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(See also MEMBERSHIP  INFORMATION and MEMBER APPLICATIONS)

Since the Million Dollar Advocates Forum was founded in 1993, membership has been based upon strict and objective standards.  Each applicant is required to complete a detailed application demonstrating that he or she has met the basic qualification of having acted as Principal Counsel (as that term is defined in the membership application) in one or more cases which resulted in a final judgment (not subject to appeal or modification), award or settlement in favor of his or her client in the amount of one million dollars or more.  In 2007, in response to requests from members, the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum was added with regard to cases of two million dollars or more.

Membership invitations are sent only to attorneys who objectively appear to be qualified, including those whose names are proposed for membership from the report of a large case or upon nomination by a current member. Other qualified attorneys may apply for membership.

Applicants certify, as members of the Bar, that the information contained in the application is true.  It is the policy of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum that any false statement of a material fact in the application would represent an attempt by an applicant to hold himself or herself out as possessing experience and qualifications which were not truthful and accurate and, as such, would constitute a serious act of professional misconduct which would warrant disciplinary action by the Bar. 

Each application is reviewed by experienced counsel.  Additional or supporting information may be required, and applicants who do not clearly qualify are denied membership. If membership is denied, fees paid by the applicant are refunded.

Review of membership applications is generally completed within two weeks of receipt of application and any additional or supporting information required.  If approved for membership, an email notification is sent to the new member advising of such approval and that the member may proceed to hold himself or herself out as a member in any manner consistent with rules of professional conduct applicable in the jurisidiction(s) in which the member practices (including use of the membership logos available on this website).  Within several weeks thereafter, a certificate of membership will be mailed to the new member, together with a press release announcing membership.  The press release is sent directly to the member for distribution as may be appropriate in the member's discretion.

There is a one-time fee for application, certification and membership.  Members may thereafter hold themselves out as members, in any manner consistent with rules of professional conduct applicable in the jurisidction(s) in which the member practices, for so long as he or she remains a member in good standing of the Bar.  There are no further or annual dues or fees to maintain membership.

The details of membership qualifications have been amended or expanded several times since 1993 in order to address various membership issues which have arisen from different case situations.  Such amendments have always been made within the original policy of applying strict and objective standards to membership.

QUALIFICATIONS

Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Essential qualifications are stated in the Membership Applications as follows:

1. Applicant must be a current member of the Bar in good standing.

2. Applicant must have acted as principal counsel in one or more of the following:

a) A court or jury trial in which the applicant's client(s) received a verdict and entered final judgment in the amount of one million dollars or more.  Summary adjudication or default proceedings do not qualify.  The case must be final and not subject to appeal or other possible modification.

b) A binding arbitration proceeding, where evidence was presented, in which the applicant's client(s) received a final arbitrator's award in the amount of one million dollars or more.

c) Negotiation of a final settlement in which the applicant's client(s) received the sum of one million dollars or more.

3. Whether by trial, arbitration or settlement, if the award was by periodic payments or structured settlement, the one million dollar amount must apply to the economic present value of the award, not the overall payout amount.

4. Applicants must provide adequate information as to case identity to allow for verification. In most cases, certification will proceed upon the declarations of the applicant attorney. It is understood that there are confidential settlements which do not allow for case identification. In such cases, the applicant may provide a general description of the case, certifying such description as true.

The term "principal counsel" is intended to include the one or more attorneys who were primarily in charge of and responsible for the preparation, management and settlement/ arbitration/ trial of a qualifying case. It is not necessarily limited to one attorney, nor is it limited to lead (i.e. "first chair") trial counsel. It is recognized that the responsibility for, and management of, a complex case often involves a team of attorneys who serve as co-principal counsel with different responsibilities. However, it is not intended to include an attorney simply because he or she worked on the case, referred the case or brought the case into the office. It is presumed that an applicant who states that he or she was "principal counsel" in a qualifying case has clarified that status (as defined herein) with any co-counsel and that there is agreement among all co-counsel that the applicant acted in the capacity of principal counsel.

For additional clarification of qualification issues see MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION.

QUALIFICATIONS

Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

All qualifications for the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum are the same as for the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, except as follows:

1.     All references to "one million dollar or more" are changed to "two million dollars or more".

2.     To become a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, an applicant must either: a) already be a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, or b) apply concurrently for membership in both (see Application for Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum).



HOW TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP

Membership Application forms must be submitted online.  Click on one of the following for an application form

MILLION DOLLAR ADVOCATES FORUM- APPLICATION FOR  MEMBERSHIP

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR ADVOCATES FORUM - APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP


QUESTIONS? Send us an email to Members@mdaforum.com

You may contact Member Legal Services, directly:
Million Dollar Advocates Forum
PO Box 2684
Del Mar, California 92014     
e-mail: Members@mdaforum.com


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