Membership registration and payment for the 2023-2024 year is now available. Click the purple Join/Renew Now button.

Membership in WPTLA helps the Association continue to grow, to expand the range of services offered to our members, and to speak up for the rights of our present and future clients. Membership dues in WPTLA support important activities, events and programs to the trial lawyers of Western Pennsylvania, and include the following benefits:

Levels of WPTLA membership are…

President’s Club at $300

Extra benefits at this level include:

Special recognition in The Advocate and the Judiciary Dinner program;

Premier exposure on our website;

3 Free CLE credit hours at a WPTLA-sponsored course;

A Plaque acknowledging your increased support of WPTLA, updated annually.

General Membership at $160

This level of membership provides inclusion in the online member directory and access to our plaintiff-only database, as well as our quarterly members-only publication, The Advocate.

Emeritus Membership at $75

This level of membership is exclusive for prior WPTLA members who have retired or are ‘of counsel’ status.

Young Lawyer Membership at $35

This membership level is for young attorneys who are in years 0-5 of their career.

Junior Membership at $35

This is a non-voting membership level for students enrolled in and currently attending a law school who have an interest in litigation, and lawclerks.  Your one-time payment of $35 covers your entire law school career for students.  This level includes free admission to a yearly event of the President’s choice, as well as publication opportunities.

Member Directory: A member directory with your photo and links to your website including your profile page, published online for paid members. 
The Advocate: Published quarterly and exclusively online for members only, this important resource keeps you current on Association news, significant case law updates, pending legislation, and practice tips.
Scholarship Essay Contest: Available to high schools in the Western District of PA.
President’s Challenge 5K Run/Walk/Wheel:  Annually benefiting the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers, this year’s race is set for Saturday, Oct 7, 2023.
WPTLA Client Comeback Award: Premier dinner held annually to honor a deserving client. This year’s event is scheduled for November 8, 2023.
Member Dinner Meetings and Receptions: An opportunity to hear and discuss points of view with prominent speakers, participate in Association events and network with area plaintiffs’ lawyers.
CLE: We hold both substantive and ethics programs throughout the year that help members stay up to date on innovative litigation strategies every trial lawyer should know. Members also benefit from the opportunity to learn from panels of judges who share the do’s and don’ts of trial practice in their courtrooms.  WPTLA is an approved long distance provider of CLE, and we additionally offer courses on our website for purchase and viewing.
Annual Judiciary Dinner: Scheduled for May 2023 in Pittsburgh, this event recognizes the judiciary of the Western District of PA. We also present our Champion of Justice Award and our Daniel M. Berger Community Service Award at this event.
Community Outreach: Events that allow us, as a trial lawyers organization, to give back to the community. Past events have included involvement with area Habitat for Humanity chapters,  Pittsburgh Cares, a Wills Clinic with Operation Better Block, as well as a holiday donation drive for a local nonprofit.