Educating lawyers, judges and student concerning all phases of civil and criminal trial practice, particularly as it effects the rights, liabilities, and duties of the public;

Furnishing to other lawyers and judges legal and practical information on all phases of civil and criminal litigation relating to trial preparation and trial;

Arranging for seminars and other educational meetings for lawyers and judges;

Sponsoring informal opportunities in the form of meetings to be attended by lawyers, judges and law students as a vehicle for discussing common practical legal problems, attaining growth and expertise in the process, and sharing the problems occasioned by the experience; and

Monitoring and analyzing current procedural and substantive law proposals and issues and, where appropriate, asserting public position or statements on such issues.

ACTLM’s annual meeting generally is held in the fall. It includes a social gathering and a dinner featuring a key note speaker. There is also a mid-year meeting in the spring accompanied by a continuing legal education program. There commonly are other social gatherings during the year and from time to time a winter trip with CLE included.

Standing committees of ACTLM include the Judicial Nominations Committee, which considers requests of judicial candidates for ACTLM endorsement, and the Distinguished Jurist Award committee, which identifies and recommends to the board a judge to receive the organization’s annual recognition, and .

Eligibility for certification by the National Board of Trial Advocates or the Minnesota State Bar Association generally requires successful testing, peer review from lawyers and judges, and documentation of relevant experience. The legal specialist certification programs measure a lawyer's expertise in the specialty area. In Minnesota, although many lawyers limit their practice areas, only lawyers who succesfully complete the application process and continue to meet all program standards may call themselves MSBA Board Certified Specialists. Currently there are 335 certified civil trial specialists, or about 25% of the Minnesota Bar Association Civil Trial Section. Civil and criminal trial specialists comprise approximately one-tenth of one percent of all Minnesota licensed attorneys.