Education

Become a Master of Trial Law

Levels of Distinction

champion

Reach the highest level of honor for completing a rigorous curriculum of seminars, colleges, conventions, and webinars.

diplomate

Go above and beyond! Diplomates have attended over 400 hours of NCA credit, including ATLA’s Ultimate Trial Advocacy Course.

fellow

Set yourself apart from the crowd by completing over 200 hours of CLE credit with AAJ Education.

Champions Curriculum

Champions attend a set of trial advocacy programs, legal specialty programs, and an AAJ convention in order to strengthen their knowledge and skills and become a better advocate for their clients.

1. AAJ Convention (Annual or Winter)

2. ATLA’s Ultimate Trial Advocacy Course: Art of Persuasion

3. Trial Skills Tracks (complete 4 of 8)

Deposition Programs with Workshops:

  • Advanced Depositions College
  • Trial Advocacy College: Depositions
  • Depositions College: Sharpening Your Skills
  • Depositions College: Implementing the Tools
  • Remote Skills Workshop

Focus Group Programs:

  •  Virtual Case Analysis

Other NCA Colleges:

  •  Trial Advocacy College: Essentials of Civil Litigation
  • Voir Dire College

4. Substantive Track (complete 7 of 21)

Specialized Colleges:

  • Medical Negligence
  • Nursing Homes
  • Trucking
  • Mass Torts

Seminars, Webcasts, and 5+ Part Webinar Series:

  • Case Framing
  • Class Action
  • Discovery Masters Class
  • Diversity in the Law
  • Effective Legal Writing
  • Electronic Medical Records
  • Jazz Fest
  • Mass Torts (including pre-JPML)
  • Medical Negligence/Mastering the Medicine/Birth Injury Cases
  • Mega Seminar: OJB/Rules of the Road/Damages
  • Nursing Home
  • Overcoming Jury Bias/Psychology of Persuasion
  • Rule 30(b)(6)
  • Rules of the Road
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Trucking
  • Technology in Practice and in the Courtroom

Past programs that are still eligible to count towards the Masters of Trial Law program:

Trial Skills Track:

  • Case Plus: Focus Groups for Plaintiff Cases (2020 – converted to virtual)
  • Case Workshop (2015)
  • Mega College (2011)
  • Trial Advocacy College: Rules of the Road (2010)

Substantive Track:

  • Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit Seminar (2016)
  • Damages College / Seminar (2013)
  • Putting on a Trial from Beginning to End (2015)
  • Social Security Success! Seminar (2017)
  • Subrogation and Lien Resolution in Law Seminar (2015)
  • Super Sessions Seminar (2017)
  • The Persuasive Edge: Communication and Influence Seminar (2011)


    For questions about qualifying credits or recognition levels, please contact AAJ Education at 800-622-1791, or email education@justice.org.

How We Recognize Masters of Trial Law

All Fellows, Diplomates, and Champions receive a digital signature badge and a printed certificate of achievement.

Diplomates and Champions are also honored through:

Listing on our AAJ Diplomates and Champions page

Annual recognition in Trial magazine

Acknowledgment in the convention program book

Award presentation at the AAJ Annual Convention reception the year that you achieve status

Trial Advocacy College Scholarship

In memory of long-time member Paul Scoptur, the National College of Advocacy offers scholarships for AAJ members to attend trial advocacy colleges throughout the year. Recipients are awarded complimentary tuition and credit for travel costs.

Paul Scoptur Trial Advocacy Scholarship
AAJ Education Fund

Support the National College of Advocacy’s mission to deliver justice through high-quality resources and events. Contributions support educational programs and activities to preserve and promote the civil justice system and to protect the consumer.

Education Fund