Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial Forum

[Anonymous User]

AMA. I know a lot of people on here wonder about getting substantive experience while working biglaw. Yes, this is somewhat of a humblebrag, but TLS has been good to me, and I thought that I'd share the experience. Case was obviously pro bono. It was a section 1983 action. I don't want to get more specific than that regarding the case. Will answer other questions though.

[Ronan]

What did you eat for breakfast this past weekend?

[Anonymous User]

What did you eat for breakfast this past weekend?

I actually don't eat breakfast. Haven't in four years.

[Ronan]

What did you eat for breakfast this past weekend?

I actually don't eat breakfast. Haven't in four years.

Neat, thanks.

How long did the jury deliberate?

[Anonymous User]

What did you eat for breakfast this past weekend?

I actually don't eat breakfast. Haven't in four years.

Neat, thanks.

How long did the jury deliberate?

Nine hours.

[rpupkin]

Did it feel more prestigious to win a federal jury trial as opposed to a state jury trial?

[Anonymous User]

Did it feel more prestigious to win a federal jury trial as opposed to a state jury trial?

Yes. It's harder to make it to federal court. As I'm sure you remember, you can only do so on a federal question and diversity issues. Diversity usually involves a large corporation and no firm is going to let a junior associate try that case. So that just leaves federal issues, which usually are civil rights type issues. Suing cops/corrections officers is not easy.

[grand inquisitor]

if this was a prisoner 1983, do you think your actions are a net benefit to society?

[Anonymous User]

if this was a prisoner 1983, do you think your actions are a net benefit to society?

Yes, I believe that everyone has the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. Period.

[grand inquisitor]

i got drunk last night and was talking to a friend about how i think we should repeal the 8th amendment and most other criminal protections on the shelby county sunset rationale.

[mjb447]

Did the verdict surprise you? Or did anything else about trying the case (that you're willing to discuss)?

[zot1]

What did you wear to court?

[Npret]

Congrats OP. Good job.

How much assistance did you get from the firm and the partners and associates you work with?

Was this case found through a non profit agency that screens for winnable cases?

[Anonymous User]

Did the verdict surprise you? Or did anything else about trying the case (that you're willing to discuss)?

Verdict did slightly surprise me. My client had some apparent mental health issues and that resulted in outbursts during trial. Also, everyone told me that this case was impossible. But I read the file and genuinely believed that my client was wronged and that his story made more sense than the corrections officers.

Also, the court definitely sided with them every step of the way, IMO. I got into the case late with limited discovery. I asked for policies and procedures and other relevant documents, but the court refused to grant this since discovery had technically closed. The court was also very liberal in granting relevancy objections, and these always went against me. Just was an uphill battle.

[Anonymous User]

What did you wear to court?

I wore a suit.

[Anonymous User]

Congrats OP. Good job.

How much assistance did you get from the firm and the partners and associates you work with?

Was this case found through a non profit agency that screens for winnable cases?

This case was not screened through a non profit agency. If an inmate makes it past summary judgment in my jurisdiction, then the judge tries to get counsel assigned to make the trial run more smoothly. Just because the case made it past summary judgment does not mean that it had great facts.

My firm was pretty good about it. A partner second chaired the case, and gave a lot of support. She told me when to object and helped me argue evidentiary issues. She also consulted on my closings, cross-examinations, and helped me prep, which is obviously really nice.

[grades??]

I imagine you wont out the firm, but could you give us at least an idea of the firm? Vault range/city? Thanks

[Anonymous User]

I imagine you wont out the firm, but could you give us at least an idea of the firm? Vault range/city? Thanks

Secondary Market. V50-V75. That's about as specific as I'll go.

[Greenandgold]

How many hours would you estimate you spent on the case total? And for trial?

[Anonymous User]

How many hours would you estimate you spent on the case total? And for trial?

Probably 180 trial prep and trial. And like 100 for depos and other stuff. The 180 and 100 fell in two different calendar years, which is nice.

[dixiecupdrinking]

General demographic of jury pool? (urban/rural, North/South, circuit if willing?)

Also congrats, you're probably really just here to brag but that's fair enough.

And is your firm keeping the fees?

[Anonymous User]

General demographic of jury pool? (urban/rural, North/South, circuit if willing?)

Also congrats, you're probably really just here to brag but that's fair enough.

And is your firm keeping the fees?

Jury pool, all white. That's as specific as I'll go, but I think it answers your question. Firm isn't going to keep fees because we signed an agreement that we wouldn't pursue our attorney fees. We don't except to win these.

Also, it's hard to not make a post like this, and not seem like I'm just here to brag. But I see all these posts about litigators waiting until their fourth year to take a depo. And my firm is no exception. A ton of litigators do that here too. I just don't see why you would do that. I do give up a lot of time on pro bono, but the rewards are definitely there. You get experience and get to do good. Maybe pro bono opportunities are more limited in other markets/ at higher ranked firms.

[cdotson2]

General demographic of jury pool? (urban/rural, North/South, circuit if willing?)

Also congrats, you're probably really just here to brag but that's fair enough.

And is your firm keeping the fees?

Jury pool, all white. That's as specific as I'll go, but I think it answers your question. Firm isn't going to keep fees because we signed an agreement that we wouldn't pursue our attorney fees. We don't except to win these.

Also, it's hard to not make a post like this, and not seem like I'm just here to brag. But I see all these posts about litigators waiting until their fourth year to take a depo. And my firm is no exception. A ton of litigators do that here too. I just don't see why you would do that. I do give up a lot of time on pro bono, but the rewards are definitely there. You get experience and get to do good. Maybe pro bono opportunities are more limited in other markets/ at higher ranked firms.

Does the firm look down on spending so much time on this, or do they view it as a positive because you are gaining experience and maybe some good pr opportunities for them?

[Anonymous User]

General demographic of jury pool? (urban/rural, North/South, circuit if willing?)

Also congrats, you're probably really just here to brag but that's fair enough.

And is your firm keeping the fees?

Jury pool, all white. That's as specific as I'll go, but I think it answers your question. Firm isn't going to keep fees because we signed an agreement that we wouldn't pursue our attorney fees. We don't except to win these.

Also, it's hard to not make a post like this, and not seem like I'm just here to brag. But I see all these posts about litigators waiting until their fourth year to take a depo. And my firm is no exception. A ton of litigators do that here too. I just don't see why you would do that. I do give up a lot of time on pro bono, but the rewards are definitely there. You get experience and get to do good. Maybe pro bono opportunities are more limited in other markets/ at higher ranked firms.

Does the firm look down on spending so much time on this, or do they view it as a positive because you are gaining experience and maybe some good pr opportunities for them?

Kind of a mix to be honest. To be frank, some people were really happy and thought that this was a really good thing. They were partners with a ton of trial experience or lean to the left. Others did not seem as thrilled.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

What kind of billables do you have at work? I'm also a 2nd year and have an opportunity to take a pro bono case very likely to go to trial in SDNY. However, I am on a pace for 2400/2500 billable hours so I feel like it might be crazy to take a pre-trial pro bono matter.