MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Coughlin

Dear Members,

Welcome to the home page of the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section Membership Committee. As Chair of the Committee, I lead the efforts for recruitment of new members, enhancement of diversity, maintenance of current members and addressing the desires and needs of the membership. If you are a current and active member, then this web page is nothing more than preaching to the choir, but if you are wavering as to your continued membership or are interested in seeing what this Section has to offer, then please read on.

The TICL Section sponsors continuing legal education seminars on a frequent and regular basis at convenient locations throughout the state. These seminars touch both basic and advanced topics and address practice, substance and ethics. At the State Bar Association’s Annual Meeting held each January in New York City, the TICL Section presents two days of seminars, allowing members to make a significant impact upon the mandatory continuing legal education credits. Further, each year, the Section holds another significant meeting, often loosely referred to as the Fall Meeting. Each year we have an annual meeting for all members. In the past we have held meetings in such places as Cooperstown, New York, Lake George, New York, Orlando, Florida, Sea Island, Georgia, Manchester, Vermont, San Diego, California, Uncasville, Connecticut, Bermuda and Ireland. Not only are the meetings extremely important to stay abreast of trends and practices in the law, but the meetings are also an excellent way to make valuable contacts with competent and caring attorneys from throughout the State of New York.Some of the most prominent members of the state bar are leaders and members of the TICL section.One of the more recent past-Presidents of the New York State Bar Association was a strong and valuable member of the TICL Section before ascending to the ranks of the State Bar Association.

The meetings are not all work and no play. Attendees have reported having fun and members have developed strong friendships and professional relationships that enhance the members’ personal and professional lives. I cannot underscore the significance of the camaraderie and friendships that develop.

On a more tangible note, members of this Section receive the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section Journal filled with relevant and timely articles. Also, the Construction and Surety Law Newsletter provides current case notes.

The TICL Section has a Workers’ Compensation Law Division, as well as a Construction and Surety Law Division. For further information on how these Divisions can work for you, refer to their pages on this site.

In addition, the TICL Section monitors proposed legislation and, indeed, can pen proposed legislation to remedy concerns that attorneys and their clients may have in the practice areas of torts, insurance and workers’ compensation. If you have any thoughts as to proposed legislation that might benefit your clients or your practice then the Laws and Practices Committee of this Section is available to consider your suggestions, and if warranted, draft a proposed bill. This Section can have an impact on the quality of your life.

We encourage our members to become active in various committees of this Section. It is through participation in a committee that one can truly derive the most benefits from membership.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at rcoughlin@flinksmithlaw.com. To join our section click on "Join this Section" on the menu on the left of this page. Remember you must be a member of the State Bar before you can join a Section.

Please join this wonderful group of attorneys and become an active participant. You can make a difference.

Robert H. Coughlin, Jr.
Flink Smith LLC
23 British American Boulevard
Latham, New York 12210
E-mail: rcoughlin@flinksmithlaw.com.
(518) 786-1800