Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Encyclopedia
The American Association for Justice (AAJ), formerly the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) is the leading organization for lawyer
s representing plaintiff
s in the United States
. AAJ states that it "promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, safeguards victims' rights--particularly the right to trial by jury--and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety."http://www.justice.org/about/index.aspx It provides information and professional assistance to its members. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Today, AAJ is a broad-based, international coalition of attorneys, law professors, paralegals, and law students.http://www.justice.org/about/index.aspx
AAJ has more than 56,000 members worldwide, and a network of state and local affiliates involved in all areas of trial advocacy. AAJ provides lawyers with the information and professional assistance needed to "serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values inherent in the civil justice system." Like many professional organizations, AAJ also engages in lobbying
on matters of concern to its members and their clients: "AAJ supports the civil justice system as a fundamental check on the power of businesses and governments and opposes efforts to limit the legal rights of citizens." http://www.justice.org/pressroom/FACTS/tortreform/tortreform.aspx It has opposed many changes related to "tort reform
," including the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005
, which gives defendant companies the right to remove state court class actions to federal court.
competitions for law students in the United States. Roughly 200 teams compete at 14 regional sites. One team from each region advances to the national championships. The winning team and their coach receive free airfare, hotel accommodations, and registration to the AAJ Annual Convention where they are recognized during the Membership Awards Reception and Law Student Mentor Reception. This is an exceptional opportunity for law students to develop and practice their trial advocacy skills before distinguished members of the bar and bench.
Relief Fund to collect and distribute aid to relief organizations in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
for its role as a special interest and lobbying group promoting the interests of plaintiffs' lawyers. In 2006, ATLA's membership voted to change their name to the American Association for Justice. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce responded by again criticizing the organization.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s representing plaintiff
Plaintiff
A plaintiff , also known as a claimant or complainant, is the term used in some jurisdictions for the party who initiates a lawsuit before a court...
s in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. AAJ states that it "promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, safeguards victims' rights--particularly the right to trial by jury--and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety."http://www.justice.org/about/index.aspx It provides information and professional assistance to its members. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
History
In 1946, a group of plaintiffs' attorneys involved in workers' compensation litigation founded the National Association of Claimants' Compensation Attorneys (NACCA). As their work broadened beyond workers' compensation, in 1960 the NACCA changed its name to the National Association of Claimants' Counsel of America, and four years later, to the American Trial Lawyers Association. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/24/opinion/24witt.html In 1972, these groups merged as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA). In 1977, ATLA's headquarters moved from Boston to Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Today, AAJ is a broad-based, international coalition of attorneys, law professors, paralegals, and law students.http://www.justice.org/about/index.aspx
AAJ has more than 56,000 members worldwide, and a network of state and local affiliates involved in all areas of trial advocacy. AAJ provides lawyers with the information and professional assistance needed to "serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values inherent in the civil justice system." Like many professional organizations, AAJ also engages in lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
on matters of concern to its members and their clients: "AAJ supports the civil justice system as a fundamental check on the power of businesses and governments and opposes efforts to limit the legal rights of citizens." http://www.justice.org/pressroom/FACTS/tortreform/tortreform.aspx It has opposed many changes related to "tort reform
Tort reform
Tort reform refers to proposed changes in common law civil justice systems that would reduce tort litigation or damages. Tort actions are civil common law claims first created in the English commonwealth system as a non-legislative means for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to...
," including the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005
Class Action Fairness Act of 2005
The U.S. Class Action Fairness Act of 2005, 28 U.S.C. Sections 1332, 1453, and 1711–1715, expanded federal jurisdiction over many large class-action lawsuits and mass actions taken in the United States....
, which gives defendant companies the right to remove state court class actions to federal court.
Student Trial Advocacy Competition
The organization hosts the Student Trial Advocacy Competition (AAJ STAC), one of the largest annual mock trialMock trial
A Mock Trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or...
competitions for law students in the United States. Roughly 200 teams compete at 14 regional sites. One team from each region advances to the national championships. The winning team and their coach receive free airfare, hotel accommodations, and registration to the AAJ Annual Convention where they are recognized during the Membership Awards Reception and Law Student Mentor Reception. This is an exceptional opportunity for law students to develop and practice their trial advocacy skills before distinguished members of the bar and bench.
Trial Lawyers Care - pro bono efforts
AAJ has established the largest pro-bono project in American history, Trial Lawyers Care (TLC), to aid the victims of the September 11 attacks. TLC is a charitable non-profit organization, through which more than 1,100 lawyers have provided representation to more than 1,700 victim families and provided over $200 million in legal services free of charge. TLC also established The Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
Relief Fund to collect and distribute aid to relief organizations in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Name change
The association in recent years has been criticized by organizations such as the United States Chamber of CommerceUnited States Chamber of Commerce
The United States Chamber of Commerce is an American lobbying group representing the interests of many businesses and trade associations. It is not an agency of the United States government....
for its role as a special interest and lobbying group promoting the interests of plaintiffs' lawyers. In 2006, ATLA's membership voted to change their name to the American Association for Justice. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce responded by again criticizing the organization.
See also
- David ShragerDavid ShragerUnited States trial lawyer, author, speaker, and philanthropist. A former president of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, he specialized in major and complex civil litigation representing consumers, injured healthcare workers and individuals, and appeared on many occasions before the...
, past president - Fred Baron, controversialBaron & Budd asbestos memoThe Baron & Budd asbestos memo is a memo in asbestos litigation where it is alleged a prominent plaintiffs' firm engaged in subornation of perjury and a cover-up. The Texas State Bar Association grievance committee dismissed complaints regarding the memo. It is cited by United States civil justice...
past president