William M. White was appointed to the American College of Trial Lawyers on March 3. Photo submitted by White | Canepa

A Fresno lawyer has been admitted into the American College of Trial Lawyers (ACTL), a legal association for trial lawyers in North America.

William M. White, a partner at White | Canepa law firm in Fresno for over 27 years, was given a fellowship into the college in Phoenix on March 3.

The fellowship honors trial attorneys for their advocacy in the courtroom, and, according to a press release from ACTL, “is composed of the best of the trial bar.”

Like many areas of law, being a trial attorney is not easy, attorneys work to find truth that would resonate with a jury, according to White.

“There’s no real shortcuts. It’s a lot of hours and a lot of hard work, and being recognized by other trial attorneys is an honor,” White said.

For a medical malpractice attorney like White, that means having to interpret technical data and research for juries who may not have any background in the matter.

“Being able to explain medical issues and terminology to people without medical training is a challenge, but also one of the fun parts of the job,” White said.

The college began in 1950 and is composed of trial lawyers throughout the United States and Canada.

Fellows are picked by invitation and demonstrate a mastery of advocacy, according to the press release. Lawyers must also maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct, professional conduct, civility and collegiality.

They do outreach and education as well as advocacy work throughout the world, providing access to justice with volunteers from the fellowship.

The college limits membership to no more than one percent of the total lawyer population in any state or province and there are 5,800 members in the United States.