AAJ PAC Town Hall Speaker Announced

Please join AAJ PAC for a town hall discussion with Newsweek’s senior Washington correspondent Howard Fineman at the AAJ PAC Town Hall Meeting

12:30 pm–2:00 pm
Sheraton New Orleans
Grand Ballroom C (5th Floor)

Fineman is widely respected throughout the news industry for his knowledge of the political landscape. A senior Washington correspondent and columnist for Newsweek, Fineman has reported from the nation’s capital since 1980. His “Living Politics” column appears weekly on Newsweek.com and MSNBC.com.

NEW LAWYER DIVISION PARTY VENUE ANNOUNCED!

Mark your calendar for Sunday, February 8th at 9 pm until ????

The New Lawyer Division has announced the venue for this year's NLD party - Generations Hall.

Generations Hall
310 Andrew Higgins Dr.
New Orleans, LA 70130

AAJ Habitat for Humanity Project Announced

Start your convention experience by giving back to the host city of New Orleans.

Join other AAJ members and registrants for a one day Habitat for Humanity project in the Musicians’ Village of New Orleans. Participants will be busy hammering, sawing, and painting houses in and around the site of Habitat’s Musicians’ Village.

Project Itinerary: Friday, February 6, 2009

8:15 am Load buses at Sheraton Hotel and depart for tour of Katrina devastated areas.
9:00 am Arrive at build site. Site Hosts/Assistants welcome participants

9:15 am Begin work

12:30 pm Lunch and drinks served on site

1:00 pm Resume work

2:45 pm Clean-up

4:00 pm Load buses and return to hotel

Click here to register

SIGN UP BY DECEMBER 15, 2008!

AAJ Winter Convention Brochure

The AAJ 2009 Winter Convention Brochure is here. Click below for the latest updates.

New Orleans Named the Best City in the United States for Dining and Live Music by Headline News and Travel+ Leisure “America’s Favorite Cities” Survey

125,000 travelers select New Orleans as number one for destination restaurants, food/dining and live music.

New Orleans has been named the best city to dine in the United States, taking top honors for the “Destination Restaurant” category and best in overall “Food/Dining” in Headline News and Travel + Leisure Magazine’s annual “America’s Favorite Cities” survey.

New Orleans also was honored as the best place in the country for live music, and ranked second nationally for nightlife.

An online survey appeared on travelandleisure.com and was accessible via cnn.com from March 7, 2008, to June 15, 2008. Respondents were asked to rate their choice of one or more cities from across the country in 45 different categories on culture, shopping, people, food and other characteristics.

New Orleans was voted best in the following subcategories:
Live music/bands
Destination restaurants
Ethnic food/cheap eats
Vintage stores/flea markets

Other top five finishes for New Orleans include:
Cafés/coffee bars
Spring Break
Cocktail hour/lounge scene
Late-night/club scene
Singles/bar scene
Diverse
Affordability
People-watching
Antique stores
Wild weekend

New Orleans beat world-famous culinary capitals such as San Francisco, Chicago and New York.

Charles Bernard once said, “There is no love sincerer than the love of food.”

Whether or not you agree with Mr. Bernard, it is an indisputable fact that no place loves its food quite as sincerely – or as indulgently – as New Orleans. Some people eat to live, but New Orleanians live to eat. As a result, the city offers one of the most incredible – and incredibly diverse – concentrations of exceptional dining and unforgettable cuisine in the world. Click here for more information.

Click the above to see a message from Chef Paul Prudhomme.

$150 off registration rate if you register by September 19th.

$150 Discounted Registration Ends September 19th

Are you interested in saving $150? Then Register now for the 2009 AAJ Winter Convention!

The 2009 Winter Convention offers the resources you need— in just five days!

Networking—With over 200 meetings and events, meet face-to-face with your peers and some of the great legal minds in the country. Exchange ideas and discuss topics facing trial attorneys today. This is an important referral opportunity.
Education—Gain a national perspective on trial advocacy and substantive topics at half-day programs designed to help you better represent your clients while earning a years worth of CLE credits in just five days.

Business Meetings—Build powerful connections, increase your knowledge, and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to the latest developments—and the best experts— in your practice area by joining a Committee, Practice Section, or Litigation Group.

Join AAJ in supporting a city that has taken a beating from powerful forces and is not only still standing, but continues to thrive and contribute its unique food, music and culture to the country.

New Orleans is back in business

New Orleans' hospitality community is back in business. Hotels are greeting guests, chefs are cooking in the kitchen, musicians are playing, the streetcars and riverboats are rolling, and the New Orleans Saints were victorious on Sunday afternoon in front of a sold-out crowd in the Louisiana Superdome. We are excited to share the news that New Orleans came through the events of this past week with flying colors. And we look forward to welcoming you to America's most authenic city, whether it's for business or pleasure. See you soon!

New Orleans City UPDATE!

New Orleans Hospitality Industry Coming Back Strong after Gustav

The New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is happy to report that hotels and restaurants in New Orleans are rapidly re-opening throughout the tourism corridor as residents and employees return to the city. The historic French Quarter, the Warehouse and Arts District, the Convention Center area, and the downtown business district suffered very little damage and for the most part did not even lose power during the height of the storm. The New Orleans Morial Convention Center had virtually no problems and looks forward to its September meeting calendar with no disruptions. The Louisiana Superdome also fared perfectly and is ready to rally the city once again and host the Saints season opener against Tampa Bay on Sunday, September 7th. The Louis Armstrong International Airport is open and handling routine airline traffic today. And the Maple Leaf Bar uptown was rocking to live music Wednesday night. Only in New Orleans.

For more information and further details - visit http://neworleanscvb.informz.net/neworleanscvb/archives/archive_363434.html

Register by September 19 and save $150 off the onsite regsitration rate!

Did you know that if you register by September 19, you can save $150 off the onsite registration rate? Register early and secure your spot at the AAJ 2009 Winter Convention. In addition, AAJ offers discounts for three or more registrants from the same firm, first time attendees practicing less than 10 years and paralegals attending the convention for the first time. See the registration section of the website for more information https://www.justicewinterconvention.org/register_now.cfm

New Orleans City Guide

AAJ and the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau have created a site to help you plan for your visit to New Orleans. Click here http://www.neworleanscvb.com/mini/index.cfm/minisiteID/121/hit/1/to get all the information on what's going on in New Orleans in February, restaurant information, and so much more!

Forever New Orleans...

Now is the time to fall in love with New Orleans all over again. Below is a video message from Stephen Perry, CEO of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, welcoming AAJ members to the city!

The cultural riches, sensual indulgences and unparalleled service that define the New Orleans experience continue to flourish, as they have for centuries. The most celebrated and historic core of the city – including the Faubourg Marigny, French Quarter, Central Business District, Warehouse and Arts District, Magazine Street, Garden District, Audubon Park and Zoo and St. Charles Avenue – is thriving.

Welcome!

Welcome to the AAJ 2009 Winter Convention Blog! Be sure to visit this spot often throughout the months prior to the AAJ Convention for updates, breaking news and helpful hints. We look forward to seeing you February 7-11, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana.