As Chair of the Task Force on Outreach to Young Lawyers of the ABA’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), I welcome you to our website. In this Chair’s Message, I will introduce you to our Task Force, highlight some of what we have done during the year, and preview what we are planning for the future.

The Task Force on Outreach to Young Lawyers is responsible for facilitating and recruiting membership and participation of young lawyers in TIPS and in developing leadership opportunities for young lawyers in the Section by providing a forum for young lawyers to learn about and become involved in TIPS and Section Governance. We invite you to be an important part of this process.

TIPS is an excellent place for young lawyers to be. TIPS provides opportunities to grow as lawyers – both professionally and personally. TIPS provides the professional skills training, expertise, networking, and leadership development that young lawyers need to gain a competitive edge. TIPS offers numerous opportunities through more than 32 substantive law committees and has members who are nationally renowned experts, specializing in a diverse array of fields, including professional liability, medical malpractice, intellectual property and computer law, commercial transportation litigation, aviation law, environmental law and other mass, civil and commercial litigation practice areas. We represent plaintiffs’ lawyers, defense lawyers, in-house counsel, members of the insurance industry, administrators, health care providers, and others.

The TIPS Task Force on Outreach to Young Lawyers has forged a strong relationship with the ABA Young Lawyers Division, and plans to further strengthen and expand that relationship. In addition, we seek to establish stronger relationships with other young lawyers and organizations throughout the nation. This Task Force reaches out to young lawyers, introduces them to TIPS, highlights the opportunities for involvement, and demonstrates the pathways for participation and success. We regularly interact with young lawyers and organizations throughout the country, present high quality CLE programs (both live and telephonic), implement important public service projects, and more.

We have recently updated and significantly revamped our website so as to be more accessible, provide more substantive content and greater information as to our activities and meetings/events, and be interactive. This process of improvement and updating continues to evolve so that we remain current and provide great value in a way that is most helpful and useful to you, our members. We will also be posting a series of articles on a variety of topics of relevance to young lawyers, their practices and lives.

We met during the TIPS Fall Conference in Dallas, TX, between October 14-17, 2010. During that meeting, we had a productive business meeting. We also enjoyed a VIP tour of the Dallas Cowboys’ state-of-the-art new Stadium. We hosted a complimentary Welcome and Meet-and-Greet Reception for young lawyers followed by a group dinner at Cool River Restaurant. The young lawyers attending the TIPS Fall Conference had a terrific time networking, while enhancing their professional knowledge and skills, and furthering the good work of the Task Force and TIPS.

On October 18, 2010, the Task Force presented an outstanding national telephonic program, entitled “Voir Dire: It’s Not Jury Selection.” Three nationally renowned experienced trial lawyers discussed the newest techniques for effective jury voir dire, including identifying potential jurors who will be unfavorable to you or your client. Plaintiff’s and defense lawyers shared their secrets to success about how to establish credibility with jurors as you inquire about their biases and prejudices. They discussed humanizing corporate clients by using corporate decision makers and explaining corporate concepts, and using juror questionnaires, internet technology and other social media to your advantage. Participants in the program had an opportunity to ask questions and further explore this very important aspect of litigation.

Our next business meeting will be at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Atlanta, GA on February 11, 2011 at 2:45 p.m. at the Hyatt. During the ABA’s Midyear Meeting, our Task Force will also sponsor the ABA/YLD Welcome Reception on Thursday night, February 11.

Our Task Force will hold business meetings and host other events in conjunction with the TIPS Spring Conference in Amelia Island, FL (May 18-22, 2011), and the ABA Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada (August 4-8, 2011). In between these meetings we will also meet via telephone conference calls and conduct CLEs on a variety of topics.

There are numerous opportunities through our Task Force and in the Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. We invite and encourage you to actively engage in our Task Force and TIPS. Be sure to log onto this website throughout the year to learn about us and what we’re doing. Also feel free to contact me, Chuck Eppolito, at eppolitoc@whiteandwilliams.com. We look forward to working with you!

Chuck Eppolito
Winter, 2010-2011


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