Trial Magazine

I’m preaching to the choir when I say that pretrial preparation is essential to your clients’ cases. You all know that. And so does AAJ. That’s why, throughout the year, AAJ provides the community and the content for trial lawyers to learn, to refine skills, and to excel.

There are many essential AAJ resources, starting with this month’s issue of Trial. Read about deposing insurance claims adjusters (p. 50) and treating physicians (p. 44); confronting over-designation (p. 28) and obstruction (p. 20); and “phantom removal” (p. 36).

Turning to other membership benefits, AAJ offers a vast network of plaintiff attorneys who are connected through our list servers, where questions are asked and answered every day. If you have not already joined an AAJ Section or Litigation Group, you are missing the invaluable benefit of immediately tapping into the knowledge of your peers (justice.org/community). If you have a question about preparing for a specific case or type of litigation, chances are fellow AAJ members have the answers and resources to share.

Many of our members also contribute valuable strategy and case information on specific litigations to create Litigation Packets, a unique AAJ resource (justice.org/litigationpackets). Each electronically delivered packet is a substantial road map with material from your peers’ successful cases—such as one recently updated packet, “Preparing a Motor Vehicle Collision Case.”

And AAJ Press® books offer in-depth strategies—titles include Deposition Obstruction: Breaking Through by Mark Kosieradzki, Harvesting Witnesses’ Stories by Katherine James, and Advanced Case Framing by Mark Mandell. Browse titles at justice.org/aajpress.

If you’re looking for hands-on training, AAJ Education excels at honing trial advocacy skills through CLE programs—several of which focus on pretrial skills such as depositions (justice.org/education).

The “Trial Advocacy College: Depositions” is an in-person program that combines lectures, demonstrations, and small-group, interactive workshops led by experienced faculty—providing individual attention and skill-critique in a supportive environment. It runs each year in the fall and spring, with the next one Apr. 11–13 in Washington, D.C.

And “Depositions College: Sharpening Your Skills” is a four-part virtual workshop series guided by renowned faculty. It’s offered two to three times a year and is a great option if you want the skills-building education of the in-person depositions college but need the flexibility of a virtual program.

Then, every January, there is the “Advanced Depositions College.” This program has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers an in-depth approach to perfecting depositions and witness preparation, comprehensive lectures, demonstrations, and 10 workshops that are recorded for attendees.

Another program that is geared toward newer lawyers, “Trial Advocacy College: Essentials of Civil Litigation,” will be held May 20–22 at Tulane Law School. This program will cover opening statements, cross-examination, storytelling, and yes, depositions.

Being extraordinarily well-prepared for trial is only one part of the equation. We must keep developing skills outside the courtroom and encourage new leaders in our community. One way to do this is through AAJ’s Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Academy. This is AAJ’s leading program to promote diversity among its membership and leadership, particularly for those who are underrepresented within the association. Applications are now being accepted through May 3 for the next class. For more, visit justice.org/leadershipacademy.

While we’re fighting for our clients, AAJ is working every day to preserve our clients’ rights. If you are asked to contribute to a candidate who is pro-civil justice or to the AAJ PAC, which contributes money to the campaigns of bipartisan pro-civil justice candidates, I encourage you to step up. It’s critically important that we, as a community of trial lawyers, make every effort to protect our clients’ rights. Learn more at justice.org/AAJPAC.

Our clients’ ability to access the courts and obtain justice hinges on more than deliberate trial preparation. It depends on a strong AAJ and on pro-civil justice lawmakers who understand the importance of accountability. Let’s move forward in 2024, prepared on all fronts.

Sean C. Domnick is a founder and shareholder of Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and can be reached at sean.domnick@justice.org.