Central District of California Junior Lawyer Participation Incentives

Only one lead counsel per party; must attend all proceedings except motion hearings; junior lawyers encouraged for motion hearings; only one counsel may argue motion without approval.

Source text: Only one attorney for a party may be designated as lead counsel—and the designation must appear on the docket if a party has more than one attorney. Lead counsel must attend all proceedings other than motion hearings. For motion hearings, lead counsel is encouraged to permit junior lawyers to participate. Only one counsel may be designated to argue a motion absent Court approval.

Only one lawyer per party may examine a witness and handle objections for that witness.

Source text: When a party has more than one lawyer, only one lawyer may conduct the examination of a given witness, and only that same lawyer may handle objections during the testimony of that witness.

Junior counsel encouraged to participate; notice 7 days before hearing increases likelihood of oral argument.

Source text: To ensure that the next generation of practitioners gets courtroom experience, the Court encourages lead counsel to invite junior counsel to fully participate in Court proceedings, including to argue motions and to examine witnesses at trial. The Court is more likely to hear oral argument if any party files a notice at least 7 days before a scheduled hearing stating that junior counsel will conduct the argument, or most of it.

Junior counsel (under 7 years) may increase likelihood of oral argument if notice is filed 7 days before hearing.

Source text: The Court is more likely to hear oral argument if any party files a notice at least 7 days before a scheduled hearing stating that junior counsel will conduct the argument, or most of it.

Court encourages lead counsel to allow junior counsel to argue motions and examine witnesses.

Source text: To provide more experience to the next generation of practitioners, the Court encourages lead counsel to permit junior counsel to fully participate in all proceedings, including to argue motions and to examine witnesses at trial.

Junior lawyers (under 5 years experience) may increase likelihood of oral argument if noted in bold/underline.

Source text: The parties’ lead counsel are encouraged to permit junior or less experienced litigators to participate in court proceedings, including to argue motions and to examine witnesses at trial. The court is more likely to hear oral argument if a party notes in its moving or opposing papers, in bold and underlined font, that a litigator who graduated from law school within the last five (5) years, or otherwise has had minimal oral advocacy experience, will conduct the argument.

Junior lawyers (graduated within 5 years or with minimal oral advocacy experience) increase likelihood of oral argument if noted in bold and underlined font.

Source text: The parties' lead counsel are encouraged to permit junior or less experienced litigators to participate in court proceedings, including to argue motions and to examine witnesses at trial. The court is more likely to hear oral argument if a party notes in its moving or opposing papers, in bold and underlined font, that a litigator who graduated from law school within the last five (5) years, or otherwise has had minimal oral advocacy experience, will conduct the argument.

Junior lawyers (under 5 years) may increase likelihood of oral argument if noted in bold/underline.

Source text: The parties’ lead counsel are encouraged to permit junior or less experienced litigators to participate in court proceedings, including to argue motions and to examine witnesses at trial. The court is more likely to hear oral argument if a party notes in its moving or opposing papers, in bold and underlined font, that a litigator who graduated from law school within the last five (5) years, or otherwise has had minimal oral advocacy experience, will conduct the argument.

Lead counsel must attend proceedings; junior counsel encouraged to participate in arguments and witness examination.

Source text: Lead trial counsel shall attend any proceeding before this court, including all Scheduling, Pretrial, and Settlement Conferences. In an effort to provide more experience to the next generation of practitioners, the court encourages lead counsel to permit junior counsel to fully participate in court proceedings, including to argue motions and to examine witnesses at trial.

Court encourages providing opportunities for less experienced and diverse lawyers.

Source text: The Court is committed to fostering the development of new and diverse lawyers in the legal community. Consequently, the Court strongly encourages litigants to provide opportunities for less experienced lawyers or lawyers whose identities and/or backgrounds further the diversity of the legal community.

Parties may divide oral argument between two attorneys.

Source text: The Court will allow parties to divide their oral argument among two attorneys.

Court may dispense with oral argument; encourages junior attorneys to present arguments.

Source text: The Court, in its discretion, may dispense with oral argument on a motion. Fed. R. Civ. P. 78(b); C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15. However, the Court also encourages law firms to contribute to the professional development of new attorneys by allowing them to present oral argument to the Court on motions.

Junior lawyers (under 4 years) may increase likelihood of oral argument.

Source text: less than four years’ experience will present oral argument, the Court will hold a hearing on that motion. This notice must be filed no later than fourteen days before the hearing. The Court will take into account the attorney’s inexperience when considering their oral arguments.

Court may dispense with oral argument; encourages junior attorney participation.

Source text: The Court, in its discretion, may dispense with oral argument on a motion. Fed. R. Civ. P. 78(b); C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15. However, the Court also encourages law firms to contribute to the professional development of new attorneys by allowing them to present oral argument to the Court on motions.

Junior lawyers (under 4 years) must file notice 14 days before hearing to present oral argument.

Source text: less than four years’ experience will present oral argument, the Court will hold a hearing on that motion. This notice must be filed no later than fourteen days before the hearing.

