The Joseph B. Campbell Inn of Court kicked off their first meeting of the year Oct. 12 with a presentation on doing more with less.
San Bernardino Superior Judge John Pacheco led the dinner’s presentation with a focus on remote technology and efficiency
“It’s just amazing what can be done with technology, doing more with less,” Pacheco said
Remote appearances
Attorneys can work more efficiently if they adapt to remote work, Pacheco said. Attorneys no longer need to travel to court if they take their meetings remotely, as is now allowed. Pacheco encouraged remote appearances for trial setting conferences and motion hearings. In San Bernardino Superior Court, only 10% of attorneys show up for their motions, Pacheco said.
The court will also begin to try out different remote video options. The state had previously required courts to use technology from CourtCall LLC, but has recently done away with the requirement.
Remote depositions and outsourced discovery
Attorneys should conduct more remote depositions, Pacheco said. They are great for expert witnesses, whose travel and accommodations would have to be paid out of the client’s money if they had to fly in for an in-person deposition.
A $25,000 witness expense goes down to $4,000, Pacheco said.
It’s also better for physician witnesses, who are hard pressed to find time to travel.
Now, firms can outsource discovery to save money. Insurance firms have already begun the practice, Pacheco said. Pacheco disagrees with the practice because it prevents attorneys from knowing their cases well, but it is an option that saves money, Pacheco said.
Firms can also save on office costs by going paperless, Pacheco said.
PowerPoints for jurors
Trial attorneys should use PowerPoint presentations to make their points to jurors, Pacheco said. A PowerPoint that includes small clips and highlights testimony is good, he said.
A member of the Inn said San Bernardino Superior Court is ahead of the curve when it comes to electronic items. They allow attorneys to pull up documents on their devices, but Los Angeles Superior Court will confiscate phones and iPads, and Orange County Superior Court won’t allow them in, Pacheco said.
More with less
It was new Inn of Court President Linda Lindsey’s first meeting as president. Jesse Male is the new vice-president. Forty-two people attended the meeting at the Redlands American Legion Post #106 on Colton Avenue. “Doing More with Less in The Legal Profession – Post COVID-19 Pandemic” will be the theme for the entire year. Ugo-Harris Ejike, Angel Coleman and Zachary Hagenbuch are leading the Inn’s programs. Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month.
