No law school can convert a young student into an attorney using nothing but case studies.  No law firm can convert an attorney into a successful professional by making him or her attend boardroom meetings.  It is the grind of the trial experience that supplements education and can make an ideal attorney.

The City of Houston’s Municipal Court seems to be taking a step forward. 

Two years back, the Houston Municipal Court, in association with law firm Fulbright & Jaworski, visualized a new program.  Two more law firms, Haynes and Boone, LLP, and Baker Botts, LLP, also joined the cause.

Under the program, each of the three large firms sends five young attorneys to handle cases in the Houston Municipal Court.  The cases are usually quite petty in nature in comparison to those the senior attorneys at the major law firms handle. 

Until now, 65 big-firm lawyers have taken part in the program.  All of them are licensed attorneys and have spent about three years in big law firms.  After a week’s training, each lawyer plunges into his or her city court cases for the remaining 19 weeks.   

In the process, the attorneys help not only the city but also themselves.  They gain invaluable trial experience, while municipal court prosecutors receive help with tackling a heavy workload.

“The challenge of quickly talking to the police officers and witnesses and getting ready for trial in minutes is fantastic,” commented a Harvard Law graduate in her fourth year at Fulbright & Jaworski.

“You have about 10 minutes to prepare for trial.  This is thinking on your feet,” said a University of Chicago Law School graduate.

The city is also a winner.  The program costs the city nothing, and it improves the quality of representation.

It is in no way easy for lawyers from big law firms to handle such small cases.  Nevertheless, some sweat, and some are in tears during the trial.  There are wins; there are losses.  Sometimes it all happens in a day’s time.  Overall, everyone gains—the justice seekers, the young lawyers, and the city.