In the last couple of months, we have seen a lot of depositions. We have noticed them ourselves and deposed parties; and have received noticed and had our clients deposed. I sat in as second chair on my first depo.
It is both enjoyable and fulfilling to be part of some real-life things I am learning in law school. However, none of my classes have covered depositions. Attorneys are fond of saying (at least here in the States) that law school teaches you nothing about the actual practice of law. Where is the court house? Where do I stand in the well of the courtroom? When and how do I notice a deposition?
Greenhorn Legal is an organization that trains new lawyers, and their blog is running a multi-part series on disaster stories. Each post begins with a brief story of how a young attorney made a disastrous mistake, followed by a discussion of the issue and how to avoid it. They are nice reads, and give students some good insights into the actual practice of law.
Here is a list of links to the “disaster stories” so far, including the latest on noticing depositions.
The Disaster Stories Series Part I: Citing To An Overturned Case
The Disaster Stories Series Part II: Failing To Pay Attention To Detail
The Disaster Stories Series Part III: Producing Confidential Documents
The Disaster Stories Series Part IV: Using Social Media Irresponsibly
The Disaster Stories Series Part V: Missing Important Deadlines
The Disaster Stories Series Part VI: Failing To Notice A Deposition