Sarah Cherry was a panelist at the OCBA Bench Bar Conference and discussed how to develop the next generation of trial lawyers

Sarah E. Cherry was a panelist at the Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA) Raise the Bar 2023 Circuit-Probate Court Bench Bar Conference on March 3, 2023.

Sarah was a panelist for the Civil Panel “How Do We Develop the Next Generation of Trial Lawyers?” along with Honorable Jacob Cunningham (Sixth Judicial Circuit Court), Emily Grace Thomas (Birth Justice Law Firm), Jenna Wright Greenman (Kitch Drutchas Wagner Valitutti & Sherbrook), Elyse Heid (Olsman MacKenzie Peacock & Wallace), and it was moderated by Jamie Martone (Dickinson Wright PLLC).

The panel addressed the lack of opportunities for young attorneys to obtain trial experience and provided a number of suggestions for firms and younger attorneys to make sure that the next generation of trial attorneys are ready. 

The panel addressed a number of topics including:

• The non-binding resolution by the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Young Lawyers Division which urges the courts to permit two attorneys per party to deliver oral argument. This proposal would allow a younger attorney to argue a substantive motion, while allowing the senior attorney to also participate. This panel also suggested that this recommendation should be carried over into depositions, which would permit two attorneys per party to participate. 
• The panel also suggested that firms invest in their younger attorneys by allowing more “non-billable” hours which would allow the younger attorney to attend trials, oral arguments, depositions, and facilitations with the senior attorney even if the younger attorney’s time cannot be billed to the client.
• The panel members discussed their experiences as mentees and now their experiences as mentors; gave their advice to younger attorneys and how to take certain opportunities to grow as a trial attorney, and even provided advice to current/future mentors.

Sarah also discussed her experience being mentored by David M. Ottenwess and how others can use this model to train the next generation of attorneys.