AAJ is committed to promoting a fair and effective justice system and supporting the work of attorneys in their efforts to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice in America’s courtrooms, even when taking on the most powerful interests.
The AAJ defends justice and fairness of injured persons and safeguarding victims' rights, with a particular focus on the right to trial by jury for injured persons. The AAJ also works to strengthen the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety.
The association began in a hotel by a group of nine plaintiffs’ attorneys involved in workers’ compensation litigation case and has grown into the world's largest trial bar association, consisting of member affiliates in the U.S., Canada and worldwide. Today, AAJ is a broad-based, international coalition of attorneys, law professors, paralegals, and law students.
To its members, the association offers many diverse areas of trial advocacy and provides lawyers with the information and professional assistance often needed to serve clients effectively. The organization seeks to protect the constitutional values inherent in the civil justice system.
Since founded in 1946 as the National Association of Claimants' Compensation Attorneys (NACCA), AAJ has changed names several times, including three name changes before 1973.
While the association is often recognized as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), in 2006 the organization officially changed its name to the American Association for Justice (AAJ).
At the state level, many other organizations advocate for the civil justice system and provide resources to attorneys representing plaintiffs in their state. Many of these organizations are affiliates of the AAJ.
As a member of the AAJ, lawyers can benefit from a wide array of resources for attorneys, including legal research and exchange, free media training, join list servers to help lawyers find out what their colleagues are talking about and join one of AAJ’s 18 Sections, or choose from 100+ Litigation Groups to share information and expertise on specific types of cases.
When you become a member of AAJ, publications such as "Trial", AAJ's award-winning magazine for attorneys, law professors, judges and others in the legal community, will become available to you, both in print and online.
In an effort to help foster the advancement of members and the entire legal community, the AAJ provides continued legal education (CLE) courses including over 40 professional training programs designed to continually enhance legal knowledge and provide fundamental trial techniques and strategies necessary to achieve a just outcome for your clients.
Stay up to date on the important top stories in legal news, what's happening around the bar, from within the AAJ and other important topics going on around the legal community.
In an effort to aid the victims of the September 11 attacks, AAJ responded by establishing the largest pro-bono project in American history, Trial Lawyers Care (TLC).
Over 1,100 lawyers provided representation to more than 1,700 victim families as a result of the formation of this charitable non-profit organization and over $200 million in legal services were made available free of charge.
TLC also created The Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund to help give aid to families and individuals impacted from the tragedy throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
AAJ membership offers provides opportunities for all levels of legal professionals involved in victims' rights, from students to lawyers to affiliates of the legal community. Members have access to abundant resources aimed to support education and opportunities for lawyers as well as the overall advancement of trial law.
Membership in AAJ provides networking opportunities with many of the top personal injury attorneys in the United States.
The AAJ 2019 Annual Convention had more than 3,000 people in attendance. The convention was held from July 27-30 in San Diego, California. At the First-Time Attendee & New Member Luncheon - first-timers got to mix and mingle with some of AAJ's convention veterans, long-time members, and AAJ Officers.
Types of Membership
Join or Renew Your Membership in AAJ
If you would like to become a member of the Association for Justice (AAJ), or if you are already an AAJ member and would like to renew or upgrade your membership, you can do so by registering or logging in to the AAJ Membership page.
The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) is a not-for-profit ABA-accredited legal specialty certification program.
An article appearing in AAJ's Trial Magazine in July of 1980 explained the close historic connection between ATLA/AAJ and the NBTA:
“One of ATLA’s major issues today—one through which it hopes to make great strides in providing adequate legal representation—is the certification of legal specialists. For this reason, ATLA established the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA).”
True to this 35-year-old vision, more than 2,000 AAJ members have earned NBTA board certifications.
Lawyer Legion maintains a national directory of personal injury and civil plaintiff lawyers in the United States which includes both AAJ members and non-members. To help the public find the best choices when they search for a lawyer, Lawyer Legion recognizes attorneys for their involvement and leadership within the AAJ and other professional associations. This includes recognition for AAJ Past Presidents, Leaders Forum members, Masters of Trial Law Champions, Diplomates, and AAJ members who have updated their Lawyer Legion profile to include information about their involvement with the AAJ.
Use this directory to find a personal injury lawyer in your local area. Start by choosing your state from the list below.
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