Morning at the Federal Courthouse gives young lawyers and law students an opportunity to observe and learn about federal practice. Lawyers will receive 3 hours of CLE (1 ethics, 1 professionalism, 1 regular CLE). Participants choose their schedule from court observations and panel discussions presented by federal practitioners and judges. Panel topics include: Ethics and the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Law, The Hallmarks of Professionalism, and Perspectives from Federal Judicial Law Clerks.
Join the Younger Lawyers Division as they host Morning at the Federal Courthouse on Tuesday, June 20, 2023. Morning at the Federal Courthouse gives young lawyers and law students an opportunity to observe and learn about federal practice. Registration starts at 8 am and the program will begin at 8:30 am in U.S. District Court, followed by observations of motions and sentencing by participating judges. During this program participants will choose their schedule from court proceedings and panel discussions presented by federal practitioners and judges. http://
CLE Schedule: (3 hours of CLE for Young Lawyers)
8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Welcome remarks : Chief Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown (EDLA); Arthur Kraatz, Phelps Dunbar, Younger Lawyers Division Chair; Amy McIntire, Chaffe McCall, Morning at the Courthouse Chair
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Observe civil motion and/or criminal docket of participating Judges. This schedule will be posted in early June.
9-10 a.m. Perspectives from Federal Judicial Law Clerks (1 CLE hour) Three Fifth Circuit Federal Judicial Law Clerks will speak about their experiences clerking at the district and appellate courts. They’ll discuss the clerkship hiring process, a clerk’s day-to-day duties (and how they are different at the district court and appellate court), the lifetime of a case, and the benefits of clerking. They’ll finish the panel with various “dos and don’ts” regarding oral argument and briefing at the trial and appellate courts. Panelists: Ellie George, Law Clerk to The Hon. Kurt Engelhardt, U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals; Nicolette Kraska, Law Clerk to The Hon. Jacques Wiener, Jr.; Hailey Maldonado, Law Clerk to The Hon. Dana Douglas
10:10-11:10 a.m. Ethics and the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Law (1 Ethics hour) Join 24th Judicial District Court Judge Scott Schlegel, a nationally recognized leader in legal technology, as he discusses the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, the efficiency of automation, and the use case for tools such as ChatGPT in the law. Attorney Scott Sternberg will moderate Judge Schlegel's discussion. The Judge will discuss using these new tools in the courtroom, boardroom, and what he sees as the potential pitfalls for the bench and bar. This is not a how-to, but rather a how, and why? Like AI, the presenter and the attendees will have an opportunity to consider, deliberate, learn and grow during an hour sure to be a lively discussion. Panelists: The Hon. Scott Schlegel, Judge, 24th JDC; Moderator: Scott Sternberg, Sternberg Naccari & White
11:20 a.m.-12:20 p.m. The Hallmarks of Professionalism (1 professionalism hour) The Preamble to Louisiana’s Code of Professionalism states: The legal profession is a learned calling. As such, lawyers should act with honesty and integrity and be mindful of our responsibility to the judicial system, the public, our colleagues, and the rule of law. We, as lawyers, should always aspire to the highest ideals of our profession. This session will explore what it means to act according to “the highest ideals of our profession.” Panelists are three New Orleans Chapter of the Federal Bar Association Jack Martzell Professionalism Award winners. Panelists: The Hon. Barry Ashe, District Judge, U.S.D.C. – EDLA; Wayne Lee, Stone Pigman; Eva Dossier, Stanley Reuter; Moderator: The Hon. Janis van Meerveld, Magistrate Judge, U.S.D.C. – EDLA
Breakfast pastries, fruit, and water are available for all attendees throughout the morning.