Members of the American Academy of Trial Counsel recently honored Kim D. Stephens by electing him Fellow of the Academy. The American Academy of Trial Counsel is a lawyer honorary established to recognize excellence among American litigation and trial counsel across all segments of the bar. Members of the elite Academy elect only 2,500 Fellows. Fellows are selected and invited into the Academy after being evaluated on effectiveness and accomplishment in litigation and trial work, along with ethical reputation. Trial experience is an important factor in Academy selection, which also recognizes that great litigators sometimes win before trial. Mr. Stephens, who maintains an active national trial practice, was grateful for this honor and recognition by his peers.
The Academy’s selection process is a combination of Advisory Board member input, attorney opinions, evaluation of counsel, selection by clients, input from active and retired judges, and reviews of acknowledgement by third-party sources. The criteria used for selection is not based purely on the number of cases tried, or the notoriety usually associated with frequent court appearances, but also effectiveness in the area of a particular lawyer’s expertise. Fellows are recognized by their peers as truly effective trial counsel.