Association of Trial Lawyers

Join the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA)

For students interested in litigation, the ATLA provides seminars, professional meetings, attorney mentors, electronic interactive legal forums and moot trial opportunities at a cost of only $15.00 per year. The following information is from the ATLA website (www.atla.org). You can join online at the same address.

Organizational History

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’s mission is to promote 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 Law Student Membership Benefits and Programs

• • You’ll get career-enhancing information with TRIAL magazine and case-referenced Law Reporter, which cost nonmembers $214, but are free to you as an ATLA member.

  • You’ll begin your professional education with ATLA’s Mentor program, pairing you with an experienced trial lawyer who will share valuable guidance, advice, and insights. You can find a mentor in your area with your valuable Desk Reference or online, containing the names and addresses of ATLA’s 60,000 members.

  • You’ll have the opportunity to participate in ATLA’s annual Student Trial Advocacy Competition, the nation’s premier mock trial competition, held in actual courtrooms before sitting judges and practicing trial lawyers.

  • You’ll have the opportunity to network with top trial lawyers at ATLA’s Annual and Winter Conventions and gain valuable knowledge from five days of information-packed workshops and CLE-approved education sessions on every aspect of trial law—all at an 85% discount for Law Student members.

  • You can attend any National College of Advocacy (NCA) continuing legal education seminar for free, and receive reference materials for only $45. Nonmembers pay up to $675. These seminars will teach you how to excel as a litigator in the courtroom, assist you with pre-trial preparation, and improve your ability to tell your client’s story and persuade a jury.

  • You’ll be eligible to apply for a number of scholarships sponsored by ATLA and its members.

  • You’ll practice law at the speed of light with the Law Student Information Web Page, the Association’s communications and information service on the World Wide Web. At no charge, you can participate in interactive legal forums, find a mentor, and follow links to the best legal sites on the Internet. You’ll also find up-to-the-minute information on ATLA scholarships, student chapters, education programs, and ATLA products.

  • You’ll receive a free audiotape of your choice from a comprehensive list of legal topics. These high-quality audio cassettes contain complete presentations by some of the nation’s leading lawyers recorded during ATLA’s conventions and seminars.