Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney in Los Angeles, California
Service to the Community: Have you served on any boards or had leadership positions in the Bar or your community?
Service to the Community: Have you served on any boards or had leadership positions in the Bar or your community?
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I’m careful how I spend my time outside of the office because most of our time is in the office. And when I’m not working most the time I go home to be with my family. But I do spend time in an organization called The American Board of Trial Advocates. That organization’s over 75 years old and it’s made up of plaintiffs lawyers, like I am, defense lawyers, and judges. And its invitation only for people who try cases to verdict. But that’s not what’s great about the organization, I think. What’s great about it is that it’s dedicated to civility in practice.
And what I like is the idea that a person can be a zealous and tough lawyer but still be civil to his opponent and to the court. And what I mean by civil is that my word is my bond. That if I say I’m going to do something that means that it will be done. That I’m not rude to my opponents. That the judge can rely on me to not hide evidence or say I’m going to prove something that I know I can’t prove. And I think those are high ideas and that’s what that organization stands for so I feel good spending my time with other people who try to do the same thing.
Los Angeles, CA personal injury attorney Thomas Johnston talks about the boards he serves on. He explains that he is selective about how he allocates his time outside the office, given that a significant portion of it is dedicated to work. When he is not working, he prioritizes spending quality time with his family at home. At the same time, he is actively involved in the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates. With a history spanning more than 75 years, this organization brings together plaintiffs’ lawyers like himself, defense attorneys, and judges. Membership is by invitation only and reserved for those with a proven record of trying cases to verdict. What, in his view, truly sets this organization apart is its steadfast commitment to civility in the practice of law.
He deeply values the principle of maintaining civility while being a zealous and tenacious advocate. It reflects the idea that a lawyer can vigorously defend a client’s interests while remaining respectful toward opposing counsel and the court. For him, civility means honoring his word as a bond, following through on commitments, treating opponents with courtesy, and upholding integrity by avoiding hidden evidence or baseless claims. These principles are highly esteemed within the organization, and he finds fulfillment in working alongside like-minded professionals who share the same dedication to ethical standards.
