Trial Magazine

As trial lawyers, we give ­everything we have for our clients because we truly believe that justice is a right for all, not just a privilege for the few. Every day, I witness this conviction in the lawyers at my firm and in the officers and members of AAJ—we fight to seek justice for people harmed by dangerous products, corporate misconduct, and medical negligence.

And our service to others extends far beyond the courtroom. One way AAJ supports members giving back is through Trial Lawyers Care (TLC). Initially set up by the association and a group of members after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to provide pro bono legal services to devastated victims and their families, TLC became the largest, most successful pro bono project in the history of the country. More than 1,000 plaintiff trial lawyers volunteered, providing a combined total of more than 100 years of service on the cases. Today, TLC is an AAJ program that organizes and recognizes trial lawyers who contribute to their communities through volunteer and charitable activities.

Each year, AAJ presents the Trial Lawyers Care Award at Annual Convention to recognize a member whose volunteer work and community outreach has gone above and beyond. In 2019, Mission Viejo, Calif., attorney Kimberly Valentine received the award for Operation Helping Hands, a nonprofit she started 10 years ago to provide basic necessities to the ­homeless in her area and to encourage local youth to get involved in handing out backpacks filled with everyday supplies. To read more about Valentine and her nonprofit, which was featured in the December 2019 issue of Trial, visit www.justice.org/2019TLCAward.

There are many examples of trial lawyers giving back, and you can read about some of them on the TLC website at www.triallawyerscare.org. For example, after Hurricane Harvey, AAJ member Karen Beyea-Schroeder collected backpacks and other supplies for students, teachers, and schools in the Houston area (for which she received the 2018 TLC Award).

And in Chicago, AAJ member Howard Ankin launched Operation Holiday Drive in 2018 with a local church to provide toys to children in need. The firm and other sponsors collected 10,000 toys. On the night they distributed the toys, Howard reflected, “It’s one thing to feel good about collecting toys for families. It’s another thing to be here tonight, meeting people in person, connecting with them, and seeing the excitement on their faces.”

Plan now to be a part of AAJ’s Trial Lawyers Care National Day of Service (May 1, also known as “Law Day”). If you have a service project planned, we’d love to hear about it at www.justice.org/nationaldayofserviceform. If your service project occurs another time of year, please email TLC@justice.org—your story could be featured on the TLC website. And if you know a member who is the driving force behind a community service project, you can also nominate that person for the 2020 TLC Award on the website. Nominations are due by April 15.

In addition to service projects, hundreds of our members have given back by speaking to school and community groups about ending distracted driving. AAJ member Joel Feldman’s EndDD organization has created a turn-key presentation for trial lawyers across North America. Everything you need, including the presentation itself, is available on EndDD’s website. Register to speak at www.enddd.org/become-a-speaker.

As you read this month’s Trial on the business of law—with articles on hiring and retention (p. 20); measuring your firm’s web presence (p. 36); the basics of firm finances (p. 38); and improving case intake (p. 26)—I encourage you to also think about ways to extend the positive impact your firm has on your local community. Let’s show the world that trial lawyers are the best among us—passionate, caring, tenacious, and determined to deliver justice for all.

Bruce H. Stern is a shareholder at Stark & Stark in Lawrenceville, N.J. He can be reached at bruce.stern@justice.org.