Big law lit associates, when did you take your first depo? Forum

[gaddockteeg]

Question for all the big law lit associates:

What year are you right now?
How many depos have you taken as of now?
When did you take your first depo?

edit: if you feel comfortable sharing it, I'd be interested in what kind of firm you're at too. (e.g., vault range, geographic location, anything you think is helpful)

thanks, just wondering if i should lateral for more substantive experience.

[Anonymous User]

What year are you right now?

Fourth-year

How many depos have you taken as of now?

2 expert, 1 fact

When did you take your first depo?

~15 months in

My experience probably isn't typical. My first two depos were because I was on busy teams with not enough partners to take all the depos.

Edit: I'm at a V5 in NYC. I've also defended 2 depos. None of this experience was pro bono.

[kpterrifico]

current: 4th year
first depo taken: 2nd year
total: ~20 (including defending)

my firm is sort of in between biglaw and lit boutique. and there's a real effort to get folks depo/trial experience early. so i wouldn't be surprised if my numbers are atypical.

[Anonymous User]

not me, but a classmate of mine; big law in secondary market, did it during his first year.

[Anonymous User]

If you're asking as a general matter, second year as a practitioner is typical for first deposition, at least outside of new york. I say practitioner because this includes people who clerk 1-2 years and join firms, who generally still won't be tasked with deposition taking until at least s year in.

[Anonymous User]

4th year, NYC, none yet.

I do 50 percent or more white collar / investigations work so depo opportunities are rare. I've second sat two or three offensive and maybe four defending.

[homestyle28]

Question for all the big law lit associates:

What year are you right now?
How many depos have you taken as of now?
When did you take your first depo?

edit: if you feel comfortable sharing it, I'd be interested in what kind of firm you're at too. (e.g., vault range, geographic location, anything you think is helpful)

thanks, just wondering if i should lateral for more substantive experience.

1) Third year (class of 2014)

2) 6 or so, also defended 6 or 7 Rule 30(b)(6) depos

3) 9 months in

I'm in Chicago, my firm tends to staff very leanly and also has a few giant clients with lots of smaller matters which helps.

[Anonymous User]

Fourth year biglaw in DC - never

[Anonymous User]

Question for all the big law lit associates:

What year are you right now? Second.
How many depos have you taken as of now? Four.
When did you take your first depo? First year.

edit: if you feel comfortable sharing it, I'd be interested in what kind of firm you're at too. (e.g., vault range, geographic location, anything you think is helpful) Biglaw, secondary market. I'd also add that I've tried an arbitration and federal jury trial. All of this experience has been pro bono so far.

thanks, just wondering if i should lateral for more substantive experience.

[BullShitWithBravado]

What year are you right now? 3rd, NYC Big Law.
How many depos have you taken as of now? Took 1, defended 2.
When did you take your first depo? 1st year.

I've only taken/defended depos in pro bono cases. If you like your firm and would rather not have to go elsewhere to gain substantive experience, taking on pro bono work is a great way to get experience because you'll basically be running your own case.

[Anonymous User]

Chicago
3rd year
About 10 depos. Many were third party depositions. Never defended one.
Took the first depo early in year two.

The number people take and when is heavily dependent on practice area and particular case staffing.

[potted plant]

(1) Currently taking a year off to clerk but would be 2nd year
(2) Taken 10-12, Defended 10-15 third party/co-defendant depositions
(3) First deposition was in my third month.

V10 in CA. Ended up taking my first one because I was on a lean case and the only other associate was in her third trimester and couldn't travel. Then became the 1st year with depo experience and was intentionally staffed on matters so I could handle depos.