Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial Forum
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Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
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
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
What did you eat for breakfast this past weekend?
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
I actually don't eat breakfast. Haven't in four years.Ronan wrote:What did you eat for breakfast this past weekend?
- Ronan
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
Neat, thanks.Anonymous User wrote:I actually don't eat breakfast. Haven't in four years.Ronan wrote:What did you eat for breakfast this past weekend?
How long did the jury deliberate?
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
Nine hours.Ronan wrote:Neat, thanks.Anonymous User wrote:I actually don't eat breakfast. Haven't in four years.Ronan wrote:What did you eat for breakfast this past weekend?
How long did the jury deliberate?
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- rpupkin
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
Did it feel more prestigious to win a federal jury trial as opposed to a state jury trial?
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal 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.rpupkin wrote:Did it feel more prestigious to win a federal jury trial as opposed to a state jury trial?
- grand inquisitor
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
if this was a prisoner 1983, do you think your actions are a net benefit to society?
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
Yes, I believe that everyone has the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. Period.grand inquisitor wrote:if this was a prisoner 1983, do you think your actions are a net benefit to society?
- grand inquisitor
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
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
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
Did the verdict surprise you? Or did anything else about trying the case (that you're willing to discuss)?
- zot1
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
What did you wear to court?
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
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?
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?
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
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.mjb447 wrote:Did the verdict surprise you? Or did anything else about trying the case (that you're willing to discuss)?
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.
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
I wore a suit.zot1 wrote:What did you wear to court?
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
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.Npret wrote: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?
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.
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
I imagine you wont out the firm, but could you give us at least an idea of the firm? Vault range/city? Thanks
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
Secondary Market. V50-V75. That's about as specific as I'll go.grades?? wrote:I imagine you wont out the firm, but could you give us at least an idea of the firm? Vault range/city? Thanks
- Greenandgold
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
How many hours would you estimate you spent on the case total? And for trial?
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury 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.Greenandgold wrote:How many hours would you estimate you spent on the case total? And for trial?
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
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?
Also congrats, you're probably really just here to brag but that's fair enough.
And is your firm keeping the fees?
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
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.dixiecupdrinking wrote: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?
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
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
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 wrote: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.dixiecupdrinking wrote: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?
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.
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
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.cdotson2 wrote: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 wrote: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.dixiecupdrinking wrote: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?
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.
Last edited by Anonymous User on Thu Feb 09, 2017 6:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Biglaw Second Year Associate; Won My First Federal Jury Trial
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.
Seriously? What are you waiting for?
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