Eblast System
Do you need an expert witness; IME expert; information on jury tendencies or the judge in a particular venue; another defense lawyer's take on a complex point of law; or their experience with opposing counsel and/or plaintiff’s experts? Use the eblast system to quickly ask your colleagues for their input on this and more. It functions like a listserv but without the sometimes bothersome “reply all” feature. Replies only go back to the eblast sender.
Georgia Defense Lawyer Magazine
In 2026, we transitioned the Georgia Defense Lawyer from a print magazine to a digital publication. It contains not only details about GDLA activities and events, but also recent developments in case law. Members are encouraged to submit substantive articles. Additionally, the magazine reports attorney moves or promotions, honors, defense wins, significant orders, and more. The Georgia Defense Lawyer has been honored by the State Bar of Georgia with its Best Newsletter Award (for voluntary bars) eight times—five in a row.
Amicus Brief Program
GDLA has an Amicus Curiae Committee that receives amicus brief requests from members needing assistance with cases at the state appellate level. In some cases, the respective appellate court has invited GDLA and the plaintiff’s bar association, GTLA, to weigh in. If you need help on an appellate matter for which the outcome would impact the civil defense bar, please reach out to our Executive Director who’ll connect you with our Amicus Committee.Those requesting amicus help and amicus brief authors must be GDLA members.
Legislative Program/Lobbying
In 2021, through the generosity of several GDLA member law firms, we established a Political Action Committee and hired a lobbyist to counter GTLA's efforts by giving our members and clients a presence at the Capitol. Most of the same firms have continued to contribute—and many GDLA members donate when paying their membership dues—enabling us to keep Kade Cullefer of Troutman Pepper Strategies working on our behalf under the Gold Dome. In 2025, we were instrumental in supporting Governor Brian Kemp’s tort reform package and are pleased with the passage of Senate Bills 68 and 69. Individual members are encouraged to donate when paying their annual dues, as it is included as a negative checkoff on the invoice.
Annual Meeting
This yearly conference, held every June at a beach location, brings together members and their families for networking, CLE, and family time. There's also an exhibit hall where you will find tips and tools to enhance your practice from a variety of GDLA sponsors. Events always begin on Thursday with a welcome reception/dinner. CLE programming is Friday and Saturday mornings. Friday is a cocktail reception before dinner on your own, and Saturday is our closing reception/dinner. Don’t miss the fun! Visit the Calendar page of our website for the next dates.
Judicial Receptions
GDLA hosts a reception annually in February at the State Bar Headquarters in Atlanta to honor metro-area judges from the state, superior, appellate, workers’ comp, and federal bench. We have also hosted receptions in Augusta and Savannah. Check the Calendar page of our website to save the date for our next event.
Diversity
We annually co-sponsor the Gate City Bar Association/Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys Judicial Reception. We also are a member of the Multi-bar Leadership Council (MBLC), a consortium of diverse local bars. Members of MBLC bars, who have not been a GDLA member previously and otherwise meet our membership criteria, qualify for a free year of GDLA membership.
Current Legal Trends Database
This database is housed in the Members Only area of our website, and includes a range of categories from Tort Reform to Daubert & Expert Qualifications to Joint & Several Liability to Medical Funding Companies, and more. Members are asked to contribute their own documents to make this a robust resource for each other.
Verdicts Database
We launched the Verdicts Database in 2015 in the Members Only area. Members are encouraged to enter their own recent verdicts, regardless of outcome, so this becomes a robust resource for the civil defense community. It is searchable in a variety of ways, including by venue and attorneys.
Trial & Mediation Academy
Every August at Callaway Gardens, GDLA hosts this intensive three-day CLE for lawyers covering a variety of trial and mediation techniques. Attendees watch demos of opening statements and more by seasoned lawyers; then it's their turn to present what they've learned during breakout sessions. Attendees also learn from an appellate judge and trial judge who are on faculty. It’s suitable for newer attorneys, as well as those more seasoned who want to brush up on their trial skills.
GDLA Women Litigators Section
In 2019, GDLA launched this section to support, encourage and advance women litigators. They hold networking events, CLEs, and more. Most notably, section founder Karen Karabinos created the Southeastern Women Litigators Summit modeled after DRI’s Women in the Law Conference that’s held in Arizona. Her idea was to give regional women litigators the opportunity to participate in a similar conference without the expense and travel time. These summits bring together women litigators from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. We kicked off our first conference at the Atlanta Zoo and have since met in Hilton Head, Nashville, Asheville, and Savannah. Visit the Calendar page of our website and save the date for the next one.
Young Lawyers
GDLA is expanding its young lawyer (YL) offerings, giving YLs an opportunity to socialize at happy hours; get published; network with experienced defense attorneys and judges at members-only events; as well as attend the excellent, intensive seminar, Trial & Mediation Academy, mentioned above.
DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar
GDLA is one of DRI’s State & Local Defense Organizations (SLDO). As the DRI state affiliate, we regularly participate in idea sharing and networking through the DRI Annual Meeting and Regional Meetings. In 2013 and again in 2020, DRI honored GDLA with the Outstanding SLDO Award among those nationwide. Our Executive Director Jennifer Davis Ward was honored in 2016 with the second-ever SLDO Executive Director Award. In 2019, DRI presented Past President Matt Moffett with the Outstanding Bar Leader Award. We are also proud to have DRI Past President Douglas Burrell among GDLA’s membership ranks.
Sponsors Resource Directory
Need a medical expert? E-discovery specialist? Life care planner? Forensic engineer? Private investigator? Medical billing review? Court reporter? Our sponsors in these areas and more are a great resource. There’s a sponsorship directory in the members’ only area sorted by level and type of service offered.
Online Attorney Directory
Our online membership directory is searchable by name, city and firm name on the public side of our website. In the members’ only area, you can narrow your search by counties of practice, city, areas of practice, languages spoken, and more.
Affiliation with Gerogia's Civil Defense Community
In addition to the many personal benefits to your practice, your participation in GDLA will bolster the defense bar and advance your client’s interests through shared knowledge, techniques, and insights. In addition, you’ll be able to cite your GDLA membership whenever you present your professional credentials online and elsewhere.