Litigation & Arbitration

Tips and tricks for dealing with a Pro Se plaintiff?

I find myself pulling all- nighters to finish work at least once every other week. Is there a way to stop doing this? Is anyone a reformed night owl? Please help

Please spill the beans. What happens when you make partner (aside from the obvious of more responsibility, bringing in business, etc). Do you get a pay bump? Does your income depend on what the firm m… more

Anyone else feel like litigation gets really draining* after awhile? (*emotionally...I know we’re ALL physically/mentally drained). The combative nature of litigation, the nastiness, adversaries servi… more

Associates: how many partners do you work for at your firm?

Has anyone tried administering a custodian questionnaires (for preservation/document collection purposes) using an online form, like google forms? Random tips on reducing cost/not pissing off the clie… more

When your boss gives you 48 hours (clock hours not billable hours) to produce a viable objection to a MTD/compel arbitration in a complex commercial lit case, which is not my practice area, what kind … more

Tips for trial presentation. Have thousands of pages of medical records, but I want the jury to focus on specific portions. Do I make separate exhibits with only the specific pages /areas I want to … more

I am a mid level litigation associate at a midsized firm in NYC, which means working big law hrs, without big law pay. My hesitation going to big law is getting substantially less control/responsibili… more

I am a mid-level associate in litigation. In law school, I focused on appellate litigation and did exclusively moot court and appellate focused classes (successfully, won several awards if it matters)… more

Any insight on Crowell & Moring (specifically the LA office)?

We calendar court deadlines and internal deadlines. Why do associates disregard internal deadlines?

If you were interviewing state trial court candidates, what’s something you’d like to ask? I’m looking to expand my repertoire!

I just had a huge trial get continued and now I am searching for hours to fill the void it left so I can hit my billable requirement. Any tips on asking for more work this time of year?

Get anxious when my boss doesn’t listen to my analysis and keeps asking me to do the research I already did (& already told him I found no answer he wishes to get several times) we also seem to ha… more

Has anyone served a subpoena on Instagram to produce deleted photographs from an account (within a range of dates)? If so, do you have any tips/best practices?

I’ve got my first Zoom oral argument in a few weeks. Any tips to help it go as smoothly and non-awkwardly as possible? For instance, do people stand when speaking? Do you keep your notes on screen nex… more

I’ve started numbering discovery objections and giving them a bold header, i.e., Response to RFP 1 1.1. VAGUE. I can’t figure out what they are asking for... 1.2. BURDEN. If they are asking for all t… more

Any California lawyers have suggestions for complying with the new CCP 2031.280 rule that documents produced “shall be identified with the specific request number to which the documents respond” in ca… more

Starting to feel I don’t like litigation. Third year. I’m not excited about winning an argument or destroying the other party’s arguments. But the current market doesn’t seem to favor a transition.

My boss keep emailing my personal email. It’s just laziness, he doesn’t check to make sure that the correct email is populating. It’s driving me insane. I try to keep my personal email closed during t… more

How does an IP litigator with 10 years of experience go about finding an in-house job? Everything I see is directed toward transactional or corporate experience.

Doubt.

Any tips on getting opposing counsel to agree to a brief extension to respond to the complaint? We are filing a Rule 12 motion, not Answering, so I can’t bargain that.

How did you handle having your first child and managing your time as an extremely busy litigator? I don’t want to miss out on anything at home, or at work, but something has to give.

Leaving a toxic boss this week after nearly 3 years of emotional and verbal abuse about my (very good) work product, as well as my general existence (my weight, my marriage etc). I’ve been yelled at f… more

Any suggestions on free resources to improve writing and editing? I'm not talking about "legal" writing and IRAC. Instead, I'm looking for courses on how to say more with less, find … more

Had a trial twice continued and given the circumstances still unclear if we are gonna move forward. Even if it doesn’t I want to be prepared because it’s my first one. Any books you recommend on hand… more

I’m a first year attorney taking and defending my first depositions soon. It’s a child custody dispute/parenting plan modification. Any advice or tips on how to plan and execute a deposition? Where to… more

I filled a case in NJ on Tuesday. I haven't gotten a track assignment notice, I emailed and called the clerk's office but haven't gotten any positive response or let alone a call back. I h… more

My boss just dropped a deposition on me scheduled for next week. It’s in-person, which is still unusual in my area. Assuming worst case scenario, I just gotta suck it up and go, right? What precaution… more

2nd yr associate, but 1st year doing litigation (med mal defense). I know it’s pretty common to get time cut, especially with ins clients, but I’m getting progressively worse. Everything seems to take… more

The billing question post in this bowl that has been getting so much action in this bowl raises a bigger question for me- why are law firms still billing by the hour? Isn’t there a better way? I have … more

How do you succinctly explain to a non-lawyer what you do? If I respond, “I’m a litigator,” I feel this means very little to a non-lawyer. To make matters worse, I am junior with no specialization, so… more

Anyone ever fire an expert mid-case?

Should I leave a small plaintiffs firm where I get trial experience for a prestigious defense firm making much more money but taking a step back and no longer being lead counsel (practicing 3 years)

I'm thinking about taking a Staff Attorney position with the Second Circuit. What are the thoughts about this? I know it might be less prestigious than a clerkship but is it still good for a young… more

Asking a hard question: what is the past tense of plead? Pleaded or pled?