Othni  Lathram is the director of the Alabama Law Institute.  Prior to joining  the Alabama Law institute he practiced in Birmingham with a focus on  complex litigation.  Othni received his B.S. in Economics from Auburn  University and his J.D. from the University of Alabama.  He is an  elected member of the American Law Institute, a commissioner for the  National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws, and serves  on the executive committee of the Legal Services Staff Section of the  National Conference of State Legislatures.  Othni is a member of the bar  in Alabama and Texas and is admitted to practice before federal  district and circuit courts around the country.