The courtroom can be an intimidating place, especially for young
lawyers. Sometimes the most challenging part of advocating in a
courtroom is knowing essential courtroom etiquette that we
typically do not learn in law school.
What do you do when you are not prepared and need to request a
continuance? What should you do when you are examining your client
on the stand and you know that your client is not being truthful?
What is the best strategy for examining a hostile witness?
Understanding how to navigate these common, yet troublesome issues
can make a world of a difference when you have to make a quick
decision while appearing in court.
Join the Law Practice Management Section Council, with
co-sponsorship from the Young Lawyers Division and Criminal Justice
Section Council, on Nov. 17, at 12:30 p.m., to get an inside view
on how to be an effective advocate in the courtroom. Retired
District Court Judge Robert A. Gordon will lead the lunchtime
program, which will be an excellent opportunity for young lawyers
and trial attorneys alike to get answers to their burning courtroom
questions.
The program will provide a candid, up-close and practical
discussion of effective tips on how to prepare a case for the
courtroom, including client and witness examination, client
preparation starting at the consultation stage, common evidentiary
issues, how to be a persuasive advocate, and what to do and not do
in a courtroom.
Gordon retired this past summer after serving as associate
justice of the District Court Department, Springfield Division, for
14 years. Since retiring from the bench, Gordon has formed a
mediation and arbitration practice, Gordon Resolution, based in
Brookline.
Before being appointed to a judgeship, Gordon was in private
practice as a trial lawyer for more than 20 years, representing
clients in civil and criminal litigation cases in the state and
federal courts, as well as being approved for appointment as
counsel in first-degree murder cases in Superior Court.
From his vast and broad experience handling civil and criminal
cases in a high volume urban court, Gordon will offer constructive
and helpful advice to lawyers who are interested in improving their
courtroom skills. In addition to his judicial experience, Gordon
has a substantial background that enhances his views and
observations of how to improve a lawyer's advocacy and
effectiveness in the courtroom.
The program will include a popular "Top Ten List of Dos and
Don'ts in the Courtroom," including:
- How should your client dress for court?
- What do you when you are late for court?
- When should you (and shouldn't you) file a motion to
continue?
- What do you do when you are frustrated with how your case is
progressing?
- How you should prepare for court, and why it is so important to
know the facts of your case?
Emily Amara Gordon is the principal attorney of Amara
Immigration Law LLC, an immigration law practice located in
Brookline. She is a member of the MBA Law Practice Management
Section Council and the American Immigration Lawyers Association
(AILA), and she serves as a New Members Division Liaison to the
AILA New England Chapter.