COAJ

It is my honor to serve as this year’s President of COAJ.  Since my first year with COAJ, I have always felt proud to be a member of this esteemed organization.

First, I want to thank Liz Mote for her dedication and leadership as our immediate past President. Liz and all other past presidents have set the standard for what this organization represents, and I can only hope to expound on that reputation.

One key factor that sets COAJ apart from other trial lawyer organizations is our sense of community and collegiality with members of the judiciary. My objective this year is to build on the strengths of our organization and maximize membership value.

As we represent our individual clients, we constantly face an uphill battle when it comes to resources.  We relentlessly fight with the legislature, bad case law, affordable resources, opposing counsel, and even sometimes our own clients. It is my goal to enhance the resources available for our members so that we can focus on the key issues that allow us to be successful in our profession without being bogged down by unnecessary problems.

This is also why our relationship with the judiciary is crucial, to ensure that we are starting off with a level playing field. I want to foster our relationships with other trial lawyer organizations to elevate our access to CLEs, referral systems, and create greater influence within the legislature. In order to gain credibility and provide reciprocal value, we will need to increase our membership numbers. To do that, we are exploring affordable partnership options to alleviate the burden of membership costs.

The primary focus of my presidency will be to reinforce the greatness of our relationships with each other. I plan to do that through more networking opportunities with lawyers, sponsors, judges, and staff. I also want to create more avenues for law students and new lawyers who need a professional mentor. Far too many new lawyers are starting their own practice without any leadership or guidance, and I believe COAJ can help fill that void. In turn, this will help us build new membership for growth and increased revenue.

The most important factor in this equation is you. Your continued support and participation is necessary for COAJ to operate effectively and thrive. Please complete and return the enclosed dues renewal information so we can build greater value together. Lastly, I am always open to feedback, insight, or new ideas to help improve the organization. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly at (614) 610-9756, or via email at pete@tfflegal.com.

Thank you for everything you do for your clients and our profession. I look forward to seeing you all in the near future at our next event!