Trial Magazine

As a die-hard baseball fan, I look forward to every spring training. After a long, hard winter, spring is always filled with excitement for the coming season. Teams evaluate the available talent on their roster and bring in former stars to mentor younger players on the fundamentals. Each team works to put the necessary pieces in place and hopes that the season’s achievements will exceed their expectations.

The pandemic years have felt like a long winter for AAJ, but I sense that we are entering a new spring. Looking at the season ahead, we have great reason for optimism.

Like most law firms, professional organizations, and businesses, the pandemic years have felt like a long winter for AAJ, but I sense that we are entering a new spring. Looking at the season ahead, we have great reason for optimism.

AAJ staff in Washington, D.C., persevered during the pandemic, and our association is more resilient than ever. Our political fundraising is strong despite moving many events online. Our education programs are well attended. Our other resources, from publications to Sections and Litigation Groups to litigation packets, are more robust than ever, leaving members excited and looking for more content.

We have had tremendous victories on the Hill, including the passage of the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault & Sexual Harassment Act. We have witnessed the appointment of dozens of professionally diverse judges to the federal bench, many of whom are trial lawyers.

AAJ will still face challenges in the coming years. While on solid financial footing, increased costs across the board make for a tight budget and hamper our ability to expand the services and resources we can provide. And our opponents who seek to eradicate our clients’ rights are numerous and well funded.

But like the small-market ball club with a limited budget, the season comes down to the players on the field, and AAJ has the team to beat. Working with the staff over these last several years has been an honor, and I can’t imagine taking the field with anyone else. They are all dedicated to AAJ’s mission, its members, and, most of all, our clients. They put in the extra hours and hard work necessary to perform at a level far above what any of us expect.

AAJ is also fortunate to have national officers who work hard, sacrifice time, and are willing to do anything the organization asks of them. Our Executive Committee is made up of lawyers who have spent years dedicated to the service of the organization and want nothing more than to see it succeed. We also are supported by the experience and wisdom of AAJ’s past presidents.

For this next season, I feel both privileged and excited to serve as the 77th president of AAJ. I will build on the foundation laid more than seven decades ago by the founders of this historic organization: to continue to grow a national community of lawyers helping each other succeed in representing our clients through education and advocacy.

And as always, we rely heavily on you—our members. I hope you will join me, your national officers, your Executive Committee, past presidents, and AAJ staff as we all do our part to protect civil justice. I know in my heart that our team is ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

Tad Thomas is the founder and managing partner of Thomas Law Offices in Louisville, Ky., and can be reached at tad.thomas@justice.org.