Dean’s Message
Wil Fluegel – Attorney at Law – Fluegel Law Office
It is a great honor to serve as the Dean of the Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota for the upcoming year.
Since 1984, the Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota has worked to advance the role of the jury trial and elevate the standards of integrity, civility, and professionalism in the legal profession. ACTLM seeks to preserve Minnesotan’s right to jury trial, support judicial independence, promote civility and professionalism by legal professionals, and make its certified members better advocates, by effectively championing their clients causes through ethical and collegial means that elevate constructive communication and strengthen the justice system.
By nurturing fellowship, and professionalism among its members, the organization advances the goals of trial lawyers to serve their clients well, to enhance the justice system in which they serve, and to improve the public’s understanding and appreciation of the important right that the trial courts form in preserving American justice.
These lofty goals are achieved through the membership’s strong spirit of volunteerism and active contributions to Minnesota justice. We continue to assist in the efficient administration of justice by facilitating Dakota County’s Conciliation Court system and by speaking to professional and community groups about Minnesota justice.
ACTLM’s annual Spring Meeting will take place on Thursday, May 2, 2024. ACTLM will once again present an exciting program for a full day of CLE credit to members at the Town and Country Club in St. Paul. Our program will look at techniques to foster and refine persuasion to judges and juries and afford a setting to for sharing ideas and networking.
Looking ahead, ACTLM’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for November 14, 2024. We can look forward to another enjoyable evening of networking and connecting. A special thank you to our current sponsors, Computer Forensic Services and Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company for their continued support. We continue to look for organizations and event co-sponsors for summer social events with organizations such as Minnesota Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Minnesota Association for Justice, MSBA and ABOTA and/or others for co-sponsored event opportunities.
We were honored to present the Distinguished Jurist award to ACTLM member Judge Mark Vandelist, and we heard from our keynote speaker, environmental law specialist Rob Bilott of the Taft firm, who shared his work on behalf of those injured by PFAS chemical contamination.
ACTLM thanks Immediate Past Dean, Valerie Sims, for her leadership and stewardship over the past year. Executive committee members Steve Tillit, Jeremy Stevens, Stacy Sever, Valerie Sims and I will work to serve the members of ACTLM in 2024 with a goal to increase ACTLM’s membership, invite new guests, and encourage eligible colleagues to pursue certification and membership. I am available to hear your ideas, questions or thoughts that each of you have.
I can be reached at my direct line (612) 238-3540, and via email at [email protected]
I look forward to leading the organization throughout this year and I hope to see all of you at our upcoming ACTLM events!
Wil Fluegel
ACTLM Dean