Attorney Organizations

The attorneys at Johnson Law Group are involved in numerous legal organizations throughout the Midwest and the United States. Our involvement allows our attorneys to have input on the laws as they affect our client's. Our attorneys pride themselves in keeping abreast of the constant changes in the law. A partial list of the organizations, follow:

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
The National Association of >Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) is the preeminent organization in the United States advancing the mission of the nation's criminal defense lawyers to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or other misconduct. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL has more than 11,000 direct members and 82 state, local, and international affiliate organizations with another 28,000 members including private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, active U.S. military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness within America's criminal justice system.

Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA)
The Association of Trail Lawyers of America was founded in 1946. The ALTA is the largest trial bar association in the United States and it primary focus is on fighting for fairness and justice for clients. The ATLA not only supports the law of the present, but also encourages the research of the law for the future.

National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA)
The NBTA is located in Boston, MA and was founded in 1977. This organization helps clients find qualified lawyers. The NBTA offers a service which promotes the certification of lawyers in certain specialties.

American Bar Association (ABA)
The American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional association in the world. With more than 400,000 members, the ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public.

The ABA strives to provide its members with the knowledge and tools needed to expand their careers. From ABA-sponsored workshops, meetings, seminars and CLE sessions to the widest variety of respected and up-to-date publications, dedicated to helping members advance in their career and the legal profession.

ABA HISTORY

The ABA was founded on August 21, 1878, in Saratoga Springs, New York, by 100 lawyers from 21 states. The legal profession as we know it today barely existed at that time. Lawyers were generally sole practitioners who trained under a system of apprenticeship. There was no national code of ethics; there was no national organization to serve as a forum for discussion of the increasingly intricate issues involved in legal practice. The first ABA constitution, which is still substantially the charter of the association, defined the purpose of the ABA as being for "the advancement of the science of jurisprudence, the promotion of the administration of justice and a uniformity of legislation throughout the country...."Today, the stated mission of the American Bar Association is "to be the national representative of the legal profession, serving the public and the profession by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the law."

The 11 goals of the association are:

1. To promote improvement in the American system of justice
2. To promote meaningful access to legal representation and the American system of justice for all persons regardless of their economic or social condition
3. To provide ongoing leadership in improving the law to serve the changing needs of society
4. To increase public understanding of and respect for the law, the legal process and the role of the legal profession
5. To achieve the highest standards of professionalism, competence and ethical conduct
6. To serve as the national representative of the legal profession
7. To provide benefits, programs and services which promote professional growth and enhance the quality of life of the members
8. To advance the rule of law in the world
9. To promote full and equal participation in the legal profession by minorities, women, and persons with disabilities
10. To preserve and enhance the ideals of the legal profession as a common calling and its dedication to public service
11. To preserve the independence of the legal profession and the judiciary as fundamental to a free society.

Federal Bar Association (FBA)
The Federal Bar Association is an income tax exempt organization, founded in 1920. The purpose of the FBA is:

1. To serve as the national representative of the Federal legal profession;
2. To promote the sound administration of justice;
3. To enhance the professional growth and development of members of the Federal legal profession;
4. To promote high standards of professional competence and ethical conduct in the Federal legal profession;
5. To promote the welfare of attorneys and judges employed by the Government of the United States;
6. To provide meaningful service for the welfare and benefit of the members of the Association;
7. To provide quality education programs to the Federal legal profession and the public;
8. To keep members informed of developments in their respective fields of interest;
9. To keep members informed of the affairs of the Association, to encourage their involvement in its activities, and to provide members opportunities to assume leadership roles;
10. To promote professional and social interaction among members of the Federal legal professions the professional organization for private and government lawyers and judges involved in federal practice, the FBA has offered an unmatched array of leadership opportunities and services for more than 80 years.

The FBA website provides a wealth of constantly updated information for its member attorneys and judges from all over the country. The FBA gives its 16,000 members a chance to meet at regional and national conferences, become active in informed discussion of substantive law issues, assume leadership positions at the local and national level, and network with other professionals in the field of federal law.

Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
The Illinois State Bar Association is a voluntary organization dedicated to promoting the interests of the legal profession and improving the administration of justice, the quality of members' professional lives, and their relations with the public.

Over fifty years ago, a handful of visionary leaders founded the Illinois Bar Foundation. Their initial commitment was to provide aid to deserving members of the Illinois Bar who, because of age or infirmity, could no longer provide for their own care or support. Since then, the Foundation has expanded its scope to provide legal services for Illinois families, as well as facilitate and encourage the development of the legal profession within the State.

The Illinois Bar Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose goals and objectives are:

* Foster and maintain the honor and integrity of the profession;
* Improve and facilitate the administration of justice;
* Promote the study, research and continuing education of law;
* Publish and distribute literary works on the law;
* Preserve documents of legal significance;
* Assist members of the Bar and/or their families in need of financial aid.

