Our Membership: The Difference Makers
The Pennsylvania Association for Justice counts among its membership some of the best and most brilliant trial lawyers in the country. The organization is enriched by its many members around the state who commit to the cause of civil justice, care deeply about their clients’ rights, and work tirelessly to ensure that there is equal access to justice in courts across Pennsylvania even when the costs are high.
“Pennsylvania trial lawyers are some of the most remarkable people I’ve ever met anywhere -- their legal knowledge, political insight and compassion for their clients."—Tom Previc, Former PAJ Director of Public Affairs
Specialty Practice Sections
Created to serve as forums through which members network with their peers and discuss issues relating to specific areas of law.
AUTOMOBILE LAW SECTION
The largest section, the Automobile Law Section, was created in 2001 to meet the demands of auto law practitioners. Members belong to the section to utilize its popular plaintiff only listserv and databank with over 500 users. The active members of the section have found it to be among the most important benefits of their PAJ membership.
Members pay $300 annually, in addition to membership dues, to participate in the plaintiff only listserv and databank.
CIVIL RIGHTS SECTION
The Civil Rights Section mission is to promote a robust and well-informed civil rights bar. The section’s activity shall include, among other things, encouraging the practice of civil rights litigation and organizing events aimed at educating and informing the PAJ membership of civil rights law. Members have access to a plaintiff only listserv and databank that will help you and your practice.
Plaintiff only listserv and databank are FREE, in addition to membership dues.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION SECTION
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Section ensure inclusiveness in all PAJ programs, activities, policies, publications, and practices. Developing and regularly providing content that can be used to guide members to recognize the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion within their own practices. The section utilizes PAJ’s communications and lobbying platforms to support efforts that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
EMPLOYMENT LAW SECTION
The Employment Law Section goal is to focus on strengthening protections for Pennsylvania’s employees and making Pennsylvania’s courts favorable venues for employment rights litigation. Launching in 2021, the section’s mission is to expand workplace rights beyond those rights afforded under federal law. Areas covered by this section include wage and hours, employment discrimination, workplace accommodations, restrictive covenants, unemployment compensation, and many more. When joining, you must certify that 51% or more of his / her employment-related legal representation is on behalf of employees.
Plaintiff only listserv is FREE, in addition to membership dues.
FUTURE LEADERS SECTION
The Future Leaders Section shall include all attorneys in practice for less than 15 years and be open to all PAJ attorneys with less than ten years of membership in the PAJ. The Future Leaders Section shall have jurisdiction over all matters relating to PAJ members with less than ten years of membership in the PAJ or to attorneys in practice for less than 15 years. The section was formed to connect, collaborate, and succeed, to meet the unique needs of lawyers who have recently entered the practice of personal injury law. Members who have been in practice for fewer than 15 years receive reduced membership dues and CLE registration fees, invited to section networking events, and section meetings.
Plaintiff only listserv is FREE, in addition to membership dues.
INSURANCE BAD FAITH SECTION
The Insurance Bad Faith Section addresses the needs of trial lawyers practicing in this ever-changing area of the law. The section produces magazine content, offers a listserv, and provides case updates.
Members pay $50 annually, in addition to membership dues, to participate in the listserv.
MASS CLASS SECTION
This section works with PAJ’s lobbyists on various issues such as data breach legislation that would provide a private right of action for consumers for data breach violations, improve the consumer protection laws under Pennsylvania law to help consumers, and purse state antitrust legislation with the assistance of COSAL in Pennsylvania. The section recognizes and engages practitioners and law firms that litigate class action and mass tort cases. Members have access to a plaintiff only listserv.
Plaintiff only listserv is FREE, in addition to membership dues.
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE SECTION
Launched in 1996, the Medical Malpractice Section was created in response to the needs of members practicing in the field of medical negligence and patient safety. The section offers a popular listserv, magazine content, educational seminars, and digital book. Access to the plaintiff only listserv and databank are available to members who meet specific eligibility requirements and who submit an affidavit.
Members pay $300 annually, in addition to membership dues, to participate in the plaintiff only listserv and databank.
NURSING HOME LITIGATION SECTION
The mission is to connect Pennsylvania’s nursing home litigators to obtain justice for our elderly population and their families. Members can participate in the plaintiff only listserv and educational webinar.
Plaintiff only listserv is FREE, in addition to membership dues.
PARALEGAL SECTION
The Paralegal Section shall have jurisdiction over all matters relating to the practice of paralegal work (an employee of a law firm or law department and who is engaged as an auxiliary to the practice of law and whose law firm has a current attorney member of this Association). Launched in 2018, this growing and robust section is becoming a valuable resource for PAJ paralegal members.
Plaintiff only listserv and databank are FREE, in addition to membership dues.
PRODUCTS LIABILITY SECTION
The Products Liability Section was created in 2025 to give plaintiff product liability/strict liability practitioners a forum to exchange information, ideas, and case law updates on the status of Pennsylvania Product Liability law. The Product Liability Section shall recognize and engage practitioners and law firms that litigate single events and non-mass tort product liability/strict liability cases throughout the state.
Plaintiff only listserv and databank are FREE, in addition to membership dues.
SECTION ON BEHALF OF SURVIVORS OF ABUSE
The mission of the Section on Behalf of Survivors of Abuse is to provide a forum for our membership to collaborate and strengthen our collective ability to represent clients in cases involving physical and sexual abuse particularly with the always changing legal landscape in Pennsylvania as it pertains to survivors of sexual abuse.
Plaintiff only listserv is FREE, in addition to membership dues.
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY SECTION
The SSD Section provides a forum for attorneys and non-attorney representatives to exchange information and strategies to help represent claimants at every level of the Social Security Disability process.
The databank is FREE, in addition to membership dues.
TRUCKING SECTION
The section shall exist to provide insight, education and understanding to practitioners related to Trucking Law and have jurisdiction over all matters related to Trucking Law that do not fit within the existing Automobile Law Section. Members can participate in the seminar and provide magazine content.
Plaintiff only listserv is FREE, in addition to membership dues.
WOMEN TRIAL LAWYERS SECTION
The Women Trial Lawyers Section shall foster collegiality, business development, educational growth, and political activism among its members. This Section shall have the responsibility of providing a forum for issues that affect women as trial lawyers and for encouraging participation by women in all aspects of this Association. It shall be the function of this Section, where appropriate as agreed by the section members, to see to it that any such issues are brought to the attention of the Board of Governors of this Associations, and that appropriate action consistent with the objective of this Association is taken. Section membership provides access to a popular listserv, statewide meetings and networking events, and special news alerts.
The listserv is FREE, in addition to membership dues.
WORKERS' COMPENSATION SECTION
The Workers' Compensation Section was established to address the needs of members representing claimants. The section elects three members from each district annually to serve on the PAJ Board of Governors. Section membership provides access to a popular plaintiff only listserv, statewide meetings, and special news alerts.
Members pay $150 annually, in addition to membership dues, to participate in the plaintiff only listserv and databank.
