improving the legal system and providing accreditation for law schools and continuing legal education programs Association of Personal Injury Lawyers – an association based in Nottingham, England; founded in 1990 by personal injury lawyers on behalf of accident victims Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles – CAALA is one of the largest associations of plaintiffs' lawyers in the United States and hosts one of the largest annual attorneys' conventions. American Association for Justice – an association of trial lawyers that was founded in 1946 by a group of plaintiffs' attorneys committed to safeguarding victims’ rights. Prior to 2007, this organization was called the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, or ATLA. The National Trial Lawyers – a national organization composed of trial lawyers, offering networking opportunities, advocacy training and educational programs for trial lawyers. Personal Injuries Bar Association (PIBA) - a specialist bar association for UK barristers who practise in the field of personal injuries. Criticism Critics of personal injury lawyers claim that litigation increases the cost of products and services and the cost of doing business. For example, critics of medical malpractice lawyers argue that lawsuits increase the cost of healthcare, and that lawsuits may inspire doctors to leave medical practice or create doctor shortages. These concerns, often raised in response to efforts to reform healthcare, have not been well substantiated. A publication by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found little evidence that traditional tort reforms affect medical liability costs or defensive medicine. A study conducted on a bipartisan basis in Texas has found that tort reform, once enacted, had no impact on reducing the cost of medical care, tending to throw doubt on claims made by tort reform advocates. See also Ambulance chasing Big Apple Pothole and Sidewalk Protection Committee Compensation culture References Lawyers by type Tort law Medical law Lawyer