ABA Litigation Section

Learn how to improve your legal writing and streamline the editing process. David Greenwald, ABA bestselling author of “Sentence, Paragraph, Argument Brief: Meeting the Four Challenges of Legal Writing,” explains techniques for drafting effective background statements that build judicial goodwill, enhance credibility, and strengthen later arguments. https://learningcenter.americanbar.org/courses/126979

🎲The ABA Litigation Section is headed to Las Vegas!

Join us October 29–30 for the 2026 Class Action National Institute at Caesars Palace. This premier gathering for class action litigators brings together experienced in-house counsel, defense counsel, and plaintiffs’ attorneys from across the country to share best practices, stay current on important class action and Supreme Court decisions, and discover practical strategies to better serve your clients.

📅Mark your calendar and find details: ambar.org/classactions.

Litigating a high-stakes complex case requiring a large case team does not need to be overwhelming. Find out how to organize and manage large cases and teams to minimize noise and create an environment for success: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/resources/litigation-journal/2026-spring/managing-the-noise-of-large-cases-and-teams/.

Limited trial opportunities for civil litigators can make it challenging to build the skills needed to become an effective second chair. Here are five tips from Logan Owens and Joseph Schaeffer on how young lawyers can best approach this role in litigation: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/resources/newsletters/pretrial-practice-discovery/second-chair-first-impact-five-tips-trial-success/.

Members of the ABA Litigation Section have access to connect with litigators from all over the country. Our in-person events, such as our Section Annual Conference, regional CLE programs, and national seminars, offer members invaluable opportunities to grow their networks and learn from national experts. Join the Section today: ambar.org/ltjoin.

Are footnotes helping your brief—or hurting it?

In this insightful piece from the Litigation Journal, David Greenwald explores the evolving role of footnotes in legal writing. While the “default” today is to avoid them, they aren’t always a mistake—in fact, they can be a strategic tool when used thoughtfully.

https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/resources/litigation-journal/2026-spring/footnotes-good-bad-necessary-evil/

There’s still time to register for the 2026 Legal Services Advocacy Training Program, taking place July 16–17, 2026, in Minneapolis, MN. The program will accept 32 regional full-time legal aid attorneys and is free of charge. Learn more and register here: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/about/awards-initiatives/legal-services-advocacy-training-program/

The associate who becomes the resident expert on AI research is the one partners will trust with more work. But using these tools effectively and ethically requires knowing their limits as well as their strengths. Read more: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/resources/newsletters/insurance-coverage/artificial-intelligence-tools-for-litigation-associates/.

In this timely episode, Litigation Radio host Jim Reeder is joined by attorney, experienced poll worker, and current president of the ABA, Michelle Behnke, to discuss the American election system and the role of lawyers in that system. Listen here: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/resources/podcast/how-you-can-get-involved-in-election-integrity/

The legal profession and the cadence of advocacy can be loud. The price lawyers pay for success can resound in their ears as a noisy siren and serve as a warning alarm. Wellness and self-care are key to lawyer competence and proficiency, and increased wellness translates into increased judgment, creativity, longevity, and client service. Read ABA Litigation Section Chair Tiffany Williams Brewer’s article from the Spring 2026 edition of the Litigation Journal to discover ways to quiet the noise and tune in to your wellness: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/litigation/resources/litigation-journal/2026-spring/a-call-to-whole-lawyering/.