Join The MSBA Young Lawyers Section
for
Networking and Happy Hour
at
AIDA Bistro & Wine Bar
6741 Columbia Gateway Dr.
Columbia, MD
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
5:00 – 7:00 PM
(Event is Free – Beer and Wine and light appetizers will be provided)
Please RSVP to Kelcie Longaker — [email protected] or Scott MacMullan — [email protected] space is limited
Co-Sponsored by:
LexisNexis
Gore Brothers
MSBA
1. Speak up. Do not answer any questions by nodding or shaking your head. A written record must be made of the proceedings, and the cout or jury may lose the benefit of any important answer.
2. Be Honest and Candid. The judge or jury, as the case may be, will weigh your testimony only on the besis of what you say, but how you say it. Do not become angry.
3. Objections to Questions. Do not quickly say an answer to a question before the question is completed. When you observe that an objection is to be made, do not attempt to put your answer in before the objection is ruled upon. Simply remain silent during the objection untilt he court has ruled.
4. Have No Contact Whatsoever With Any Juror. Do not discuss any phase of the case in the courtroom, corridors or other public places in the vicinity because a juror might overhear your conversation.
5. Let the Lawyers Try the Lawsuit. Do not interrupt counsel by whispered suggestions or instructions or by the tugging at a jacket. Counsel welcomes and expects suggestions from you; however, such should be given by written notation plainly worded and quietly passed to counsel.
6. Dress Neatly and Cleanly.
7. Tell the truth. This cannot be stressed enough the importance of being completely honest.
8. Read and Follow the 6 Tips on Being a Good Witness.
For more information about your legal matter and what you need to do right now, call me at 443-494-9775. I will discuss and evaluate your matter.
1. DO NOT TALK TO ANYONE – You should only talk to one of your lawyers or investigators handling your case. You should require some identification so that you are sure who you are talking to.
2. LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR – You should follow as precisely as possible the advice and course of treatment advised by your doctor. Do not minimize your ailments to your doctor as it is one of the best ways of knowing how to treat you.
3. KEEP A DIARY – You shoud keep a daily or weekly record of your complaints and progress. This can be very helpful when, a year later, you will be able to recall your pain and difficulties more vividly.
4. KEEP A RECORD OF WORK DAYS LOST due to your injury.
5. KEEP A RECORD OF ALL YOUR MEDICAL BILLS – Obtain and keep duplicate copies of all medical and hospital and drug bils. You should also keep records of any other expenses you may have in connection with your accident such as the hiring of extra help. All your bills should be paid by check or your should obtain and keep receipts. You should make and keep a list of all your medical bills and the costs incurred in going to your doctor.
6. RECORD YOUR CAR REPAIR BILLS – If your automobile has not been repaired, do not do so until you are sure we have obtained pictures of it. If it has been repaired, be sure and supply us with copies of all estimates and final bills.
7. DO NOT PLEAD GUILTY TO TRAFFIC OFFENSES (without consulting an attorney)- Never plead guilty to any traffic offenses in connection with this accident, and if you are arrested call an attorney immediately to be advised.
8. SUPPLY INFORMATION ON WITNESSES – Supply immediately to an attorney the correct name and address and telephone numbers of any and al witnesses you may learn of.
9. SEND ATTORNEY PHOTOGRAPHS – Send your attorney the negatives and prints of any photographs pertaining to your case which you or any of your friends have taken. If at any time you are required to be in the hospital and are receiving any type of treatment like traction or physical therapy which can be photographed, please notify an attorney immediately.
10. TAKE CARE OF PAYING YOUR HOSPITAL AND DOCTOR BILLS (if you can) – If you have your own insurance to cover such bills, go ahead and have them paid as soon as possible. If you have sufficient funds to pay any difference in the amount covered by insurance, don’t hesitate to pay your obligations because of the lawsuit.
11. TELL YOUR ATTORNEY ADDRESS CHANGES – Keep your attorney advised of any changes in your address or telephone number.
Call Scott MacMullan Law, LLC at 443-494-9775 for further information and a free case assessment.
Nervous about testifying soon? Remember these commonsense rules.
1. Tell the truth as you remember it.
2. When you are asked a question, listen carefully and then give the answer to that question only.
3. If you are asked a question and are not sure of the answer, DO NOT GUESS.
4. If you can’t remember, say “I can’t remember.” If you don’t know, say “I don’t know.” Don’t guess.
5. Don’t try to evade a question, Don’t be afraid to admit a damaging fact if it is a fact.
6. Be Polite.
A “Dictator” writes 10 pages for what should be a 3 page motion. As a former law clerk, these long dictated motions would always chap my @ss. Such a waste of time. As a practitioner, however, I see the monetary value of these long, bloated, John Candyesque (or Elvis in his later days) motions. A younger writing revolution will lead to a take over as technology continues to breakdown the old, evil, Mussoliniesque billing empires. These younger revolutionaries get their point across effectively and memorably in a paragraph as opposed to 10 pages.
As William Wallace in Braveheart meant to say:
“I am a Young Legal Writer. And I see a whole army of my professionals, here in defiance of dictation. You’ve come to write as free men… and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you write?”
Well, will you write? Or will you dictate and die like Mussolini, John Candy or Elvis. (How about that for a false dilemma?)
Or is the better question: Has dictating made legal writing suck?