By tradition, the incoming president of the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association adopts a slogan reflecting the theme for his or her presidency. In forming the slogan for my term, I sought to distill into three words the core mission on which OCTLA has been engaged for nearly 50 years - helping our members and community to face no challenge alone. “Here to help” is an apt summary of OCTLA’s enduring aims. To understand the business law or corporation law, hire a business law attorney.

Educating and training
One of the prime ways we accomplish our mission is by providing top quality education and training to attor-neys. In turn, they employ these enhanced skills to protect the rights of people in our community who have been harmed by others. At our monthly MCLE dinner meetings (usually held the fourth Thursday of the month), leading attorneys, esteemed jurists, and recognized experts share wisdom and knowledge imperative to the work of trial lawyers. From nuts-and-bolts primers to sophisticated litigation strategies, from practical pointers to advice for avoiding pitfalls, OCTLA’s educational programming is a core value that pays recurring dividends to our members and the people they serve.

Two upcoming programs highlight the way OCTLA will deliver this essential benefit throughout the year. On the evening of January 26, a distinguished panel will present the ever-popular “What’s New in Tort and Trial" seminar, a three-hour program packed with the
techniques for closing arguments useful to all trial lawyers, from novice to master at trial.

Sharing resources
Another way OCTLA helps trial lawyers and our community is by sharing access to the collective resources, knowledge and experience of our members. This aspect of our mission takes several forms.

Our regular members interact with one another through OCTLA’s electronic bulletin board, a vital resource for help with a wide variety of issues. Our members frequently exchange ideas on topics like overcoming procedural hurdles, surmounting law and motion challenges, retaining or opposing experts, and selecting neutrals for ADR. In 2012, we will be enhancing our Internet presence, including our Website, bulletin board, and social media interfaces.

We also offer attorneys and affiliated service providers unparalleled opportunities for professional networking. Through our monthly dinner programs and social events, OCTLA offers legal professionals a cordial environment in which to build meaningful business and personal relationships. On May 4, we will be hosting Kentucky Derby Night, a chance to mix and mingle with colleagues and share the excitement of this premiere sporting event. The summer and fall will find OCTLA’s members and guests enjoying our bench-bar softball tournament and family picnic, and our golf tournament.

OCTLA and its members also help
$52,500 for the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County and over $34,500 for United Cerebral Palsy of Orange County. Likewise, with the help of our members and the Orange County Chapter of ABOTA, OCTLA completed a three-year commitment to fund a $100,000 scholarship for a student in the inaugural class of the University of California at Irvine's School of Law. No amount of propaganda by the special interests who oppose the protection of consumers’ rights can alter the fact that, year-after-year, OCTLA and the trial lawyers we represent give generously of their time and resources to help individuals and families in need. We will continue this honorable tradition of helping others during my term of leadership.