or in writing, it’s as if you are com-
municating directly with the judge.
Take ownership for mistakes and
thoroughly review all correspon-
dences prior to attributing an error
to court staff.
Show Appreciation When the Op-
portunity Arises
Court staff notices when you take
the time to add an extra sentence
in an email thanking them for their
assistance or thanking them publi-
cally in open court in front of the
presiding judge. When consider-
ing a gift, keep in mind that judges
typically advise court staff to follow
the Georgia Code of Judicial Con-
duct, and , Rule 3.13 of the Code
governs. Court staff cannot accept
gifts that exceed $100 or those that
if accepted, would appear to a rea-
sonable person to undermine the
independence, integrity, or impar-
tiality of the judicial process.
Be Conscious of the Court Staff’s
Time
Being conscious of the court’s time
is another way to show apprecia-
tion and respect. The best way to
do this is by keeping appointments
and being prompt. While courts
understand this is not always pos-
sible, remember that each time a
reset is requested or the court staff
has to track you down, it takes away
from time that could be spent ad-
dressing other matters. If you are
going to be late, call ahead and let
staff know when you plan to arrive.
Additionally, be prepared. While
courts usually try to accommo-
date attorneys, it is not the court
staff’s job to print out documents
because you did not have sufficient
time to adequately plan. This is
important especially at trial and
includes copies of jury charges or
document exhibits. Lastly, submit
timely conflict letters and remain
conscious of deadlines.
Do Not Put Staff in Uncomfortable
Situations
Attorneys often become comfort-
able with staff they deal with on
a regular basis. These encounters
should never include ex-parte dis-
cussions about the merits of the
case, or interject the staff into con-
flicts between counsel or clients.
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Remember
These guidelines should not only
apply to members of the bar, but
are equally important when dealing
with legal personnel and paralegals.
Continuously remind personnel to
remain thoughtful and courteous
in all dealings with court staff.
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association THE ATLANTA LAWYER
35