Start a litigation group to find strength in numbers.

One of the primary benefits of AAJ membership is the opportunity to join more than 70 litigation groups. Focusing on subjects ranging from abusive tax shelters to the antipsychotic drug Zyprexa, these groups offer members practical information on specific types of cases and the collective wisdom of experienced colleagues. The litigation groups prove there is strength in numbers.

The ultimate goal of a litigation group is to facilitate information-sharing among members, allowing them to accept cases that might otherwise be too complex or costly, cut down on the time and expense of preparing a case for trial, anticipate likely defenses, and structure their discovery and legal arguments to bring a favorable verdict or settlement.

Most litigation groups have document libraries containing sample complaints, briefs, discovery demands, and other litigation-related documents; intake questionnaires; medical studies; and many more helpful resources. Group e-mail list servers offer a quick way for members to network with other members. Litigation groups also hold seminars and education programs to keep members apprised of developments in their areas.

Membership in the litigation groups is open to AAJ Regular, President's Club, Sustaining, and Life members. Any AAJ member with a strong interest in a particular area can propose that a new litigation group be formed.

New groups must be approved by AAJ's Sections and Litigation Group Coordination Committee (SLGCC), which meets four times a year. The SLGCC will evaluate a litigation group proposal based on the recommendation of the AAJ Litigation Group administrator, the level of interest among the membership, the nature of the underlying litigation, and any other relevant factors. The proposed interim chair or vice chairs of the group must appear in person before the SLGCC.

The group should appoint an interim chair using the recommendation of the administrator and background information supplied by applicants. The interim chair should have

* a willingness and ability to carry out an acting chair's responsibilities

* a commitment to litigation group objectives

* demonstrated leadership experience, including experience with other litigation groups or similar organizations

* expertise in cases involving the topic of the group

* a good reputation within AAJ, the state trial lawyer association (TLA), and the legal profession generally

* a record of service in supporting AAJ and state TLA goals.

Once a litigation group is formally approved and an interim chair is appointed, the interim chair and any vice chairs are required to convene an in-person meeting at the next annual convention and vote to elect a chair and other leaders as needed. The interim chairs are also required to draft litigation group bylaws, which the group's members vote on at their first in-person meeting. A litigation group can also elect officers (treasurer, secretary, committee heads) annually, as long as the group's bylaws include provisions for doing so.

The SLGCC appoints a mentor for first-time litigation group chairs and provides mandatory litigation group leader training at the annual convention. AAJ staff provides administrative support in creating and maintaining litigation groups. AAJ Education approves and assists with the groups' education programs and seminars.

If you are interested in starting a litigation group, visit AAJ's Web site at www.justice.org/litgroups, download AAJ's Litigation Group Policies and Procedures, and send an e-mail to [e-mail] to request the application form.

LORI ANDRUS practices law with Andrus, Liberty & Anderson in San Francisco and created the Ortho Evra Litigation Group.