Leonard Bucklin was elected by his peers to be a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.  

The International Academy of Trial Lawyers membership is widely regarded as the most exclusive and prestigious trial lawyer group in the world.

Academy membership is by invitation only.  Membership is limited to 500 Fellows from the United States. In addition, the Academy includes 100 Fellows from over 30 countries throughout the world. Members are engaged in civil and criminal trial practice from both the plaintiff's and the defendant's side of the counsel table. Trial attorneys are admitted to fellowship in the Academy only if both their peers, and also the judiciary believe the candidate possesses, in an exceptional degree, the following qualifications:

1. Superior skill and recognized ability in trial and appellate practice.
2. Services rendered in promoting the best interests of the legal profession and the highest standards and techniques of advocacy.
3. Excellent character and absolute integrity.

Membership is limited to those members of the civil and criminal trial bar that have distinguished themselves as exceptional trial lawyers and fit all the other extensive criterion necessary to be considered for induction. Members are admitted from both the plaintiff and defendant side of the counsel table in civil law and from both prosecution and defense side of criminal law. A comprehensive screening process identifies the most distinguished members of the trial bar by means of both peer and their trial courts' judicial review. 

The purpose of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, founded in 1954, is to cultivate the science of jurisprudence; promote reforms in the law; facilitate the administration of justice; elevate the standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession and cherish the spirit of brotherhood among members.

The Academy is truly international in flavor. Virtually all of its programs are designed to promote and enhance the rule of law throughout the world. For many years it was extensively involved in working with the emerging nations of the former eastern block as they created a rule of law in their respective countries. In 1994, the Academy shifted its focus to China. Each year The Academy sends a delegation of fellows to Beijing at the invitation of the Chinese government and lectures on American legislation, jurisprudence and the rule of law in the United States. In addition, each year the Academy brings ten Chinese attorneys (high ranking Chinese officials) to the United States to teach them about American law. These attorneys are chosen because they are intimately involved in developing the new rule of law in China, that is, they are  involved in China are charged with drafting legislation that will help China join the world community of nations ruled by sound and predicable principles of law.

Mr. Bucklin has the distinction of being elected so soon after his legal career started that, on being admitted, he became the youngest member of the organization. Bucklin has served many years on the Board of Directors of the I.A.T.L, and on a number of its special and standing committees.