Networking Between Consumer Trial Attorneys -
Yes, It Is Important And Why
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All of the attorneys practicing with the firm are active in AAJ (the America Association for Justice, formerly known as The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, or ATLA) which is an international consumer lawyers' networking organization. AAJ is based in Washington and organizes educational seminars for attorneys, and serves as a clearinghouse and repository for lots of information relating to injury cases, defective products, prior cases against corporations or insurers, expert witnesses, and other types of consumer law actions.
There are now nationwide e-mail group listservers where daily e-mails on current information on various areas of law are exchanged by AAJ attorneys. These nationwide attorney group e-mail lists include: motor vehicle injury law, railroad law, toxic torts, and other types of injury law. Membership in these organizations serves as an excellent networking tool for lawyers helping consumers with regard to dangerous products, pertinent historical information and cases, and other key evidence that can help with injury claims our firm is handling.
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Attorney Richard Shapiro has served as a speaker at the annual convention of AAJ in 2000 and 2001, presenting information to the nation's plaintiff railroad attorneys. He is an officer of the AAJ Railroad Law section. Other SCLA lawyers are active in AAJ and other national organizations relating to brain/head injuries, medical negligence, and other key topics for our firm and our injured clients.
John Cooper and other members of the firm are also active in statewide organizations of consumer trial lawyers, including the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (which also has a group e-mail listserver), the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers (which has a group e-mail list), and we network with lawyers in other states in which we practice. Richard Shapiro and Francis Hajek participated as speakers in a VTLA Evidence Seminar for Virginia attorneys 2001.
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Francis Hajek and Richard Shapiro have taken part in the Academy of Rail Labor Attorneys (ARLA), a nationwide group of lawyers who handle rail injury cases for rail workers. ARLA organizes educational seminars for its members, and maintains a Washington, D.C. main office, and also hosts a close-knit e-mail group listserver.
