John Ager
I am a life-long Arizona resident. I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, where I double majored in rhetoric and social science with an emphasis in legal theory. I earned my law degree from the University of Arizona College of Law, where I was a member of the Law Review and served as an extern to U.S. District Court Judge Hon. Richard Bilby. Since then, I have trained at trial colleges hosted by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the State Bar of Arizona. I recently completed the Mediating the Litigated Case program at the world renowned Pepperdine Law School Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution.
I have been litigating personal injury and wrongful death cases, specializing in medical malpractice cases, for over 25 years. I am a board-certified specialist in personal injury and wrongful death litigation. I have successfully tried many cases to verdict. I am a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, both leading, peer-reviewed, invitation-only associations of experienced trial lawyers and judges. I am rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, indicating my peers rank me at the highest level of ethical and professional excellence. Since 2016, I have been recognized annually by Best Lawyers in America for my work in personal injury cases, most recently as Lawyer of the Year for both 2022 and 2024. Since 2015, I have been recognized annually by Southwest Super Lawyers for my work in medical malpractice cases. In eight years as chair of the State Bar of Arizona College of Trial Advocacy, I substantially redeveloped the curriculum of the Bar’s premiere trial lawyer development program. Since 2007, I have served on the State Bar of Arizona Civil Practice and Procedure Committee, the Bar’s leading committee responsible for drafting and reviewing the rules governing the way civil cases are litigated.
Professional Associations
American College of Trial Lawyers
Fellow
2021 – present
American Board of Trial Advocates
Member
2014 – present
American Association for Justice
2000 – present
Arizona Association for Justice
2000 – present
Thurgood Marshall American Inn of Court
1998 – present
Maricopa County Bar Association
1996 – present
Arizona Finest Lawyers
2014 – 2018 (association dissolved)
American Bar Association
1996 – 2013
Honors and Awards
Best Lawyers in America
Personal Injury Litigation
2016 – present
Southwest Super Lawyers
Medical Malpractice
2015 – present
Phoenix Magazine
Top Attorneys in Arizona, Medical Malpractice
2014 – present
Martindale-Hubbell
AV Preeminent
2011 – present
Avvo
10.0 Superb
2010 – present
Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court
Distinguished Service Award
2024
Arizona Association for Justice
Volunteer of the Year
2022
North Valley Magazine
Top Personal Injury Lawyer
2013
Arizona Foundation for Legal Services
Top 50 Pro Bono Lawyers
2013
Arizona Business Magazine
Top Attorneys in Arizona
2012
Arizona Attorney Magazine
Top 10 Verdicts in Arizona
2008
American Bar Association
Silver Key
1996
Appointments
State Bar of Arizona Civil Practice and Procedure Committee
2007 – present
Maricopa County Superior Court
Judge Pro Tempore
2013 – present
State Bar of Arizona College of Trial Advocacy
2007 – present
Statewide Taskforce on Jury Selection
Workgroup
2021
State Bar of Arizona
Fee Arbitrator
ABOTA/Maricopa County Superior Court
Settlement Advisor
Published Works
Notable Amendments to the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure
Advocate
2024
Amendments to the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure
Advocate
2023
Elimination of Preemptory Challenges
Advocate
2022
Taking on a Medical Malpractice Case
Advocate
2019
Settling a Minor’s Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Claim
Advocate
2018
Major Changes Coming to the Rules, Again!
Advocate
2018
Major Changes to the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure
Advocate
2017
The Limits of the Cooperation Clause, A Primer
Arizona Attorney
March 2016
Rule 7.1 – Use it Wisely
Advocate
2016
Civil Practice and Procedure Rules Update
Advocate
2014
Trial Lawyers are Certifiable
Advocate
2013
2012 Amendments to Rules Affecting Civil Practice
Advocate
2012
Recent Amendments to the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure
Advocate
2011
Changes to the Rules Governing Civil Practice and Procedure
Advocate
2010
Recent Amendments to the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure
Advocate
2009
Recent Amendments to the Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure
Advocate
2008
Teaching and Presentations
State Bar of Arizona Professionalism Course
State Bar of Arizona
Ethical Issues in Civil Procedure
Arizona Association for Justice
State Bar of Arizona
2026
Cross Examination
American College of Trial Lawyers
State Bar of Arizona
2026
Eerie Ethical Issues
Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court
2024
Hot Button Ethical Issues at Trial
American College of Trial Lawyers
2024
Medical Malpractice Update
State Bar of Arizona
2024
Reflections on Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court
2023
Direct Examination
American College of Trial Lawyers Bootcamp
2022
Civility Matters
Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
2021
Medical Malpractice Perspectives
Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court
2021
Medical Malpractice Roundtable
State Bar of Arizona Convention
2020
Daubert and Expert Witnesses
State Bar of Arizona
2020
Civil Rules Update
State Bar of Arizona
2020
Ethics and ER 5.4
Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court
2020
Litigation Strategies
Arizona Trial Lawyers Association
2018
Civility Matters
Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
2017
Damron Agreements
Arizona Trial Lawyers Association
2017
An Evening of Ethics
Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court
2016
Professionalism Course
State Bar of Arizona
2015 – present
Civil Practice-Rules Update
Arizona Trial Lawyers Association
2014
Ethics Night at the Movies
Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court
2014
Ethical Issues in Cinema
Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court
2013
Supreme Court Jeopardy
Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court
2012
Medical Malpractice 101
NBR
2012
