Attorneys Gain Valuable Trial Experience Through Orange County District Attorney’s Volunteer Program
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – October 20, 2014 – Giving back to the community and nurturing young attorneys are important to Newmeyer & Dillion, LLP, one of California’s most successful multi-service business and real estate law firms. By allowing and encouraging its attorneys to participate in the Orange County Office of the District Attorney’s Trial Attorney Partnership (TAP) program, which lets experienced attorneys prosecute crimes on a volunteer basis, Newmeyer & Dillion accomplishes both.
Several Newmeyer & Dillion associates have gained valuable trial experience through the TAP program since it was founded in 2003 to meet the challenge of budget cuts and increased caseloads at the Orange County District Attorney’s office. Since its inception, TAP prosecutors have contributed almost $3.8 billion in services that have allowed the Orange County District Attorney’s office to better protect the public.
Following a brief training period, volunteer attorneys take cases to court—sometimes daily. Because civil cases rarely go to trial, TAP provides civil litigation attorneys with courtroom experience they might never get otherwise.
“First and foremost, TAP is a great opportunity to give back to the legal community by sending in volunteers to help a cash-strapped system,” said Newmeyer & Dillion partner Jeffrey M. Dennis, who participated in the program several years ago. “Our second and more selfish reason for participating is that TAP provides our attorneys with invaluable trial experience. I’m a firm believer in the program, and it’s something we will continue.”
Dennis said TAP provided him “an incomparable learning opportunity.” For Newmeyer & Dillion associate Christina Lincoln, who recently completed the TAP program, trying cases in court was an important growth experience. Lincoln prepared five cases for trial in one month and had, on average, about two days to prepare for each trial. For one domestic abuse case trial, she had to prepare her closing arguments during the lunch hour.
“The biggest thing this program teaches you is to think on your feet while still using critical thinking skills,” Lincoln said. “It’s like being a civil attorney but being put on hyper-drive. I would definitely recommend it.”
Newmeyer & Dillion associate Robyn Frick, who is currently participating in TAP, said she’s already reaping rewards after just one jury trial. “The more time you spend in front of the court and talking to judges, the more confident you become,” Frick said. “I’m better able to anticipate strategy and always think with the mindset that we’re going to trial, which will help with civil cases by putting them in a better settlement position.”
Working with the District Attorney’s office has been eye opening Frick said. “I’m impressed by the DAs,” she said. “They deal every day with horrific cases, and they’re the nicest people. Everyone has been welcoming and friendly.”
As of December 2013, TAP attorneys had conducted 228 jury trials, 32 court trials, 1,330 preliminary hearings, 507 motions and many other court hearings. In November 2010, the California State Association of Counties honored Orange County’s TAP program with the California Counties Innovation Award.
About Newmeyer & Dillion
Newmeyer & Dillion, LLP, is a creative and highly motivated business and real estate law firm with more than 70 attorneys practicing in complex business, real estate, insurance, environmental and employment law. For 30 years, Newmeyer & Dillion attorneys have provided exceptional legal services in all phases of transactional and business litigation matters to Fortune 500 companies, medium and small businesses, and high net-worth individuals. Headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif., with a Northern California office in Walnut Creek and a Nevada office in Las Vegas, both the firm and its attorneys have been nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America©, as well as Super Lawyers Magazine. In addition, 10 of our top attorneys have achieved an AV Preeminent® score in the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™, signifying the highest level of professional excellence. For additional information, call 949-854-7000 or visitwww.ndlf.com.
