ABOUT KTLA
The Kansas Trial Lawyers Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit specialty bar association. It provides its members continuing legal education, publications, conferences and other services that address the unique professional needs of Kansas plaintiffs' and claimants' attorneys. KTLA member attorneys practice in broad areas of law, including auto litigation, consumer law, criminal law, elder and disabled care litigation, family law, long-term care negligence, medical malpractice, mortgage fraud, products liability, securities fraud, small business litigation, and workers compensation.
KTLA advocates on behalf its members through lobbying, the submission of amicus briefs, and by educating the public about the right to trial by jury, the importance of fair and impartial courts, and laws that assure accountability and fairness for every Kansan.
OUR MISSION
This non-profit corporation shall be known as the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association (KTLA). Its object shall be to uphold and defend the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Kansas in order to protect the rights of Kansans; to improve the administration of justice; to promote a high standard of ethics in the profession; to improve trial techniques and train lawyers in advocacy; to champion the right to trial by jury and independence of the judiciary; and to coordinate and promote the activities of its members in the interest of the legal profession and the public. As a specialty bar association, KTLA represents those trial lawyers who advocate for the rights of individuals harmed through no fault of their own, hold those who injure others accountable for their actions, and work to improve client representation in the field of criminal defense.
OUR HISTORY
In 1951, a few plaintiffs' attorneys established a state branch in Kansas of the National Association of Claimants Compensation Attorneys (NACCA). Known as the Kansas Association of Plaintiff Attorneys (KAPA) it set the professional standard for plaintiffs’ attorneys in Kansas. The organization championed the improvement of laws on behalf of plaintiffs, which led to stronger laws protecting consumers, working Kansans, and the civil justice system.
The association adopted the name "Kansas Trial Lawyers Association" in 1972. From 2007 through 2016, the group was known as the Kansas Association for Justice (KsAJ). At its December 2016 meeting, the Board of Governors changed the association's name back to the Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, KTLA.
KTLA members are proud and humbled by the legacy of the organization and its early leaders. The camaraderie and collegiality between KTLA members facilitate members assisting one another to develop as attorneys and advocate for their clients. From 1951 to today, the achievements of Kansas trial lawyers in the court room— paired with the KTLA's strong roots in advocacy— have made a difference in the lives of Kansans.
COMMITMENT TO PROFESSIONALISM
The KTLA Board of Governors unanimously adopted KBA’s Pillars of Professionalism as an endorsed set of aspirational guidelines for our membership. The KBA has given KTLA permission to reproduce and promote the Pillars of Professionalism. Click here to view the Pillars of Professionalism.