The Importance of Supporting Civil Justice Organizations

John Bair

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Next week, my business partner and I will celebrate our ten-year partnership with the New York State Trial Lawyers’ Association (NYSTLA). As we approach this milestone, I’m reminded of the importance of supporting civil justice and trial lawyer organizations, and what that support means for our justice system:

• They provide a voice for the voiceless: National organizations such as the American Association for Justice (AAJ) organize grassroots campaigns that influence change on a massive scale. Take Justice Back, for example, is fighting to hold corporations accountable when they cause harm.

• They magnify movements: The Injury Board ‘s 60 for Safety Initiative has done an excellent job of recruiting participants for different initiatives founded by IB members: EndDD, Kids and Cars, and Lawyers Against Hunger. Injury Board has used its network to recruit participants in these campaigns, which in turn have benefited hundreds of thousands of people across the United States.

• They offer networking forums: Civil justice organizations do a fantastic job of coordinating conferences where attorneys and business partners can network and share ideas that not only relate to the courtroom, but also strategies for how to building business and serving their clients. The Radius of Influence (ROI) Annual Conference, created by Injury Board founders, provides a great opportunity for attorneys and law-related to brainstorm and learn about how to improve their word-of-mouth marketing.

• They provide educational opportunities: Many of these associations release one or more member-written publications on a regular basis. The Pennsylvania Association for Justice (PAJ)’s PA Justice News is a great example, with columns by association leaders, members, and business partners, as well as case notes of recent court decisions and notable news about association members. There are also a number of associations with very robust CLE schedules. The Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys (MATA) offers multiple opportunities for members to earn CLE credits, even bringing in notable trail expert David Ball for his two-day Reptile Seminar.

Civil justice organizations provide societal benefits that far outweigh their inherent individual benefits. They bring together groups of individuals who are committed to protecting the rights of their clients and the justice system as a whole. With access to a fair justice system, plaintiffs can live in dignity.

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