ABA Connect
Introducing Communications Law Connect. Join this new, exclusive online community site for ABA Forum on Communications Law members to connect and interact.
Committees & Divisions
What is the Forum on Communications Law without you? Become active in the various committees to develop your career, enhance your leadership skills, build reputation, and for networking opportunities.
Subject Matter Committees
Digital Communications Committee
The Digital Communications Committee focuses on legal and policy issues of particular relevance to digital communication services including apps, websites, and related offerings. Anyone interested in these issues is welcome to join.
In-House Counsel Committee
The In-House Counsel Committee provides an opportunity for members of the Forum who are in-house, including at media companies and insurance carriers, to network with each other and discuss issues of common interest. All in-house counsel are welcome at committee events.
Insurance Committee
The Insurance committee focuses on providing members with an inside view of media liability policies, claims made and their occurrence as it relates to media lawyers.
Intellectual Property
The Intellectual Property committee focuses on providing media law practitioners with insight on the full spectrum of intellectual property law and practice, including patents, trademarks, copyright, design, and trade secrets.
Non-Profit and Public Interest Committee
This committee promotes interaction and collaboration among the members of the Forum working in the Non-Profit and Public Interest communities and identifies pro bono opportunities for, and encourages pro bono work by, all Forum members.
Teach Media Law Committee
Committee members are encouraged to attend our annual meeting, to share ideas and resources via our listserv, and to participate in the evaluation of applicants for our scholarships.
Promoting Equity and Inclusion Committees
Diversity Committee
The Diversity Committee recognizes the need to include all racial and ethnic groups in the practice of communications law and encourages communication company law firms to make efforts to recruit, retain and promote lawyers of color. The Committee offers assistance to firms to provide the necessary mentoring to minority lawyers for them to be active in the practice.
Women in Communications Law Committee
The Women in Communications Law Committee is made up of a diverse group of women who practice communications law across the industry – and across the country. We are a strong network of professional women who serve as a supportive resource to each other for advice, guidance, and friendship. We organize networking and educational events throughout the year to build upon our members’ interests and strengths. We welcome new members at all of our events.
Young Lawyers Committee
The Young Lawyers Committee promotes the participation of young lawyers in all activities of the Forum. We seek to leverage the talents and enthusiasm of lawyers who are early in their careers. We seek to empower young lawyers to become more active in communications law events, enriched through educational opportunities, connected through networking, and enhanced through professional development. All young lawyers and those young-at-heart are welcome at Young Lawyers Committee events.
Program Committees
Diversity Moot Court Competition Committee
This committee oversees the Forum’s annual First Amendment and Media Law Diversity Moot Court Competition, now in its tenth year. The competition is designed to introduce minority law students to the practice of media law and to many of the lawyers who are active in the media law bar.
Training and Development Committee
The Committee plans a one-day Media Advocacy Workshop for new media lawyers as a valuable training tool as well as an introduction to the Forum on Communications Law. The Workshop is held during the Forum Annual Conference and allows new lawyers to argue various media issues to a panel of "judges."
General Committees
Internet, Social Media and Publicity Committee
This committee promotes the Forum’s activities through social media and the Forum’s web pages.
Membership Committee
This committee oversees the Forum’s membership efforts and works to retain current members, recruit and welcome new members, and improve membership numbers, while working to find ways to keep current members engaged with the Forum.
Sponsorship Committee
The Sponsorship Committee solicits, tracks and monitors sponsorship for multiple and individual conferences and programs put on by the Forum.