Association of Trial Lawyers of America
Appalachian School of Law Chapter
Background of ATLA
In 1946, a group of plaintiffs' attorneys involved in workers' compensation litigation founded the National Association of Claimants' Compensation Attorneys (NACCA). Their devotion to securing strong representation for victims of industrial accidents soon attracted admiralty, railroad, and personal injury lawyers. It wasn't long before the group included attorneys engaged in almost all facets of trial advocacy.
Reflecting its growth and expanded commitments, NACCA, in 1972, emerged as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA). In 1977, ATLA's headquarters moved from Boston to Washington, DC. Today, ATLA is a broad-based, international coalition of attorneys, law professors, paralegals, and law students.
As the world's largest trial bar, ATLA 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. With more than 56,000 members worldwide, and a network of U.S. and Canadian affiliates involved in diverse areas of trial advocacy, ATLA provides lawyers with the information and professional assistance needed to serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values inherent in the civil justice system.
ATLA at ASL
Association of Trial Lawyers of America, is the largest bar of trial lawyers in the world. ASL's chapter of ATLA (2004/20055 ASL Student Organization of the Year), is dedicated to providing a trial advocacy training and competition program, a highlight of which is the selection of two teams to be sent to the ATLA STAC National Competition each year. ASL's chapter of ATLA also provides educational speakers and panels to help address issues such as how to start one's own law firm.
02/10/2004 ATLA Trial Team Competition
03/25/2004 ATLA Trial Team Succeeds
04/07/2004 ATLA Panel on Starting a Law Firm (PDF)
ATLA Programs
ATLA Student Trial Advocacy Competition
Each year ATLA hosts a national mock trial competition. Appalachian School of Law, through internal training and tryouts, selects two teams of four students to represent the school. The last couple of years the ATLA STAC teams have journeyed to Memphis, Cleveland, and Boston to compete in real courtrooms before real judges against competitors they've never met - all while completing make-up assignments and learning that easels do not fit through x-ray machines. The experience is unforgettable and the opportunity to work closely with other students and lawyers is unmatched.
ATLA Speaker Series
The ATLA Speaker Series has hosted distinguished individual speakers and panels on topics of student interest such as starting one's own law practice, crooked science in the courtroom, trial advocacy skills, and property issues in cyberspace, among other topics.
ATLA General Chapter Meetings
The General Chapter Meetings are a bi-monthly chance for the organization as a whole to come together and create shared opportunities, such as pooling outlines, offering tutoring or guidance in public speaking, matching actual lawyer-mentors in students' home communities with students, receptions to honor achievements. The meetings also serve as a chance to elect officers, and for those officers to report back, receive input, and request volunteers for assistance with events.
ATLA Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is made up of the elected officers as well as several appointees. The committee serves as a small group whose meetings can be flexible and impromptu, as well as personal enough to generate thorough yet swift discussion and decision.
Information
For membership information please contact Joshua Hershon, ATLA President for 2004-2005.
Please check the website for ATLA meeting times and information.
National membership information and resources may be accessed via ATLA's website. Online resources include member directory, updates on legal subjects, organizational plans, special offers, and various publications.
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