District of Columbia Junior Lawyer Participation Incentives

Civil cases

The Court encourages the participation of less experienced attorneys in all proceedings—including pretrial conferences, hearings on discovery disputes, oral arguments, and examinations of witnesses at trial—particularly where that attorney played a substantial role in drafting the underlying filing or in preparing the relevant witness. The Court will be more likely to grant a request for oral argument if doing so would afford the opportunity for a junior attorney to gain courtroom experience.

The Court encourages the participation of less experienced attorneys in all proceedings—including pretrial conferences, hearings on discovery disputes, oral arguments, and examinations of witnesses at trial—particularly where that attorney played a substantial role in drafting the underlying filing or in preparing the relevant witness. The Court will be more likely to grant a request for oral argument if doing so would afford the opportunity for a junior attorney to gain courtroom experience.