Dollars raised through the Bar Foundation champion the cause of justice for people of Illinois who have nowhere else to turn. The Illinois Bar Foundation is dedicated to funding vital community programs throughout the State that provide essential legal services to all residents of Illinois and increase each citizen's right of access to our State's judicial system The Illinois Bar Foundation is managed by a 23 member Board of Directors. Twelve members are elected by the Board of Governors of the Illinois State Bar Association from Illinois' five appellate districts for three-year terms. Two members of the Illinois State Bar Association Board of Governors are appointed at large by the President of the ISBA for one-year terms.

Two members of the Fellows are appointed by the Illinois Bar Foundation Board for three-year terms. The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Fellows are ex-officio members of the Board during their respective terms. Also serving as ex-officio members of the Board are the president, vice-president, and immediate past president of the Illinois Bar Foundation, and president and president-elect of the Illinois State Bar Association.

The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA)
The Ohio State Bar Association, founded in 1880, is a voluntary professional association representing more than 75 percent of Ohio's practicing lawyers. Through its activities, the OSBA serves both its members and the public by promoting the highest standards for the practice of law and the administration of justice. Total membership is about 30,000, which includes paralegal/legal assistant and law student associate members.

The Ohio State Bar Foundation (OSBF) provides funding for educational and research projects. These projects support public understanding of the law and improvements in the justice system. The Ohio State Bar Foundation is a 501(c)3 public charity and a membership organization of attorneys and judges, dedicated to the mission of promoting public understanding of the law and improvements in the justice system throughout Ohio.

In all of its initiatives, the Foundation strives to be a catalyst, convener and collaborator for change, change that furthers its mission for the benefit of Ohioans. The Foundation strives to accomplish this mission through grant-making to government agencies and not-for-profit organizations for projects furthering its mission; through publications that further public understanding of the law; through annual statewide awards honoring attorneys, judges and organizations that make significant contributions to their communities; through projects accomplished by its annual Fellows Class; through ongoing efforts to bring courts and communities together to improve the access and experience of the public with local courts and to address the role of courts as a community's institution of last resort

Michigan State Bar Association (MSBA)
The Michigan State Bar Association aids in promoting improvements in the administration of justice and advancements in jurisprudence, in improving relations between the legal profession and the public, and in promoting the interest of the legal profession in this State."

The Michigan State Bar Foundation provides leadership and grants to improve access for all to the justice system, including support for civil legal aid to the poor, law-related education, and conflict resolution. The Michigan State Bar Foundation was established in 1947 by lawyers and judges to help the legal profession meet its responsibilities to the public. Since then, the Foundation has made more than 400 grants totaling over $65 million to educate the public about the importance of the rule of law, train young people in peaceful conflict resolution and assist those in need with critical civil legal services.

The Foundation receives funds for its grant programs from a variety of public and private sources. Legal aid grants are funded primarily by the IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts) program and certain state court filing fees allocated for civil legal aid to the poor. The Foundation also receives generous private donations to support its program of public service, including contributions to the Access to Justice Campaign, and the Fellows of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.

The Foundation was established in 1947 in recognition of the legal profession's responsibilities to the public. Since then, the Foundation has made more than $42 million in grants to support civil legal aid to the poor and improve the administration of justice in Michigan. The mission of the Foundation is to provide leadership and funding to improve the justice system by:

1. improving access to justice for all, particularly through civil legal aid for the poor and through expansion of the provider system and the resources to improve that system, and
2. improving public understanding about the law, the importance of the rule of law and peaceful resolution of disputes through education, research and publicity.

Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (OACDL)
Founded in 1986 the OACDL believes in defending the rights of those who have been accused of committing a criminal act. The organization devotes a hefty portion of their time to further the education of attorneys to expand their knowledge of criminal defense. Time is also taken to educate the public as to the role of a criminal defense lawyer. OACDL is an advocate of progressive criminal laws that promote constitutional principles, a free society and the limitation of the government in the lives of Americans.

Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA)
This legal organization is comprised of a group of lawyers who work for and support citizens in the State of Michigan. The MTLA focuses on providing litigation support and continuing legal education for its member attorneys. The organization prides itself on providing resources to help its member attorneys provide quality representation in the State of Michigan.

Kane County Bar Association
In 1996 this association was founded to educate the public about the judicial system. The association is a non-profit organization that protects residents and provides legal administrative services within Kane County. The association provides numerous services to the public and the Bar. The Kane County Bar Association also provides charitable services and collects books, documents that have historic legal importance.

DuPage County Bar Association
This association was formed in 1997 for the purpose of upholding the profession of law within DuPage County. Not only does the association work with the public, but it also assists the DuPage County Bar when necessary. This association works at improving the way the judicial system works and promotes the study of this subject as well. Along with the study, the DuPage County Bar Association looks into preserving historical books and artifacts that have legal importance for the community.

Lake County Bar Association
The Lake County Bar Association works to improve the judicial system on behalf of the citizens of Lake County. The Association also promotes legal research and studies for the purpose of educating its member attorneys. This organization provides ongoing seminars in order to keep its members up to speed with changes within the judicial system.

North Suburban Bar Association