Georgia Trial Lawyers Association

Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
Name	Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
Formation	1968
Type	Professional association
Headquarters	Atlanta, Georgia
Region served	Georgia
Membership	Plaintiffs' attorneys

Georgia Trial Lawyers Association is a professional association of plaintiff trial lawyers based in Atlanta, Georgia, advocating for civil justice, jury trial rights, and consumer protection. Founded in 1968 during a period of legal reform in the American South, the organization engages in litigation, lobbying, education, and public outreach across the state. It interacts with courts, legislatures, bar associations, and civil rights groups to influence tort law, insurance regulation, and access-to-court issues.

History

The organization traces origins to post-World War II legal realignments and the civil rights era, forming amid contemporaneous developments involving the American Association for Justice, National Lawyers Guild, American Bar Association, Georgia Bar Association, and regional groups such as the Southeastern Association for Clinical Investigation. Early activity intersected with landmark litigation influenced by decisions from the United States Supreme Court, and state constitutional matters adjudicated by the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Georgia Court of Appeals. The association expanded its role through the late 20th century alongside advocacy campaigns related to legislation passed by the Georgia General Assembly, regulatory actions by the Georgia Department of Insurance, and ballot measures debated in Atlanta and across Savannah, Augusta, Georgia, and Columbus, Georgia. Key historical interactions involved entities like the Trial Lawyers College, the Consumer Federation of America, and national plaintiff coalitions responding to federal statutes such as the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 and decisions interpreting the Eighth Amendment and Fourteenth Amendment.

Mission and Advocacy

The association promotes plaintiff rights, tort reform opposition, and access to civil courts in coordination with groups such as the Public Justice Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union, Children's Defense Fund, and statewide civic organizations including the Georgia Equality coalition. It files amicus briefs in cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, the Supreme Court of Georgia, and occasionally the United States Supreme Court, partnering with entities like the National Employment Lawyers Association and the Equal Justice Initiative on civil rights and employment matters. Legislative advocacy targets statutes debated in the Georgia General Assembly and regulatory matters before the Georgia Department of Community Health and the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation, often aligning with consumer advocates such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on insurance and healthcare access issues.

Membership and Organization

Membership comprises trial attorneys from urban centers like Atlanta, Macon, Georgia, and Athens, Georgia, as well as smaller jurisdictions including Rome, Georgia and Albany, Georgia. The association organizes local chapters and practice sections in conjunction with specialty organizations like the Georgia Association for Justice Foundation and national counterparts including the American Association for Justice and the National Trial Lawyers. Professional development includes collaboration with law schools such as Emory University School of Law, University of Georgia School of Law, Mercer University School of Law, and Georgia State University College of Law. Membership categories reflect connections with bar sections like the Georgia Young Lawyers Division and interest groups including the National Organization for Women on gender-based civil litigation.

Continuing Legal Education and Programs

The organization provides Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars, trial practice workshops, and mock trial competitions partnering with institutions such as the Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Southeastern Association of Law Schools, and academic centers at Spelman College and Morehouse College. Programs cover jury selection, evidence issues under the Georgia Evidence Code, appellate briefing for the Supreme Court of Georgia, and expert witness preparation in areas regulated by the Georgia Composite Medical Board. Annual conventions feature speakers from the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and prominent jurists from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Notable Litigation and Impact

The association has influenced major tort and insurance decisions through amicus participation and direct litigation affecting entities such as the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and insurance carriers regulated by the Georgia Department of Insurance. Cases with amici filings have reached the Eleventh Circuit and the Supreme Court of Georgia, affecting precedent on bad faith insurance claims, medical malpractice governed by the Georgia Medical Malpractice Act, and consumer protection under the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act. The group has worked alongside the National Consumer Law Center and the Center for Justice & Democracy on class actions and multidistrict litigation involving corporations headquartered in Atlanta and beyond.

Leadership and Governance

Governance comprises an elected board of governors, officers, and committees coordinating litigation, legislative affairs, CLE, and ethics in consultation with entities like the Georgia State Bar and the Georgia Legal Services Program. Leadership often includes former prosecutors, civil rights litigators, and academics from University of Georgia School of Law and Emory University School of Law, with collaboration from judges of the Supreme Court of Georgia and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia at educational events. The association interfaces with national organizations such as the American Association for Justice on policy and strategic litigation planning.

Funding and Affiliations

Funding derives from membership dues, CLE fees, donations, and sponsorships from law firms and allied organizations, including ties to foundations like the Georgia Bar Foundation and national entities such as the Public Interest Law Initiative. Affiliations include partnerships with the American Association for Justice, local bar associations, consumer groups like the Consumer Federation of America, and academic centers at Emory University, University of Georgia, and Georgia State University to support scholarships, pro bono programs, and public education campaigns.

Category:Legal organizations based in the United States Category:Organizations based in Atlanta