Advocacy comes in multiple forms.

As an organization NJAJ advocates for our members and their clients through our efforts on legislation in Trenton.

Those efforts have had major effects.

• We finally have a UM/UIM bad faith law on the books.
   
• The auto insurance minimums have been raised for the first time in 50 years.
   
• Lawsuits no longer need to be filed to obtain policy limits of all automobile insurance policies, including umbrella and excess liability insurance, instead, insurers are obligated to provide the information to a NJ licensed attorney within 30 days of a written demand, 

• We have new consumer protections on the books.

All of these accomplishments happened with the help of the NJAJ PAC and all of you who support it.

The NJAJ PAC has played a crucial role over the years helping NJAJ to forge relationships with legislators and policy makers.

Our PAC is non-partisan, which ensures that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle hear our issues and understand them.

As a result of this year’s elections, Democrats will retain control of both houses of the Legislature. And when the 221^st New Jersey Legislature convenes on January 9, 2024, there will be seven NJAJ members being sworn in as lawmakers.

Our advocacy as an organization is in the judicial branch as well.

Recently Chief Justice Rabner accepted my request that NJAJ 1^st Vice President Jonathan H. Lomurro, Esq. be added to the newly formed New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Artificial Intelligence in the Courts as the association’s designee.

Jon joins an illustrious group of NJAJ members serving on various Supreme Court committees. You can read more about this elsewhere in this issue.

As individual trial lawyers, we advocate every day when we represent clients seeking justice and try to hold wrongdoers accountable.

And we strive every day to be the best advocates for our clients in their time of need.

That is where our educational efforts come in.

I urge all of you to register for the Meadowlands Seminar 2023. This spectacular CLE event has 21 programs on a wide array of legal topics.

Thank you to the co-chairs, Gerald H. Baker, Esq., K. Raja Bhattacharya, Esq., E. Drew Britcher, Esq., Deborah S. Dunn, Esq. Jared M. Placitella, Esq. and Marc C. Saperstein, Esq. as well as all of you who have volunteered your time to serve as program co-chairs, moderators and speakers.

If you are like me, the changing of the clock is a sign that Thanksgiving and the holiday season is fast approaching.

It is a time to think of those who are in need. NJAJ is doing its part, but we need your help.

Please donate generously to all of our charitable drives.

Remember the words of author Maya Angelou, who wrote, “I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”

Please let your soul be liberated.

I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Until next month.