In Texas Lawyer Article, Akin Gump Litigators Recount Experience Working at Dallas DA’s Office

Texas Lawyer has published the article “6 Litigation Lessons Learned From Our Time as Temporary Prosecutors,” written by Akin Gump counsel Brennan Meier and Molly Whitman. The article recounts some of the key lessons Meier and Whitman learned during their recent participation in the “Lawyers on Loan” program with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office.

The program, which began in 1999, sends Akin Gump litigators to the DA’s office for a 10-week period with the goal of trying 10 jury trials. The article notes that the relationship is beneficial to both sides, with the county receiving helpful pro bono services, “while Akin Gump’s litigators gain considerable courtroom experience.”

Meier and Whitman describe several takeaways that are “applicable for any civil trial lawyer working in a large law firm.” They include:

• Working as an Assistant District Attorney means instant responsibility. Meier and Whitman say they were “pleasantly surprised” by how quickly they were handling matters on their own and how much responsibility they were given to handle their cases.
• Regardless of the type of case, the details are extremely important. “With the high burden of proof in a criminal case,” the authors write, “juries need specific details to return a conviction.”
• In plea negotiations in criminal cases, it was always important “to find a resolution that afforded justice for the state and placed the defendant on a track towards rehabilitation.”
• Being as efficient and judicious with resources as possible is important “because of the incredibly fast pace and large docket of cases that every ADA must juggle.”
• “The lessons we learned from our juries informed how we take discovery and build cases for trial in our civil practice.”
• “Our experience as ADAs has taught us that we can fiercely advocate for our clients while remaining cordial with our opponents.”

To read the article in its entirety, please click here.