Joining NAACA

To be a member, you must be employed by a state or federal appellate court (or you may join or renew as an emeritus member, defined as an attorney who is retired from appellate court employment or although not retired, no longer works for such a court and is not engaged in the practice of law). To become a regular or emeritus member (or to renew an existing membership), complete the membership form and make payment in one of the following two ways:

The National Association of Appellate Court Attorneys (NAACA) provides an annual conference with training and education specifically tailored to attorneys at state and federal appellate courts. Our 2024 Conference will be held in Chicago, IL., July 9-12, 2024. The 2023 conference was in Pittsburgh, PA, and the 2022 Conference was hosted by UC Berkeley School of Law and the Berkeley Judicial Institute, with whom we affiliated in 2021. NAACA members receive a significant tuition discount (which is more than the annual membership fee!). Join now and you'll be a member for one full year, and there are other reasons to join NAACA now, even if you are unsure whether you'll be able to participate in the next conference. Consult this article for detailed information about the benefits of joining NAACA, in the words of some of our longtime members. Or continue reading below for a summary of those benefits.

All NAACA members are subscribed to an electronic listserv that provides ready access to a network of appellate court attorneys working daily to enhance their courts and their professional lives. The listerv allows members to poll their colleagues and gather information about how other courts are addressing personnel, procedural, or substantive challenges. Recent postings on the NAACA listserv have ranged from dealing with "frequent filers" of frivolous appeals to breaking issues in Section 1983 cases, family law, death penalty, and habeas corpus; from disaster planning and continuity of court operations to permissible communications between pro se litigants and staff attorneys; and from ensuring adequate representation in cases involving Anders briefs to creating and correcting appellate case captions.

Members also receive the quarterly NAACA News. In addition to news about the organization, conference planning, and your colleagues at other courts, the newsletter includes book reviews, substantive articles about legal topics, and lots of information that you won't find elsewhere. Recent issues have included articles by Erwin Chemerinsky, as well as writing tips and scientific evidence topics.

Dues Information:

Years Since Bar Admission	Dues Amount
Less than 1 year	$50
1-5 years	$100
6-9 years	$150
10 or more years	$200
Emeritus/Retired	$100

NAACA membership dues are crucial to meet ongoing expenses, so staff and members can continue the work of our organization throughout the year. NAACA dues are more affordable than other legal organizations. Please join today by completing the digital or hard-copy form and transmitting it with the appropriate payment (see gray box above).