LEGAL TRENDS
Program Gives Civil Litigation Associates Valuable Courtroom Experience
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The Houston Lawyer
By Dane Schiller
ichael Bender’s first day volunteering for a new program created by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg left him stormbattered, sopping wet and barefoot in court. The 27-year-old associate from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP had been through three days of training and was ready to pick a jury as a temporary prosecutor in one of the county’s sixteen Justice of the Peace Courts. It would be a traffic offense—an otherwise stress-free experience for a veteran lawyer—but for a newly-licensed associate, handling that first trial can be incredibly taxing, as jurors would make their decision based on what he argued. For Bender, the stress of preparing for his first trial was exacerbated by the dangerous stormy weather that preceded Tropical Storm Imelda. At the last minute before trial, the storm rolled into Houston and the court’s afternoon docket was cancelled. Before people could leave the courthouse on North Shepherd, the parking lot flooded. Bender pulled off his Cole Haans and socks, rolled up his slacks and started helping as people pushed cars to higher ground. They were stranded at the 38
January/February 2020
an honor to provide a public service like courthouse for hours. this here in our hometown.” Standing in the courtroom, soaking V&E associate Anna Johnson, who wet in his bare feet on what was supposed tried her first case as a volunteer prosecuto be his first ever trial day, Bender kept tor, agreed: “Being able to try a case bethinking the same thought: “Yesterday I fore a jury as a first-year associate was an didn’t know any of these people, and now incredible opportunity.” Yvonne Taylor, they’ve all seen my toes.” chief of human resources, and Johanna Despite his difficult first day, Bender reCraft, chief of the justice turned and eventually was court section, oversee able to go to trial. He and the program. It allows nine other young lawyers civil attorneys, with the from four of Houston’s most V&E associate approval of their firm prominent civil law firms Anna Johnson, who and under the authority are gaining courtroom experience in criminal cases tried her first case as of the district attorney, to volunteer as pro bono because of the new initiaa volunteer prosecutor, attorneys in the hightive introduced under Ogg. agreed: ‘Being able to volume JP courts, generThe district attorney’s try a case before a jury ally once a week for six “pro bono attorney program” is a trend that preas a first-year associate months. The attorneys enmiered in Houston with a was an incredible hance their courtroom program that allowed civil opportunity.’” skills while helping litigation associates to try the DA’s office with the cases in municipal courts. thousands of Class C The program has also been misdemeanor cases on the docket. To beimplemented in Chicago by Cook County gin, they attend three day-long trainings: State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx. a trial skills day, a docket management “The program puts some of Houston’s day, and a day where they shadow a prosbest new lawyers in courtrooms to get triecutor. al experience while lightening the work“It’s important for the development of load for prosecutors,” Ogg said. “Because the young lawyers, not just for the adthe lawyers are employed by large law vocacy skills, but also to expand their firms, there is no added cost for Harris view of the community,” said Taylor, the County.” HR chief. “It gives them an opportunity It’s a win for the law firms, as well. to give back, make the community safer, Baker Botts, Bracewell, Hunton Andrews and help develop a sense of compassion Kurth and Vinson & Elkins are particifor people in situations they might not see pating. otherwise.” “We appreciate any opportunity for our Law firms interested in participating young lawyers to get in the courtroom,” should contact Taylor at the DA’s office. said Tony Visage, a partner at Bracewell. Craft, chief of the justice section, said “The Harris County DA program provides she worried Bender and others wading real world experience, including working in the water were going to get bitten by with opposing counsel and interacting snakes with the Court.” “We had to get a high-water vehicle to Jason Powers, a partner at Vinson & get us out.” Craft said. “The water came Elkins, said “We’re excited about this proup to the windows of the cars in the parkgram, both because of the experience it ing lot. It was crazy how fast the water can provide our lawyers and because it is
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