About

The Association of Defense Counsel is the only organization in Northern California and the state of Nevada devoted exclusively to representing the interests of attorneys engaged in the defense of civil litigation. To that end, the ADC provides its members a range of support and services geared specifically for their practice.

We offer:

  • State-bar accredited educational programs specifically focused on subjects relevant to California and Nevada civil defense trial and appellate lawyers.
  • Interaction with the judiciary (Judicial Council, trial and appellate courts) on issues of state or local interest to defense practitioners.
  • Protecting the practices of civil defense attorneys through representation on proposed legislation.
  • Networking
    The finest opportunities to meet and mingle socially and professionally with colleagues and clients from throughout the region.

If a significant portion of your practice is devoted to the defense of civil litigation, you too can benefit from membership in the ADC.

Organized by a handful of San Francisco Bay Area civil defense lawyers, the ADC was established in 1959, "to promote the administration of justice and enhance the standards of civil defense practice."

From a rather meager initial membership list of 25, the Association has since grown to more than 900 and now extends throughout Nevada and Northern California — reaching from San Luis Obispo to the Oregon border.

Today, the importance of the ADC has never been greater. The legal and the professional environment s in which defense attorneys practice have changed dramatically — and the Association of Defense Counsel has likewise evolved to help its members meet the resulting challenges.

Keeping stride with the new dynamics of defense practice, the ADC provides a voice for defense counsel through its publications, dealings with the judiciary, public positions on matters of interest, and representation in a variety of events connected with the bench and bar.

Now in its fourth decade, the ADC shines as a beacon for Northern California and Nevada defense attorneys. Independent counsel, as well as corporate, public entity and in-house insurance company counsel have all discovered a common bond — and a valuable resource — in associating with the ADC.