AAJ has gathered some of your most commonly asked questions regarding its Education offerings. Find a quick answer to your questions here.

1. What different types of programs does AAJ Education offer?

Seminars are one-, two-, or three-day in-person programs geared toward specific practice areas and new developments in the law. The most practical, current, and valuable information is offered with faculty comprised of a blend of trial lawyers and experts, including medical and other professionals with experience in the subject matter.

Trial Skills Colleges are three-, four-, or five-day concentrated programs that combine lectures, demonstrations, and workshops where lawyers practice their skills in a protected and secure environment with intensive feedback from nationally known trial lawyers and trial consultants. All trial skills college workshops are recorded on DVD for you to take home. Even after the program, you can use your recordings to continue to refine your style and become more confident, powerful, and persuasive in the courtroom.

Convenience Learning includes Audio & Video, Online CLE, and CLE Reference Materials & Books, and Teleseminar education programs that focus on specific areas of practice as well as trial skills. These programs are designed for the busy practitioner and do not require physical attendance at any location. Instead, participants can earn valuable insight and fulfill their CLE requirements* from anywhere in the world.

AAJ Conventions feature CLE programs focusing on trial skills and substantive areas of law. Two concurrent half-day programs are presented at winter conventions. Up to 50 programs are presented at annual conventions, including the Advocacy Track and programs planned by most Sections and many Litigation Groups and Committees in conjunction with AAJ Education. Every convention also includes Litigation at Sunrise, a popular early morning program featuring new, unusual, and groundbreaking litigation issues. AAJ Conventions are open to AAJ Regular, Sustaining, Life, and President's Club members, as well as AAJ Judicial Fellows, Paralegal Affiliates, and Law Professor and Law Student Members. AAJ Associate members are ineligible to attend the convention.

The Case Workshop Program allows you to bring an active case of your own and have it analyzed by some of the country's leading lawyers and trial consultants, and then present it to focus groups—before it goes to trial. Only AAJ Education offers CLE programs with these benefits. The majority of the time is spent conducting focus groups and synthesizing the feedback—all of which is recorded on DVD for you to take home.

Case Plus: The Next Step in Developing and Testing Your Trial Story provides an exclusive opportunity to develop and test a trial story for one of your pending cases. Case Plus offers members the opportunity to present a case they are working on to three separate focus groups and to work one-on-one with AAJ Education’s most experienced and dedicated faculty of trial lawyers. The tools and techniques of the Case Workshop and Overcoming Juror Bias programs are the foundation—building blocks for a faculty of unmatched caliber, experience, and teaching ability. Invitations are extended only to members who have previously attended a Case Workshop Program, an Overcoming Juror Bias college or seminar, or the Ultimate Trial Advocacy Course: Art of Persuasion. And, attendance is limited to 16 full participants who may bring a trial team member at no cost.

*Check with your state CLE administrator for rules governing teleseminars and self-study credits.

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2. How do I register for an AAJ Education program?

There are four easy ways to register for our programs.

Online at http://www.justice.org/education.

Mail your registration form and check to: AAJ, 1050 31st Street, NW, 4th floor (Attn: Registrar), Washington, DC 20007. To ensure your participation, payment must be received one week prior to the start date of the program.

Phone or Fax us using MasterCard, VISA, or American Express. AAJ Education can be reached via telephone by calling 800-622-1791 or 202-965-3500, ext. 612, or via fax at 202-625-7084.

NOTE: To register for AAJ conventions please call 800-424-2725, ext. 613. You can also register online.

Registration for all programs is complete upon receipt and process of payment.

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3. Are CLE credits available for AAJ Education programs?*

AAJ Education Seminars, Trial Skills Colleges, and Conventions are accredited by states requiring continuing legal education. We provide certificates of attendance and credit worksheets for each AAJ Education program. It is necessary to complete these forms and return them to AAJ for processing. To address specific CLE questions call the MCLE/NCA assistant at 202-965-3500, ext. 335 or 800-622-1791. For specific questions regarding your state rules, please refer to your state CLE administrator.

*Note: Check with your state CLE administrator for rules governing teleseminars and self-study CLE credits.

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4. Who can attend an AAJ Education program?

AAJ Regular, Sustaining, Life, President's Club Members.

Associate Members and Nonmember Lawyers—AAJ Associate members and nonmember lawyers may attend selected programs. Please see individual programs for details.

Paralegal Affiliates—AAJ Paralegal Affiliates can attend any seminar or trial skills college with an AAJ Regular, Sustaining, Life, or President's Club Member from the same firm with the same address at 50 percent off the AAJ member price. AAJ Paralegal Affiliates can register for teleseminars at the AAJ member price.

Law Professor, Law Graduate, and Law Student Members—Individuals with these types of AAJ memberships can attend AAJ Trial Skills Colleges or Seminars that are open to members and nonmembers for only the cost of the reference materials. In addition, these types of members may attend only the lecture portions of trial skills colleges and not the workshops. Law Graduate members may be eligible to attend Trial Skills Colleges in their entirety (including the workshops) at the full registration fee depending on the individual circumstances.

