A How-to Guide for Pursuing Justice in a Personal Injury Case

Ready for a new read? Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit is  a great find for new personal injury lawyers and comes highly recommended by the American Association for Justice. 

The fourth edition of Anatomy of a Personal Injury Lawsuit, a two-volume set, is a comprehensive and up-to-date resource for practicing plaintiffs’ attorneys and their staffs. Written by over sixty contributing experts on trial law and personal injury medicine, this new edition is stuffed with detailed advice, practice tips, arguments, charts, illustrations, and examples that you won’t find collected together anywhere else. Get more information on this hot seller here. 

Trial Skills 2013 Promises the Best of Trial Advocacy

Preparing a case for trial is much like preparing a canvas for a portrait. At first, you need to properly decide the theme of the portrait. Next, you need to decide the medium to be used. What story will the portrait tell the jury? How will the jury respond to the final product? 

Join us for Trial Skills 2013 this Friday, April 12 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, and you will learn from some of the most talented artists in our field. The course will be structured as if it were a trial. We will take you from creating your theme to voir dire, client preparation, opening statement, motivational demonstrative evidence, effective cross-examination, choosing jury instructions, closing statements and preserving issues for appeal. No matter how many trials you have participated in, this CLE offers everyone the chance to perfect his craft.

Time is running out. Reserve your seat today. See below for registration links.

 Here is a preview of our agenda and all-star line-up...

VOIR DIRE / OPENING STATEMENT 

with Annie P. Kaplan, Fay Kaplan Law, PA

 

EXAMS OF CLIENTS / PREPPING YOUR CLIENT 

with David A. Harak, Harak Law Firm, LLC

 

DIRECTING PLAINTIFF / DIRECTING EXPERT 

with James L. Otway, Otway, Russo & Rommel, PC

 

WOWING THE JURY / EXHIBITS 

with a very special guest to be announced...

  

CROSS EXAMINATION / CROSS EXAM DME / CHALLENGES 

with William H. Murphy, Jr., Murphy, Falcon & Murphy

  

JURY INSTRUCTIONS / VERDICT SHEETS

with Hon. Steven I. Platt (Ret.), The Platt Group, Inc. 

  

CLOSING ARGUMENTS 

Robert R. Michael, Shadoan, Michael & Wells, LLP

 

POST-TRIAL MOTIONS / APPELLATE ADVOCACY 

with Hon. Joseph F. Murphy, Jr. (Ret.), Silverman, Thompson, Slutkin & White LLC

& David M. Kopstein, Kopstein & Associates, LLC

REGISTER ONLINE

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

  

MAJ Launches Special Issue of Trial Reporter

The Maryland Association for Justice, Inc. (MAJ, formerly the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association) is proud and excited to announce the publication and release of the 2013 special issue of Trial Reporter, the association's flagship journal. An initiative supported by MAJ President George S. Tolley, III, this is the first year we have release a special fifth issue, focused purely on significant legal and judicial developments.

MAJ Report – What is MAJ?

When our members mention the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ), one of the most frequently asked questions is: What is MAJ? 

Formerly the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA), we are a professional association, dedicated to serving the trial lawyers of Maryland and beyond. Our mission is a deep dedication to improving the civil justice system through legislative advocacy and the professional and ethical development of attorneys who represent the injured.

Simply put, we provide our members with three key services: professional development, legal resources and advocacy. As the largest and most active specialty bar association in the state, our goal is to help our members best serve their clients.

Beginning with professional development, we offer an extensive list of programs and services, keeping our members on the cutting edge of their field. Throughout the year, you will see notices for at least 10 CLE programs a year, covering a wide spectrum of practice areas of topics. These widely attended events bring in acclaimed speakers and are consistently well attended and rated. Beyond the classroom, we offer key resources such as list servers and practice-related sections. These tools allow our members to connect with those most closely working in their area of practice and exchange ideas and information on an incredibly large scale. Additionally, our new lawyer members benefit from a comprehensive program, deeply focused on mentoring, free/low-cost educational programming and career assistance. Throughout the year, MAJ also offers case evaluation clinics, networking events and opportunities to volunteer with MAJ and shape the direction of the association.

With our extensive array of legal resources, we give even the smallest law firm access to research and information most large firms dream of. Our document and deposition banks host more than 10 million documents, compiled nationwide, making case research as simple as the click of a button. We also offer directories for both experts/legal services and lawyer referrals (LawyerSearch). For additional member benefits and resources, members have access to the MAJ website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and MAJ staff are always happy and willing to answer any inquiries.

Finally, one of our most important duties is to represent our members and their clients interests in both Annapolis and the courtroom. Each year, our legislative team works tirelessly during the General Assembly to fight for bills which protect the citizens of Maryland, and battle those which seek to restrict their rights. In the courtroom, our active Amicus Committee supports several cases on appeal through amicus curiae briefs in the Court of Appeals.  MAJ’s work even extends to helping our local community through the MAJ Foundation. Through this public outreach members are encourage to volunteer and support several projects throughout the year focused on public safety and education.

MAJ membership is more than just an annual dues payment. It is a portal to the trial lawyer’s professional success. To join or learn more, please visit our website.

New Lawyer Tip – Mentorship

One of the best resources for a new/young lawyer is the opportunity to consult with more experienced attorneys for practical advice, guidance and tips, and the best way to do this is through MAJ's Mentor/Mentee Program. Each mentee is matched with a mentor that shares their interests in particular practice areas. The mentors are prepared to allow the mentees to shadow them in court, answer questions, and generally make themselves available to the mentee. Sign-up here.

