Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association

The Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association is a non-profit organization that works to preserve the American legal system and protect the rights of individuals within that system. PTLA is the oldest trial lawyers organization in Pennsylvania.

For more than 50 years it has supported, trained and educated criminal and criminal litigation attorneys throughout the City of Philadelphia. The PTLA gives a more united voice to attorneys practicing within the civil or criminal fields of jurisprudence.

Members in the organization include plaintiffs counsel who primarily represents plaintiffs, claimants, or litigants who have suffered injury or damage in personal injury cases. Members also include criminal defense attorneys in Philadelphia who fight to protect their clients and individual rights within the criminal justice system.

The PTLA is designated as an accredited provider by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board. It sponsors several seminars for trial attorneys throughout the year and a Luncheon Lecture Series.

For more than 30 years, the PTLA has hosted the annual Justice Michael A. Musmanno Award Dinner. At the dinner, the PTLA honors a judge or lawyer for their work in fulfilling the ideals of the organization. The PTLA also awards outstanding law students with its James J. Manderino Awards for Trial Advocacy.

Benefits of Membership in the PTLA

The benefits of membership in the PTLA include:

• a listing on the PTLA membership directory which encourages referrals between the members;
• access to litigation materials including CCP and HIPAA forms, and Police Overlay Sheets;
• access to the Plaintiffs Counsel Section with a separate Listserver;
• a more united voice before the court, administrative officers of the court, and comments on local and statewide Rules of Civil Procedure;
• participation in amicus curiae in important cases with significant impact;
• a subscription to Verdict, the PTLA's newsletter which reports on recent Pennsylvania appellate decisions, upcoming events, and case notes; 
• access to the Defense Expert Witness Bank with information on expert witnesses;
• the ability to rent anatomical models to our members including the human torso, spinal column, dual herniated disc, head, hand, eye, knee, foot, hip, shoulder, heart, and more;
• access to the Frohse Anatomical Charts and the CIBA Collection of Medical Illustrations; and
• invitations to the annual Cocktail Party to network with judges and other attorneys in a more relaxed setting.

Past Presidents of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association

The Past Presidents of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association include: