American Lawyers Alliance
Keeping the Spirit of Democracy Alive Across the Nation!
Welcome to American Lawyers AllianceAn American Bar Association Related Organization
The American Lawyers Alliance supports Law Related Education in our schools and communities. ALA is about making sure that all Americans know the value of freedom and liberty under the U.S. Constitution. It’s about sharing ideas and cooperative efforts so that we can make a difference in your community.
2025 American Lawyers Alliance Midyear Meeting
Phoenix, Arizona
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Friday, January 31, 2025
We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix Downtown, 122 N. 2nd St.. The ABA Rate is $249 per night and registration is open!
Click Here to Book Your Room at the Hyatt
Schedule of Events and Meetings:
All meeting will be held in the Cassidy Room at the Hyatt.
Wednesday, January 29
1:00 p.m. Committee Meetings
7:00 p.m. Dinner near Phoenix Hyatt hotel at Blanco Cocina + Cantina, 123 E. Washington (3 minute walk) - Guest Maximum 30 $70 per person (Click here to Register)
Blanco’s fresh twist on Sonoran style Mexican food is all you need to satisfy every craving in Phoenix. Lounge long and drink on with tantalizing tequila flights, delectable tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and the best margaritas you will ever drink. Whether you’re hungry for something flavorful or thirsty for something fun, we’ve got everything you want at Blanco.
Thursday, January 30
9:00 a.m. Board Meeting
12:00 p.m. Adjourn Board Meeting and time to change for trip to Scottsdale
12:30 p.m. Departure in van for Scottsdale for lunch, shopping and more
1:30 & 2:00 p.m. Lunch in Scottsdale Old Town at Olive & Ivy - 2 seatings 1:30 & 2:00. Dutch Treat, no separate checks.
2:00 p.m. Free time in Old Town Scottsdale which is chock full of shops, galleries, bars and MIM (Museum of Musical Instruments)
4:30 p.m. Departure by van to lovely home of Natalie Aran for dinner and party
8:00 p.m. Return to hotel by van
Friday, January 31
9:00 a.m. Board Meeting
10:00 a.m. Award’s Breakfast at Hyatt - $58 per person (Click here to Register)
11:00 a.m. Continuation of Board meeting and Book Donation
"Kids Need to Read" works to create a culture of reading for children by providing inspiring books to underfunded schools, libraries, and literacy programs across the United States, especially those serving disadvantaged children. Bring a book or your may:
Click here to Donate a Book through their Amazon Wishlist!
1:00 p.m. Private Guided Tour Taliesen West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous home (Departure and return by van) - $54 per person. (Click here to Register)
Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert camp, Taliesin West, is located in the foothills of the McDowell Mountains. One of the most influential architects of our time, Wright’s career spanned more than 70 years. During that time, he designed hundreds of buildings, including the iconic Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Fallingwater. With each masterful design, Wright forever influenced our relationship with architecture and our idea of how to live in balance with nature.
7:00 p.m. Dinner at the Arrogant Butcher, #2 E. Jefferson, (4 minute walk). Dutch Treat, no separate checks. (Click here to Register)
All you have to do is step inside the Arrogant Butcher’s doors to realize that you’ve found something special. An iconic landmark that effortlessly captures the classic downtown vibe, The Arrogant Butcher offers impeccably crafted bar bites, seafood and cocktails. It’s a haven of cool and comfort where you’ll always be in good company, and offered the very best.
Please note that we will be renting two vans to accommodate our group. The cost of each van is $350 for two days. We are asking each attendee to contribute $25 towards the cost of the van.
Planning to come a few days early or stay a few days later?
Be sure to check out the all the fun of visiting the Grand Canyon!
Register Today!
Here you can sign up for all the meetings, meals and events. (Some require a purchase, some do not!)
Please let us know which events you plan on attending, and be sure to scroll all the way through the form.
Anne Santorelli
American Lawyers Alliance
2024 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Anne has been a member of the ALA for many years and has held several different offices in the ALA.
She is Past President of the National Capital Lawyers Auxiliary and has chaired and served on several of the NCLA committees including the NCLA Law Day Essay Contest where the awards ceremony was held at the Supreme Court of the United States. Anne also served on the Luncheon committee honoring the Spouses of the Justices of the Supreme Court held at Congressional Country Club. She also held the offices of Vice President, Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary of the NCLA.
Anne was also involved in her community as a volunteer with “Reading is Fundamental,” and several other volunteer organizations.
As a member of the American Lawyers Alliance, Anne served as President, 2017-2018; Secretary 2021-2022. She also served on several committees including the Carr Committee; Teacher of the Year Committee; Long Range Planning Committee; Nominating Committee and Procedures and Guidelines Committee. As Recording Secretary, she took excellent minutes and provided outstanding and timely written minutes to the Executive Committee and the Board.
Anne has been a wonderful asset to the ALA. Her enthusiasm and willingness to take on any task with grace and good humor has made her a perfectly delightful member of the American Lawyers Alliance. And, of course, her lovely British accent is always a “proper” treat to hear.
Nancy Johnson
American Lawyers Alliance
2024 Outstanding Volunteer of the Year
Nancy Johnson is a longtime participant in Law Related activities. Her involvement as a Director for the American Lawyers Alliance in August 2024. Nancy was also involved int the Michigan Lawyers Alliance as a member from 1990's to its dissolution in Mid -20-teens. At that time Nancy was the recording Secretary for two terms through the dissolution process. In addition, Nancy has been a member of the Kalamazoo Lawyers Alliance from the mid-1990's to the present. She has been an outstanding Treasurer and still is. She also has been the Recording Secretary. She has chaired the Reception Committee which provides and coordinates the receptions for the Kalamazoo County Bar Association. This included memorial receptions, and the swearing in of new attorneys. Nancy had also been involved with the Christmas party committee for the Juvenile residence at the Juvenile Home. And finally, she has also served on the Foundation Board as an interim delegate. When we reestablished the student library at the Audrey Grey Library at the Juvenile Home, Nancy organized the books, eliminated torn or out of date books and shelved and organized the new books. Nancy works tirelessly in whatever activity she participates. She is always there and is very reliable. Plus, much, much more to come…
2024 Judicial Civic Education Award Recipient
70th District Court Judge, The Honorable Terry L. Clark
Saginaw, Michigan
Hon. Terry L. Clark serves as a district judge in Saginaw County, Michigan. While Judge Clark is busy handling the many cases assigned to him he also finds time to serve his community in many other ways.
Judge Clark has been a member of the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Ethics Committee since 2015. As a committee member he readily takes on virtually every volunteering opportunity with the committee, serving on subcommittees, drafting ethics opinions and speaking to various groups. He has served on the criminal jury instructions committee. He has chaired the State Bar Representative Assembly.
Judge Clark is dedicated to and enthusiastic about educating young people. During his many years on the bench, he has enjoyed educating elementary, middle and high school students about the judiciary, the law and the role they play in our system of government. He has been known to interrupt his judicial duties to entertain and educate student visitors. He welcomes students touring the courthouse into his chambers where he learns their names, and calls on them to guess and answer questions he poses about how judges perform their duties, their judicial robes and more. He also loves to seat students in the jury box in his courtroom as he describes the legal process and the roles of prosecutors, his staff, the court reporter, defense attorney and even the jurors. In addition, Judge Clark has participated for many years in helping to conduct the annual Mock Trials in Saginaw County.
Judge Clark has made community service, and in particular the education of young people, one of the foundations of his life.
The Honorable Terry L. Clark, 70th District Court Judge
Saginaw, Michigan
Meet Our 2024 Scholarship Winners
Alicia Chu
2024 CARR Scholarship for Excellence in Civics and Overall Academics Recipient
Congratulations to Alicia Chu from Newark, Delaware, our 2024 $10,000 CARR Scholarship for Excellence in Civics and Overall Academics! Alicia graduated from Archmere Academy with a 4.55 GPA, an SAT Score of 1570, an ACT Score of 36 and will be attending Harvard University and New England Conservatory Dual Degree Program this fall. Her superior academic achievements, combined with her amazing law-related and outstanding extra-curricular activities, plus her inspirational essay complete the picture of our perfect scholarship recipient.
Annika Krovi
2024 Catherine G. Jurgemeyer Scholarship Recipient
Congratulations to Annika Krovi from Greenville, South Carolina, our 2024 $10,000 Catherine G. Jurgemeyer Scholarship Winner! Annika graduated number one in her class from J.L. Mann High School Academy of Mathematics, Science, and Technology with a 5.607 GPA and an SAT Score of 1570 and will be attending Harvard University this fall. Her superior academic achievements, combined with her amazing law-related and outstanding extra-curricular activities, plus her inspirational essay complete the picture of our perfect Jurgemeyer scholarship recipient.
2024 ALA Annual Meeting
Chicago, Illinois
July 31 - August 2, 2024
Congratulations to our 2024 Teachers of the Year!
A Celebration of Life - Rita Thompson, ALA President 2020 - 2021
Past ALA President from 2020 - 2021 and 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Rita Thompson of San Antonio, Texas passed away on Sunday, February 18, 2024. She was an active and integral part of ALA, as well as the Texas Lawyers Auxiliary and the San Antonio Bar Auxiliary. Click below to read about her achievements.
A Celebration of Life - Pauline Krieger, ALA President 2001 - 2002
Past ALA President from 2001 - 2002 and 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Pauline Krieger of Rochester, MN passed away on Friday, February 2, 2024. She was an active and intragal part of ALA. Click below to read about her achievments.
A Celebration of Life - Elouise Williams, ALA President 2000 - 2001
Past ALA President from 2000 - 2001, Elouise Williams of Birmingham, Alabama passed away on August 25, 2023. She was 95 years old. Many current ALA members remember her fondly. Click below to read all the loving tributes.
Justice Stephen Breyer’s thoughts on civic education and advice to ABA’s youngest members.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer spoke remotely to ABA President Judy Perry Martinez during the General Assembly of the 2020 ABA Annual Meeting. The following is an excerpt from that conversation:
“Martinez closed her conversation with Breyer by asking the justice to share a few pieces of advice with the ABA’s youngest members as well as with its more senior attorneys.
Breyer encouraged law students to learn about the government and said he wished civics was restored as a required course. To those who are graduating, he said he couldn’t tell them how to live their lives, but he hoped a few things for them.
“I can hope you’ll find someone to love,” he said. “I can hope you’ll have a job that is rewarding, and I can hope you will participate. Participate in public life. And there are a million ways to participate.
“You can join a local library association. You can try to be a school board member. You can vote. You can learn about the issues going on. You can talk to others.”
To the senior members, Breyer said, like he tells himself, “you just keep going.”
Enjoy Our 60th Anniversary Past President's Slideshow!
ALA by the Numbers
$150,000 +
5,000
12
62
Help ALA Celebrate 0ver 60 Years!
Did you know that your membership in the American Lawyers Alliance allows us to...
- Bestow a Judicial Civic Award annually to recognize and honor a judge for their work in promoting civic education in their community and state.
Click here to read more about our Judicial Civic Award.
- Recognize and honor and rewards Outstanding High School, Middle School and Elementary School Teachers who have made significant contributions in the area of law-related education. Click here to read more about our "Teachers of the Year Awards."
- Gather and distribute hundreds of books from our members to distribute to worthwhile organizations. Click here to read more about our Book Project.
- Honor and reward our local and state auxiliaries who sponsor programs that promote law-related education, good citizenship, and/or an appreciation the United States legal system. Click here to read about our Auxiliary Support Rewards.
- Provide law-related educational materials, videos, downloads, and links for teachers to use.
Click here to read about our Law-Related Educational Materials.
- Annual Dues are only $25.00!
