May 16, 2011 In May 2005, Judge F. Dennis Saylor (and then Magistrate Judge Charles B. Swartwood), sitting in the Central Division (Worcester) of this Court, adopted a standing order “strongly encourag[ing] the participation of relatively inexperienced attorneys in all court proceedings.” As the Court explained at the time, the standing order was prompted by the recognition that the “[c]ourtroom opportunities for relatively inexperienced attorneys, particularly those who practice at larger firms, have declined precipitously across the nation in recent years.” This standing order remains in place in the Central Division for appearances before Judge Saylor and Magistrate Judge Timothy S. Hillman and anecdotal information indicates that the order has had the desired effect of having more well prepared junior attorneys attend status conferences, argue motions to the Court, and, under appropriate supervision, examine witnesses at trial.
Among its recommendations to the judiciary, the Task Force called upon “judges presiding over pre-trial conferences and related matters to identify and encourage opportunities for a junior attorney to participate in the examination of witnesses or other significant trial work.” To take up this call and attempt, in some small measure, to remedy the dearth of courtroom opportunities for newer attorneys, the undersigned judge issues this standing order, substantially similar in purpose and intent to the order previously adopted by the Central Division.
Accordingly, the undersigned judge, as a matter of policy, strongly encourages the participation of relatively inexperienced attorneys in all court proceedings including but not limited to initial scheduling conferences, status conferences, hearings on discovery motions and dispositive motions, and examination of witnesses at trial.
This includes relatively inexperienced attorneys with regard to knowledge of the case, overall preparedness, candor to the court and any other matter as to which experience is largely irrelevant.
If it is to have the desired effect of countering the trend of declining courtroom opportunities for relatively inexperienced attorneys, it is their more experienced, supervising colleagues who must effectuate the policy articulated in this standing order.