Opportunities
James C. Fitzpatrick
I really wanted to do a Second Circuit Appeal on a pro bono basis, and I went to the partner in charge of the program, and it was probably only a half hour later that I had an appeal on my desk from the partner. And I was able to take it and write the brief and write the reply brief, and then I was able to argue it in front of the Second Circuit. And so, on one level, that shows the unbelievable opportunities that are at Hughes Hubbard. But even more striking to me was the fact that, when I was about to argue, I was nervous, obviously, that I was going to be before three Second Circuit judges. And I told some of the partners that had a lot of experience doing appellate work that I wanted some practice. And three partners took the time out of their day to read 70 pages worth of briefs and then sit there and act as Second Circuit judges and ask me questions and hear my argument without batting an eye. And they were extremely helpful in doing that. And by the time I got in front of the Second Circuit, I wasn’t nervous at all because I had just faced three senior litigation partners in our law firm. And the fact that they were willing to do that really impressed me.
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