AAJ National Committees
Step Up and Make a Difference
AAJ has a number of working committees designed to obtain feedback, direction and participation from its members. These committees are important to the health and progress of the organization and the participation of committee members is vital to their success.
Each Spring, AAJ's President-Elect starts planning for their term as AAJ President and looks for AAJ members to volunteer and take an active role in helping AAJ further its mission.
Amicus
Identifies priority issues relating to the Amicus Curiae program and addresses those issues by submitting amicus briefs. The committee shall ensure that important public policy arguments in support of victims’ rights are presented to the courts across this country.
Audit Committee
Reviews financial audits of AAJ and follows up on any issues identified by auditors.
Budget
Provides oversight of the annual AAJ budget and financial operations. Members are elected to serve on this committee.
Compliance
Reviews board members’ compliance with Board requirements. Members are elected to serve on this committee.
Convention Planning
Provides organizational review and evaluation of winter and annual conventions and makes convention destination recommendations to the Executive Committee and BOG.
Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Responsible for identifying strategies for growing diversity within AAJ. The committee currently oversees the Leadership Academy and the Member Firm Pledge to Act programs.
Election
Enforce the rules for election and develops recommendations pertaining to changes in the election rules, as well as conducts and oversees all AAJ’s elections.
Ethical Conduct
Administers disciplinary procedures involving AAJ members.
Evergreen Advisory Committee
Develops strategies for promoting the Evergreen program and assists with asking for Evergreen contributions.
Exchange
Monitors, analyzes, and promotes activities to advance trends in the area of Internet technology. The committee provides advice and counsel regarding AAJ’s collection, delivery, and online integration of relevant legal technological advances, including the Exchange’s offering of a comprehensive set of legal products and services to members.
Executive
Oversees the management of the Association. Members selected by election or by virtue of other positions held, plus two members appointed by the President.
International Relations
Reviews the relationship between the AAJ and the trial lawyer organizations of other countries.
Committee on the Judiciary
Helps to identify potential federal judicial candidates and helps those identified to win nomination and confirmation.
Law School
Improves AAJ’s presence and profile with the faculty and students in the country’s 187 law schools, and increases AAJ’s involvement with student members, student chapters, and law professor members, with the goal of improving attitudes toward trial lawyers and the jury system. The committee seeks to promote AAJ’s mission of excellence in trial advocacy in the nation’s law schools by effectively administering the annual AAJ’s national student trial advocacy competition.
Legal Affairs
Recommends, develops, and implements, upon approval of the BOG or the president, policies and programs involving research, advocacy and litigation relating to legal issues of concern to AAJ as an organization and/or affecting the judicial branch of government, whether federal or state. Legal issues shall be defined to include all constitutional issues; court rules, including evidence and procedure; and all substantive law issues, whether common law or statutory.
Membership Oversight (MOC)
Ensures AAJ’s continued growth by providing ideas, advice, and assistance on membership promotion and retention programs.
National College of Advocacy Board of Trustees (NCA)
The educational arm of AAJ; responsible for all AAJ educational programs and the education policy of AAJ. Qualifications: Any voting member of AAJ who has either taught or attended a college, seminar, and convention is eligible to serve as a member of the NCA Board.
National Finance Council (NFC)
Established in 2005, the National Finance Council leads all fundraising campaigns, including Leaders Forum and political fundraising for candidates, in order to provide the necessary resources the American Association for Justice needs to sustain a prosperous and viable association that continues to meet the needs of its membership.
Organization Review Committee (ORC)
Reviews the structure, functions, processes, and strategic plan of AAJ and makes recommendations to the Board. Members are elected to serve on this committee.
PAC Board of Trustees
Serves as Board for the AAJ PAC. Reviews requests for assistance from the PAC and decides which contributions to make. Members are elected to serve on this committee.
PAC Development Committee
Responsible for growing the AAJ PAC. The committee members, known as state Co-Chairs, will serve as liaisons between the AAJ PAC and each state’s AAJ and state TLA leadership with certain measurable goals of increasing AAJ PAC participation within each state.
Paralegal
Oversees the education needs and functions of the Paralegal/Legal Assistant Affiliated United and keeps abreast of paralegal issues.
AAJ Press Advisory
Assists and provides guidance on the operation of the AAJ Press publishing program.
Public Affairs
Advises AAJ executive committee and BOG on policy options, tactics, and strategies concerning issues of concern to trial lawyers pending before the US Congress, executive branch, and federal agencies.
Public Education
Renders advice on initiatives designed to enhance understanding of and an appreciation of America’s civil justice system and the trial bar’s mission in particular. Emphasis is given to the protection of individual rights, the right of trial jury, and safeguarding consumers.
Publications
Assists in the formulation of policy and advises the publication department about the publication of TRIAL and Law Reporters and, as appropriate, undertakes special projects related to the publications of AAJ.
Retirement
Reviews the operations of AAJ’s 401(k) plan and AAJ’s Defined Benefit Plan. Makes recommendations to the Board and Budget committee as necessary for changes to plan operations. Reviews investment choices for both plans.
Robert L. Habush Endowment Board of Directors
Serves as Board for the Robert L. Habush AAJ Endowment and makes grant awards from Endowment funds. Members are elected.
Section and Litigation Group Coordination Committee (SLGCC)
Oversees and coordinates the development and operation of Litigation Groups and Sections so as to ensure their quality, accessibility, and value to the AAJ membership.
Stalwarts Committee
Reviews the credentials of eligible nominees and recommends to the Board inductees into the ATLA Hall of Fame. The committee also reviews eligible nominees and recommends to the Executive Committee candidates for the Leonard M. Ring Champion of Justice Award and produces, in accordance with National College of Advocacy guidelines, an educational program to take place during the Annual Convention
Trial Lawyers Care Committee (TLC)
Encourages, recognizes, and organizes trial lawyers who contribute to their communities through volunteer and charitable activities that serve the public.
Veterans and Military Service Members Committee
The Committee identifies strategies for growing membership among veterans and military service members while promoting service projects that benefits its members. Participates in AAJ’s federal legislative and/or regulatory advocacy on issues relevant to veterans and military service members.
Voter Protection Action Committee (VPAC)
Assists with protecting the vote during federal elections.