See individual programs for exceptions.

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5. Does AAJ offer professional recognition programs?

AAJ offers two distinct programs, Advanced Studies in Trial Advocacy (ASTA) and the Achievement Recognition Program (ARP). Both programs are designed to recognize AAJ lawyer member efforts in pursuit of advanced legal learning and professional development.

Learn more about these programs now!

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6. What attire is appropriate when attending a program?

Seminars:

Most attendees dress in business casual attire.

Trial Skills Colleges:

Courtroom dress is encouraged for the workshop portion of the program (approximately half of the time). Business casual attire is fine for the remainder of the course.

Conventions:

See individual Convention Web pages for more information.

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7. How can I obtain a schedule of upcoming AAJ Education programs?

For upcoming AAJ Education programs, visit the AAJ Education home page and select either Convenience Learning or Trial Skills Colleges & Seminars, or call 202-965-3500 ext. 612 or 800-622-1791.

For upcoming conventions, visit AAJ's Convention Web page and select "Education Programs" for the convention you are interested in attending. If you have further questions about the schedule of education programs, please call (800) 424-2725 or (202) 965-3500, ext. 217.

For STLA events, contact your state trial lawyer association.

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8. How can I cancel my registration for a program?

Cancellations for all AAJ Education programs must be submitted in writing.

Trial Skills Colleges and Seminars:

The dates by which you may cancel and receive either a partial refund or a voucher changes for each program. To view the cancellation policy for a specific trial skills college or seminar, please refer to the AAJ Education calendar.

Teleseminars:

No refunds or vouchers are issued for teleseminar cancellations; however, upon request, your registration fee may be applied toward the purchase of an audio recording of the program for which you are registered.

Conventions:

To inquire about convention cancellation policies, please contact AAJ's Meetings and Conventions Department at 800-424-2725, ext. 613 or 202-965-3500, ext. 613. You may also fax your convention cancellation to 202-625-7313.

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9. Will I receive confirmation of my registration?

Seminar and trial skills college participants receive a confirmation letter via fax seven days prior to the start date of the program. Trial skills college registrants will also receive a packet with an agenda, course materials, and fact patterns. Confirmations for teleseminars are forwarded via fax one day prior to the start date of the program at 5:00 p.m. ET. Confirmation letters for Annual and Winter Conventions are sent via mail to registrants within a month of registration.

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10. How do I order CLE Reference Materials & Books or Audio & Video of an AAJ Education program?

If you are unable to attend an education program or if you would like a refresher course in a program that you have attended, AAJ records and produces audiotapes, CD-ROMs, and MP3s from conventions, seminars, and teleseminars. Select seminar and convention programs are also videotaped. This allows even the busiest of lawyers to take advantage of AAJ Education's informative programs.

Order Audio & Video or CLE Reference Materials & Books now!

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11. Does AAJ Education offer scholarships or tuition assistance for its programs?

AAJ Education awards scholarships in the form of partial or full-tuition waivers to AAJ members for its seminars, trial skills colleges, and conventions, based on the applicant's needs pursuant to policies established by the National College of Advocacy Board of Trustees. To obtain a scholarship application for Trial Skills Colleges or Seminars, you may contact the AAJ Education department at 800-622-1791.

For information regarding Convention scholarships, contact AAJ's Meetings & Conventions department at 800-424-2725 ext. 613, or 202-965-3500 ext. 613.

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12. How can I become a speaker at AAJ's educational programs?

You are invited to share your expertise and practical advice with your colleagues by submitting your CLE Speaker Application. Please note that you will be contacted if you are selected to present at an AAJ Education program. See Speaking Opportunities for more information.

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13. How do I make my hotel and travel accommodations for a program?

Executive Travel Associates (ETA) has been designated as AAJ's official travel and hotel coordinator for all our programs. ETA negotiates special air fares for AAJ registrants with substantial discounts off any applicable fare, including those without a Saturday night stay. ETA also arranges discounted hotel accommodations and special rates on car rentals. To make your hotel and travel arrangements, you may contact ETA by calling 800-577-7539 or 202-828-0114 or via e-mail at AAJ@exectravel.com.

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14. How do I contact my state TLA?

AAJ provides a directory of contact information for individual state trial lawyer associations. Get your state's information here.

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15. Can multiple users of one phone line participate in teleseminars and receive CLE credit?

Yes, multiple users of one phone line can participate and receive CLE credit for teleseminar as long as the additional users are registered for the teleseminar. Additional registrants using the same phone line will incur a registration fee of $65.00.

For other questions you may have, please contact AAJ Education:
AAJ Education
1050 31st Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007

Phone: 800-622-1791 or 202-965-3500, ext. 612
Fax: 202-625-7084
AAJ's Fax-on-Demand: 888-267-0770
e-mail: education@justice.org