What is the GTLA Future Leaders Program (LEAD)?
The GTLA LEAD Program (“Leadership Education & Advanced Direction”) was founded in 2013 for the purpose of educating GTLA’s youngest and newest members on both the benefits and the expectations of membership, building strong relationships between young promising trial lawyers from all four corners of our state as well as diverse trial practice areas, and ultimately to better prepare tomorrow’s leaders today. There are many ways to “lead” as a GTLA member: You can join or create your own local TLA in your hometown; volunteer to be a GTLA session chair; offer to speak at a seminar; share your ideas and trial experiences with your fellow trial lawyers on the GTLA listserv; assist in GTLA’s legislative lobbying efforts; serve as an elected GTLA Executive Committee officer; actively participate in GTLA’s fundraising and Directed Giving efforts; get more involved with AAJ; and/or contribute to the Civil Justice PAC. You could even run for state office as a lawyer-legislator; be elected or appointed as a Georgia trial judge, or perhaps one day even represent your colleagues as a future GTLA President! Regardless of how you decide to lead, the GTLA LEAD Program will better prepare you for when the day when you assume an important leadership role within the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association.
Pre-requisites for admission
- Be a GTLA member in good standing;
- Be in good standing with the State Bar of Georgia; and
- Have fewer than ten (10) years of practice experience, OR be 35 years old or younger
Program Details
- Program consists of 6 sessions (tentative dates below)
- Participants must attend at least 5 of the 6 sessions to be eligible for graduation
- Up to 20 CLE credit hours available for attendance at all sessions (hours will be granted based on sessions attended)
- Tuition cost is $750
- Discounted hotel room blocks are offered for overnight events; however, cost is not included in the $750 tuition and rooms must be booked by participants
- Discounted rates for the Holiday Workshop and Annual Convention are offered to LEAD Class members
Important Dates
- Application submission deadline is 5 p.m. on June 5th. NO late submissions will be considered
- All applicants will be notified of their acceptance by June 30th and must accept or decline their invitation by July 10th.
- Tuition must be paid by August 7th. Alternatively, if you would like to secure a payment plan, a 50% deposit ($375) must be submitted by August 7th with the remainder submitted by November 6, 2026.
Sessions
- LEAD Kickoff - August 13 - 15, 2026
Hotel Indigo, Athens, GA - Civil Justice PAC/Directed Giving - October 1 - 3, 2026
Hotel Indigo, Columbus, GA - Holiday Workshop - December 3 & 4, 2026
St. Regis, Atlanta, GA - Day at the Capitol/Judiciary - TBA
Georgia State Capitol, Atlanta, GA
*Subject to Legislative Calendar - LEAD Retreat - February 25 - 27, 2026
The Perry Lane Hotel, Savannah, GA - Annual Convention/LEAD Graduation - April 22 & 23, 2026
InterContinental Buckhead, Atlanta, GA
Applications may be mailed or emailed to the following addresses:
Georgia Trial Lawyers Association
Attn: Evyn Jackson
101 Marietta St NW, Suite 3350
Atlanta, GA 30303
Email: ejackson@gtla.org
Click HERE to access the online 2026 GTLA LEAD Program Application!
Click HERE to access the PDF version of the 2026 GTLA LEAD Program Application!