When trying your case, what’s better than knowing the law and knowing the facts?

Knowing the judge!

On more than one occasion, I’ve heard this old barrister’s proverb, and all joking aside, being familiar with a judge prior to trying a case before him or her is vital.  However, how can young lawyers get to know a judge before trial? It’s quite rare that a new attorney gets an opportunity to pick the brain of a chancellor in an informal, comfortable forum.

Understanding this, the Baltimore County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers’ Committee has rekindled a program called “Chamber Chats”.  These “chats” provide an intimate setting for 8 to 10 young lawyers to participate in a brown bag breakfast or lunch with a member of the bench, during which they are encouraged to ask questions:

Should we prepare a pre-trial memorandum of law, or could this practice subtly insult the bench?

On a chambers matter, is it appropriate to show up ready to proceed, or is making an appointment advisable?

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

What’s the most common mistake you observe young lawyers making?

Last week, two newly appointed judges for the Circuit Court of Baltimore County spent lunch with a small group of young attorneys, addressing the above concerns, and many others.  Judges Sherrie R. Bailey and John J. Nagle, III (www.sittingjudges.com) spent more than an hour participating in honest discussions from dealing with pro se litigants to building a solid reputation with the bench.

In addition to providing tips on how to practice efficiently, Judges Bailey and Nagle talked about a trait that many of the best attorneys they see share – they eliminate unnecessary drama, and operate as problem solvers as opposed to problem “creators.”  Simply put, the judges opined that “civil litigation” should not be an oxymoron.

I highly recommend attending these Chamber Chats as they provide young lawyers access to the bench that may otherwise be difficult to attain.  They are an invaluable resource that truly allow you to get to know the judge(s).

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