You can also learn more at MAJ Mentor Mentee Program Kickoff Event TONIGHT.
Mentors attending will each be giving their #1 practice tip!  Don't miss this opportunity!

Thursday, November 8, 2012          
Mentor/Mentee Program Kickoff 

6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Eggspectation Restaurant
6010 University Blvd.
Ellicott City, Maryland

Register

Submit Your New Lawyers Tip 

MAJ Announces 2012 Social Media Seminar

Social Media Seminar

October 8, 2012 • 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Doubletree Hotel, Columbia, MD       

Registration is open! The Maryland Association for Justice will be presenting a seminar dedicated strictly to social media and technology.  This half-day seminar will offer valuable information that you don’t want to miss.

Here is a preview of what the seminar has to offer:

• Judge Ronald A. Silkworth will be giving an in-depth explanation of  Maryland Electronic Filing, coming soon to a court near you. This is a great opportunity for both attorneys and paralegals to learn from the best about a system that is expected to go statewide, and to get answers to all of your questions.
• Hear from our experts on attorney websites and design by FindLaw, experts in online legal marketing.
• Get your Ethics CLE credits with Lydia Lawless from the AttorneyGrievance Commission as she discusses the ethics of internet marketing and social media.
• Trial Considerations: PowerPoint, Computer-Generated Evidence, and Admissibility
• Author and solo-lawyer Carolyn Elefant will discuss social media how-to: Facebook, Twitter and blogs for law firms.

REGISTRATION

Members Log-in to register
President’s Club       Eagle       Founder       Contributor     Regular Member     Law Student     Paralegal     New Admittee	$40 $50 $65 $140 $25 $50 $45
Non-Member	$195

For registration and additional program details, click here.

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Carolyn Elefant has been on the front lines representing and assisting solo lawyers since opening up her own practice in 1993.  She recently published the 2011-2012 edition of Solo by Choice: How to Be the LawyerYou Always Wanted to Be.  Her website, MyShingle.com, is devoted to solos and solo-wannabes, and provides a wealth of resources and information related to small firm management.  Ms. Elefant is based in Washington, D.C. and works on energy regulatory and enforcement law, appellate work, and marine renewable energy.  Follow her on Twitter at @carolynelefant, and contact her by e-mail at carolyn@carolynelefant.com.

Questions? Call MAJ as 410.872.099. or visit our website at www.marylandassociationforjustice.com.

MAJ Report – MAJ New Lawyer Programs Seek to Assist Newest Graduates

You graduated law school. You are days away from taking the bar exam. You are almost an attorney. Where do you go from here?

Many recent graduates are currently asking themselves that very question. How do you start your career? The Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ), a professional association dedicated to the legislative advocacy and professional development of (primarily) plaintiff attorneys, has developed programs and resources specifically aimed at assisting the new lawyer.

Starting with membership, MAJ offers all new admittees (attorneys practicing less than one year) free membership. With this comes access to multiple resources which may help you find a job, build a professional network, research your case or just do your job better.

As an attorney practicing seven years or less, upon joining MAJ, you automatically become a member of our New Lawyers Section – a group focused solely on the issues and challenges facing the young attorney. Membership in this section includes access to the New Lawyers list server, a forum where you may post questions to your fellow new lawyers and discuss topics important to you. The best part? There are no section dues.

You can also join MAJ for its “Nuts & Bolts” series, highlighting the basics of litigating a variety of cases, ranging from Family Law to Criminal Law to Auto Negligence. These meeting are usually hosted in the early morning or evening to accommodate your busy schedule, and feature speakers that are respected leaders in their fields. As an added bonus, all “Nuts & Bolts” meetings are free for new lawyers.

Looking to land that first big job? The MAJ Career Center could be your key resource. Located under Attorney Resources on the MAJ website, this service is completely free for all job-seekers, and posting your resume is simple. Fill out a short form, upload your resume, hit “Submit,” and you’re done. While there, browse the job postings and see if there is an employer looking for candidates like you.

The MAJ Mentor/Mentee Program is an excellent option for many attorneys getting their start. Each new lawyer is paired with an experienced attorney Mentor, who can provide you with invaluable resources and practical advice, professional contacts and support to aide and guide you in your career. You many even have the opportunity to shadow your Mentor in court. Several exclusive events are hosted throughout the year, allowing you and your Mentor the opportunity to connect.

Another added perk of being an MAJ New Lawyer is the discounted admission to many of our biggest educational seminars. Spend the day covering important legal issues with leading attorneys, judges and experts. These full and half-day seminars are offered throughout the year.

Doing research for that next case? The MAJ document and deposition banks should be your first stop. Examine a defense expert’s deposition, search for motions or briefs and find important verdict and settlement information. As an MAJ member, you have access to more than ten million local and national documents.

MAJ’s quarterly journal, Trial Reporter, will soon become your desk reference for many of the legal topics affecting your practice. Each issue features a variety of articles, columns and resources aimed at helping you do your job better. Subscription is free to all MAJ members and archives can be viewed and searched on the MAJ website.

In addition to all these offerings, MAJ New Lawyers also enjoy the benefits of all other members, such as case evaluation clinics, legislative advocacy, networking opportunities and much more.

It is also never too early to get involved with many of the MAJ committees, which not only guide and shape the direction of the Association, but also provide personal benefits to you. You can make new contacts, build your resume and make a difference in your community.

An MAJ membership is so much more than your name in a directory. Our aim is to provide all our members, rookies and experienced pros, with the tools and advocacy they need to best serve their clients and the profession.

To join MAJ today or learn more about what we do, visit us at www.marylandassociationforjustice.com or call us at (410) 872-0990.