AAJ Commemorates the 25th Anniversary of Trial Lawyers Care

WASHINGTON, DC-Today, the American Association for Justice® (AAJ®) commemorates the 25th anniversary of Trial Lawyers Care® (TLC), the largest, most successful pro bono project in United States jurisprudence.

In 2001, AAJ (then ATLA®) leaders and members brought a proposal to Congress to create a federal victim compensation fund for those injured during the September 11th terrorist attacks. On the day Congress passed the law creating the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, AAJ's officers and Executive Committee volunteered to be the first attorneys to provide legal services free of charge under this program. Through Trial Lawyers Care, nearly 1,100 lawyers from every state and Washington, D.C., Australia, England, Canada, and Mexico volunteered almost 900,000 hours representing 1,745 individuals and families.

"We came together in 2001 to support first responders and families, and we continue that work every day," said AAJ CEO Linda Lipsen. "25 years later, our commitment to justice for victims and survivors remains steadfast. I'm proud of the dedication of my colleagues, who came together without hesitation when victims needed it the most."

Trial Lawyers Care would not have been possible without the meaningful contributions of AAJ members past and present: Leo V. Boyle, AAJ's President from 2001-02 and President of Trial Lawyers Care from 2002-03; Hugh W. Campbell, President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association from 2001-02; Larry S. Stewart, AAJ's President from 1994-95 and first President of Trial Lawyers Care from 2001-02; and posthumously, Richard A. Bieder, who served as the final President of Trial Lawyers Care in 2003-04.

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