ABOTA's Mission
 

The American Board of Trial Advocates is a national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the civil jury trial right provided by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. First and foremost, ABOTA works to uphold the jury system by educating the American public about the history and value of the right to trial by jury.

 

Preservation of Trial by Jury

Educating the American public about the history and value of the right to trial by jury is the primary goal of the ABOTA Foundation. We have a number of educational programs for teachers and students to preserve the constitutional vision of equal justice for all Americans and to preserve our civil justice system for future generations. 

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Professionalism, Ethics, and Civility

ABOTA is an organization that requires its members to be responsible for elevating the standards of integrity, honor, ethics, civility and courtesy in the legal profession. Members cultivate a spirit of camaraderie and fellowship among each other and work to encourage and advance members of ABOTA professionally.

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Preserving the Independence of the Judiciary

Preserving the quality and independence of the judiciary has been a hallmark of ABOTA’s efforts over the years. ABOTA works to maintain and support public confidence in the judiciary by providing timely assistance to members of the bench in responding to adverse publicity, misinformation, or unwarranted criticism of an individual judge or the judiciary.

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Public Education

Justice by the People  
Helping educators teach about the importance of trial by jury.

James Otis Lecture Series  
Educating students so they will have knowledge of and respect for the U.S. Constitution.

Teacher's Law School  
Teachers attend a modified law school specially designed for them.
Spotlight

2012 ABOTA National Trial College at Harvard Law School
July 29- August 4, 2012

The ABOTA National Trial College at Harvard Law School will provide young trial lawyers with intensive training from members of the bench and from accomplished practitioners in the art of being a successful trial lawyer. There will be real-time demonstrations by plaintiff and defense attorneys on all aspects of trial --from effective trial preparation to convincing opening statements to closing arguments.

More than 35 fellows went through the rigors of the inaugural ABOTA Trial College on the campus of Princeton University in 2010. The 2012 ABOTA National Trial College at Harvard Law School will be the second installment. Designed for third- and fourth-year trial attorneys from both sides of the bar, it will consist of four days of intense instruction on technique, moots and critiques by ABOTA members from around the nation, as well as notable judges.

The classes will be punctuated with experienced faculty members who understand the pressures of trial preparation and courtroom situations.  The instruction will take place in a state-of-the art courtroom facility at Harvard Law School. The faculty and the students will stay on Harvard¹s campus. After four days of academic work, students present a mock trial before a real jury. Following the trial, participants will view the jury deliberations, and students will receive critiques from the faculty members. A graduation ceremony will be held on the final evening.

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In the News

ABOTA Foundation presents Lifetime Achievement Award to Lewis R. Sifford


SAN DIEGO (Jan. 14, 2012) ‹ The Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates presented its highest honor to Lewis R. Sifford ‹ the Mark P.
Robinson Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award was created in honor of ABOTA's founding father and first President, Mark P. Robinson of Los Angeles. It is given in recognition of a lifetime of dedicated service to ABOTA, leadership of the legal profession and preservation of the right to trial by jury guaranteed by the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

"We wanted to recognize someone who, not for months or years, but for decades, has provided leadership and diligent effort to the many programs championed by the ABOTA Foundation," said Joel W. Collins, Jr., 2008 Foundation President and partner in the Columbia, S.C., firm of Collins and Lacy. Collins added that Mr. Sifford has both the visionary spirit of a true leader combined with the work ethic and ability to carry out plans at the local, state and national levels.

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