Alexa B. D'Amato, ChairI have an image in my head of seeing a client with tears in his eyes give my father a big hug after the successful conclusion of a long-fought trial. This was the moment that I realized that I wanted to be a trial lawyer. Like my father before me, who has now been a trial lawyer for over 34 years, I wanted to make a difference for those that were victims of someone else’s negligence.
The first time I ever spoke before a jury I presented the closing argument for four daughters who had lost their father in a tragic car crash. The jury came back with a very favorable award for my clients and it was now me standing there in the courtroom receiving hugs from my clients with tears in their eyes. I am proud to be a trial attorney.
Why you should get involved with the New Lawyers Division of AAJI am also proud to be an active member of the America Association for Justice. AAJ ensures that fellow attorneys will have moments like my father and I have had; moments when they remember why they worked so hard through law school and continue to work long hours for their clients. AAJ also ensures that your clients will have moments like I described; when all of the pain and suffering they experienced at the negligence of another is resolved with a fair and just outcome.
The first involvement I had with AAJ was attending a PAC Phonathon in Washington, D.C. I was two years out of law school then. I met other new lawyers from across the Country who were dedicated to protecting their clients’ rights to civil justice. We talked about the differences in the law in our jurisdictions with regard to automobile collision cases, office politics, the state of the judiciary and the political climate. We continued to bond over dinner and drinks and when I came back to my office I felt invigorated. My love for my career and dedication to my profession was reinforced. I was hooked.
I went to Convention after that and continued to learn more about how AAJ was protecting my clients’ rights to civil justice. I realized how hard these other members of AAJ, these other trial lawyers, were working to protect my clients’ rights for civil justice and I wanted to be one of the people that made a difference. I reached out to Melissa Smith, the Chair of the New Lawyers Division at that time, and asked her how I could get more involved. She generously appointed me to the Committee of my choice and I haven’t looked back since.
If you are proud to be a trial lawyer, you are a member of the right organization. If you want to ensure your clients rights to civil justice continue to be protected, you need to become an active member of AAJ. Your voice can be heard. The issues that are important to you and your clients can be brought to the leadership of AAJ. You just need to reach out and get involved.
How to get involved with the New Lawyers Division of AAJ?• Join us for a Membership Phonathon on October 29, 2009 in Washington, D.C. 
• Attend the NLD Business Meeting in Washington, D.C. on October 30, 2009 from 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. If you cannot attend the Business Meeting in person, join us telephonically by calling 800-364-2312; Pass Code: 202-965-1234. Remember the meeting will begin at 1pm Eastern Standard Time.
• The New Lawyers Division has various committees that could use your insight. Review the list of committees and send me an e-mail indicating which committees are of interest to you.
• Become active on the New Lawyers Division Board of Governors. The Board of Governors works with the NLD Executive Committee to organize and carry out numerous NLD activities throughout the year that make AAJ stronger and protect the civil justice system. NLD Governors often write Sidebar newsletter articles, write Web site content, fundraise for pro-civil-justice candidates, serve as mentors to law students and strengthen the NLD in other similar ways. If you are interested in becoming an NLD Governor, let me know.
• Join us in Maui for AAJ’s Winter Convention from January 29 – February 3, 2010. The New Lawyers Division business meeting will be held on Monday, February 1, 2010 at 2:00 pm. If you cannot attend the Business Meeting in person, join us telephonically by calling 800-364-2312; Pass Code: 202-965-1234. Remember the meeting will begin at 2:00 pm Hawaii Time.
It is an honor to represent you as the Chair of the New Lawyers Division this year and I thank you for the opportunity. I look forward to hearing from you about how you want to get involved with the New Lawyers Division and any ideas you might have to better our Division and AAJ.
Alexa B. D’Amato
Chair, AAJ New Lawyer Division
