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Question for Trial Lawyers
Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 11:05 am
by Anonymous User
Hello All,
I'm a BigLaw junior/midlevel. I plan to stay in this role for an additional 2-3 years for financial reasons.
The ultimate goal is to be leave and work as a trial lawyer. Ideally, I'd be in a place where I do minimal motion practice and spend most of my time in trials (non-criminal). First, are there places like this?
Second, besides asking for more trial-related experiences at the firm, what should I be doing now to prepare myself to reach my goal. I have purchased a couple of guides from eLEX and have memorized their "main" evidentiary objections and rules of evidence. I also listen to the trial lawyer nation podcast.
What else should I be doing?
Re: Question for Trial Lawyers
Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2025 6:11 pm
by Lacepiece23
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Aug 14, 2025 11:05 am
Hello All,
I'm a BigLaw junior/midlevel. I plan to stay in this role for an additional 2-3 years for financial reasons.
The ultimate goal is to be leave and work as a trial lawyer. Ideally, I'd be in a place where I do minimal motion practice and spend most of my time in trials (non-criminal). First, are there places like this?
Second, besides asking for more trial-related experiences at the firm, what should I be doing now to prepare myself to reach my goal. I have purchased a couple of guides from eLEX and have memorized their "main" evidentiary objections and rules of evidence. I also listen to the trial lawyer nation podcast.
What else should I be doing?
I don’t think your goal is that realistic. To be Keith Mitnik, you have to either have your own firm or be so good at someone else’s firm that they will give you all the trials.
Either way, to be either of these people, you’ll need to build your own firm (most realistic) or become an utter super star.
There just aren’t enough trials to go around for someone to be soending most of their time doing trials.
Re: Question for Trial Lawyers
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2025 6:48 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Aug 14, 2025 11:05 am
Hello All,
I'm a BigLaw junior/midlevel. I plan to stay in this role for an additional 2-3 years for financial reasons.
The ultimate goal is to be leave and work as a trial lawyer. Ideally, I'd be in a place where I do minimal motion practice and spend most of my time in trials (non-criminal). First, are there places like this?
Second, besides asking for more trial-related experiences at the firm, what should I be doing now to prepare myself to reach my goal. I have purchased a couple of guides from eLEX and have memorized their "main" evidentiary objections and rules of evidence. I also listen to the trial lawyer nation podcast.
What else should I be doing?
Go be an Assistant District Attorney or Public Defender in the state criminal justice system if you want to do lots of trials.
Re: Question for Trial Lawyers
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2025 7:57 pm
by mardash
Unachievable. Even if you do wind up a “trial lawyer” you’re going to need to write motions, and not just trial briefs. How do you think you’re going to earn your way on to trial teams at your firm by being too good to do any of the lead-up work?
Re: Question for Trial Lawyers
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2025 12:56 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Wed Aug 20, 2025 6:48 pm
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Thu Aug 14, 2025 11:05 am
Hello All,
I'm a BigLaw junior/midlevel. I plan to stay in this role for an additional 2-3 years for financial reasons.
The ultimate goal is to be leave and work as a trial lawyer. Ideally, I'd be in a place where I do minimal motion practice and spend most of my time in trials (non-criminal). First, are there places like this?
Second, besides asking for more trial-related experiences at the firm, what should I be doing now to prepare myself to reach my goal. I have purchased a couple of guides from eLEX and have memorized their "main" evidentiary objections and rules of evidence. I also listen to the trial lawyer nation podcast.
What else should I be doing?
Go be an Assistant District Attorney or Public Defender in the state criminal justice system if you want to do lots of trials.
Is there anything else I can do before I leave my current job? And would doing trials on the criminal side be as helpful if I want to eventually do civil trial work?
Re: Question for Trial Lawyers
Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2025 6:23 pm
by Anonymous User
Anonymous User wrote: ↑Fri Aug 22, 2025 12:56 pm
Is there anything else I can do before I leave my current job? And would doing trials on the criminal side be as helpful if I want to eventually do civil trial work?
Watch as many trials as you can. And yes, criminal trial work would be helpful. A lot of trial stuff is figuring out how to handle yourself in a courtroom and has nothing to do with the content of the law. Plus the same rules of evidence apply (with a few exceptions here and there).