Law Firm Benefactor Program Expanded

Kristine Frakes, AJS Director of Development, contributed to this article.

As the American Judicature Society seeks to engage new audiences and expand the reach of its work, we remain grateful to our existing Benefactor law firms for their loyal support. Through the AJS Benefactor program, leading law firms help underwrite the cost of publishing and distributing Judicature, and provide support for expansion of cutting edge work in areas including judicial selection, independence, and ethics; the jury; forensic science and the law; and pro se litigation.

Webster defines a benefactor simply as “one who gives financial or other aid.”  

We at AJS embrace the fact that our Benefactor law firms are defined by much more than the financial support they provide.

“Carlsmith Ball has been a long-time Benefactor firm because we believe in the American Judicature Society and what it stands for, particularly judicial independence and accountability, merit selection of judges, and the promotion of the highest standards of judicial ethics. We want to be a part of what is and should be best for our judiciary. Through our firm’s support, we reaffirm our commitment to a better and constantly improving judiciary through the work of AJS and its 94 years of proven effectiveness.”
Past AJS President Lawrence (Larry) Okinaga – Carlsmith Ball -- Honolulu, HI

AJS Benefactor firms are in fact patrons, supporters, and protectors of our judicial system. These firms and their lawyers champion the cause, share the burden, bear the weight, endure the struggles, and work with AJS to preserve the intent of the framers of our constitution to ensure a fair, impartial, and effective system of justice for all.

Funding Judicature through the Benefactor program is an excellent way to support AJS, and continued support of AJS is absolutely crucial to our nation. The Missouri Plan—merit selection of the judiciary—is constantly under attack even in states where it has been adopted. Legislators across the country are again trying to politicize the judiciary. It never seems to stop. AJS must continue to take the lead in this ongoing battle.
Jack L. Campbell – Shughart Thomson & Kilroy – Kansas City, MO

The expanded Benefactor program offers sponsorships beginning at $1,500 annually, with additional recognition at $2,500 and $5,000+ sponsorship tiers. Benefactor firms receive prominent recognition on the inside cover page of Judicature, the premiere AJS scholarly journal distributed bi-monthly to nearly 6,000 constituents worldwide, and up to 25 complimentary copies of each issue. 

We give Judicature to our summer law student clerks and to any lawyer in the firm who would like to have an issue that has something of interest to them. We have always found the magazine useful and it elevates our “smallish” law firm in the eyes of our newer lawyer recruits to see us listed on the Benefactor list. It is hard to think of a better bargain for Osborn Maledon's expenditures.
Past AJS President Larry L. Hammond – Osborn Maledon – Phoenix, AZ

Current AJS Benefactor law firms include:
Anderson Kill & Olick, PC, New York, New York
Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, L.L.P., Houston, Texas
Carlsmith Ball LLP, Honolulu, Hawaii
Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York
Gregory P Joseph Law Offices LLC, New York, New York
Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Los Angeles, California
McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore, L.L.P., Austin, Texas
Miles, Sears & Eanni, Fresno, California
Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., Detroit, Michigan
Osborn Maledon, P.A., Phoenix, Arizona
Perkins Coie Brown & Bain, P.A., Phoenix, Arizona
Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York
Shughart Thomson & Kilroy P.C., Kansas City, Missouri
Sills, Cummis, Epstein & Gross P.C., Newark, New Jersey
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, New York
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, Washington, D.C.
Winstead, Sechrest & Minick P.C., Dallas, Texas
Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP, Washington, Delaware

If your firm is interested in joining the ranks of AJS Benefactor firms, or would like to learn more about the Benefactor program, please contact Kristine Frakes at 1-800-626-4089 or via email at kfrakes@ajs.org.