Court encourages providing opportunities for junior and diverse lawyers.

Source text: The Court is committed to fostering the development of new and diverse lawyers in the legal community. Consequently, the Court strongly encourages litigants to provide opportunities for less experienced lawyers or lawyers whose identities and/or backgrounds further the diversity of the legal community.

Parties may divide oral argument among two attorneys.

Source text: the underlying motion. To that end, the Court will allow parties to divide their oral argument among two attorneys. Of course, the ultimate decision of who speaks on behalf of the client is for the client and not the Court.

Junior lawyers from under-represented groups conducting argument may increase likelihood of oral argument.

Source text: The Court encourages parties to permit less experienced lawyers, including lawyers from historically under-represented groups, to actively participate in the proceedings by presenting argument at motion hearings or examining witnesses at trial. The Court is more likely to hear oral argument if any party files a notice at least seven (7) days before a scheduled hearing stating that junior counsel, including lawyers from historically under-represented groups, will conduct the argument,

Court encourages participation of less experienced or diverse lawyers in trial and FPTC

Source text: The Court has a strong commitment to fostering the development of new and diverse lawyers in the legal community. Consequently, the Court strongly encourages litigants to provide opportunities for less experienced lawyers or lawyers whose identities and/or backgrounds further the diversity of the legal profession to participate in trial and in the FPTC, particularly where they contributed significantly to the underlying issue or prepared the witness.

Court encourages providing hearing opportunities to junior or diverse lawyers who contributed to the case.

Source text: The Court has a strong commitment to fostering the development of new and diverse lawyers in the legal community. Consequently, the Court strongly encourages litigants to provide opportunities to less experienced lawyers or lawyers whose identities and/or backgrounds further the diversity of the legal profession to conduct hearings before the Court, particularly where they contributed significantly to the underlying motion or prepared the witness.

Court encourages junior counsel (5 years or less experience) to participate in proceedings

Source text: Believing that young lawyers need more opportunities for appearances than they usually receive, the Court encourages lead trial counsel to permit junior counsel, of five or fewer years out of law school, to fully participate in Court proceedings, including arguing motions and examining witnesses.

Junior lawyers (5 years or less) may increase likelihood of oral argument.

Source text: If, however, a written request for oral argument is filed by any side before a ruling, stating that a lawyer of five or fewer years out of law school will conduct the oral argument or at least the lion’s share, then the Court will hear oral argument, believing that young lawyers need more opportunities for appearances than they usually receive.

Court encourages lead counsel to allow junior lawyers (5 or fewer years out of law school) to participate in proceedings.

Source text: Believing that young lawyers need more opportunities for appearances than they usually receive, the Court encourages lead trial counsel to permit junior counsel, of five or fewer years out of law school, to fully participate in Court proceedings, including arguing motions and examining witnesses.

Junior lawyers (5 years or less) may secure oral argument by requesting it.

Source text: If, however, a written request for oral argument is filed by any side before a ruling, stating that a lawyer of five or fewer years out of law school will conduct the oral argument or at least the lion’s share, then the Court will hear oral argument, believing that young lawyers need more opportunities for appearances than they usually receive.

Court encourages junior counsel (5 or fewer years out of law school) to participate in proceedings

Source text: Believing that young lawyers need more opportunities for appearances than they usually receive, the Court encourages lead trial counsel to permit junior counsel, of five or fewer years out of law school, to fully participate in Court proceedings, including arguing motions and examining witnesses.

Court may allow multiple attorneys to argue if junior lawyers (5 or fewer years) participate.

Source text: multiple attorneys if it provides an opportunity for lawyers of five or fewer years out of law school to participate in the hearing.

Junior lawyers (5 years or fewer) encouraged to argue motions and examine witnesses

Source text: Lead counsel are encouraged to permit junior lawyers to fully participate in court proceedings, including to argue motions and to examine witnesses at trial. Please refer to Judge Audero’s Requirements, Procedures ¶ 1: Courtroom Opportunities for New Attorneys (Five Years or Fewer) for further information.

Lead counsel are encouraged to allow junior lawyers (5 years or fewer experience) to argue motions and examine witnesses.

Source text: Lead counsel are encouraged to permit junior lawyers to fully participate in court proceedings, including to argue motions and to examine witnesses at trial. Please refer to Judge Audero's Requirements, Procedures ¶ 1: Courtroom Opportunities for New Attorneys (Five Years or Fewer) for further information.

Court may dispense with oral argument; encourages junior lawyers to present oral arguments

Source text: The Court, in its discretion, may dispense with oral argument on a motion. Fed. R. Civ. P. 78(b); C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15. However, the Court also encourages law firms to contribute to the professional development of new attorneys by allowing them to present oral argument to the Court on motions.

Junior lawyers (under 7 years) may increase likelihood of oral argument.

Source text: argument on any motion handled by a lawyer with 6 or fewer years of experience. The Court should be advised that a newer lawyer is doing the argument well in advance of the hearing date.