in the country) than any other parliamentarians. Our experience includes labor unions, professional societies, educational organizations, nonprofit boards, and hybrid conventions. That breadth allows us to anticipate complex issues and guide leadership with confidence and clarity.
Because we are attorneys who practice parliamentary law, our parliamentary advice regarding bylaws interpretation, election challenges, governance disputes, and sensitive procedural matters can be protected by attorney-client privilege. For organizations facing complex or high-visibility governance matters, that protection may be important.
Free resources on Robert’s Rules of Order and meeting procedure, including charts, articles, and practical guides, are available at www.jimslaughter.com.
Law Firm Carolinas attorneys regularly serve as professional parliamentarians for presiding officers, boards of directors, governing bodies, and national conventions across the United States.
Before meetings, we assist with:
- Reviewing agendas and proposed motions
- Drafting special rules of order and meeting rules
- Preparing parliamentary opinions
- Advising on parliamentary strategy
- Reviewing scripts for procedural accuracy
- Anticipating complex or sensitive agenda items
During meetings, we serve as the parliamentarian to the presiding officer, providing real-time procedural advice and opinions. We use a proven card system that delivers precise, on-the-spot wording when immediate guidance is needed.
Our role as professional parliamentarians is not merely to answer procedural questions. We help leadership anticipate issues before they escalate, manage complex debate, and conduct meetings that are orderly, fair, and efficient while protecting members' rights.
Law Firm Carolinas offers training led by experienced professional parliamentarians focused on effective meeting management and the practical application of Robert’s Rules of Order, or relevant parliamentary authority, such as The Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure ("Sturgis").
These workshops are designed to make meetings shorter, clearer, and more productive while ensuring compliance with governing documents and applicable parliamentary authority.
Programs may include:
- Parliamentary Survival Skills
- Board-Focused Parliamentary Essentials
- Convention and Delegate Training
- Managing Contentious Meetings
- Advanced Motions and Debate Strategy
Feedback consistently tells us that our presentations are engaging, dynamic, and highly practical. We tailor programs to leaders, staff, board members, delegates, and large membership audiences. Programs emphasize participation and real-world application.
As attorneys and professional parliamentarians, we provide formal and informal parliamentary opinions to organizations seeking clarity on procedural or governance matters.
By reviewing governing documents and the applicable parliamentary authority, typically Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, we advise on:
- Meeting notice requirements
- Quorum questions
- Voting thresholds
- Validity of past actions
- Elections and ballot procedures
- Proxies and credentials
- Motion handling
- Procedural disputes
Organizations often seek a professional parliamentarian opinion to resolve uncertainty, confirm the correctness of prior actions, or guide upcoming meetings with confidence.
Because our parliamentarians are attorneys, these opinions can be protected by attorney-client privilege.
In some circumstances, the complexity, sensitivity, or contentiousness of a meeting makes it advisable to use an independent professional presider.
Attorneys at Law Firm Carolinas have served as neutral presiding officers for state and national governmental bodies, nonprofit organizations, unions, religious institutions, and community associations.
Serving as an independent professional presider allows an organization to conduct business fairly and efficiently while reducing political tension and reinforcing confidence in the process. A neutral professional parliamentarian can help ensure that all participants are heard, rules are applied consistently, and decisions are made in accordance with governing documents and parliamentary authority.
National board meetings and conventions are often scheduled years in advance. Our firm-based model ensures continuity and reliability.
One professional parliamentarian serves as lead, while the other remains informed and available as needed. If illness, travel disruption, or an unavoidable conflict arises, another credentialed parliamentarian from our firm can step in seamlessly.
Organizations are never left without experienced parliamentary support during critical governance events.
When you hire Law Firm Carolinas, you engage a team.
National meetings are often scheduled years in advance. Our firm-based model ensures continuity. If illness or unavoidable conflict arises, another credentialed professional parliamentarian from our firm can step in seamlessly.
We serve national associations, multi-thousand delegate conventions, hybrid meetings, and boards navigating complex governance reforms. Between us, we have worked with a broader range of national membership organizations than any other parliamentary team.
If your organization needs a national parliamentarian or professional parliamentarian for a board meeting, annual meeting, convention, governance review, or training program, we welcome the opportunity to assist.
