Membership Information

DCDLA membership is by invitation, and it does not have an application form.  After nomination by at least two members and an investigation by the Board, biographical information for a prospective member is published in a monthly newsletter, and members are given 30 days to respond to the Secretary with their vote.

To be eligible for election to membership:

• A lawyer must be a member in good standing of the District of Columbia Bar;
• A lawyer must be engaged in the trial of civil litigation, primarily for the defense;
• A lawyer must have manifested a genuine interest in or sympathy with, the purposes of the DCDLA, viz.,"to establish and maintain as a group, lawyers who devote a substantial amount of their professional time to the trial of civil cases in the Courts of the District of Columbia and whose representation in such cases is primarily for the defense; to provide for the exchange among its members of such information, techniques of procedure and Court rulings relating to the trial of civil litigation as are calculated to enhance the knowledge and improve the skills of defense lawyers; to elevate the standards of trial practice in this area; to support and work for the improvement of the adversary system of jurisprudence in our Courts; to work for the elimination of Court congestion and delays in civil litigation; and in general to promote improvements in the administration of justice; and to increase the quality of service and contribution which the legal profession renders to the community."