As the junior associate staffed on several firm matters, YOU are expected to know everythingโoften off the top of your head.
The last thing you want to do is confuse a witness, fact, or document from one case with that of another.
So you really need a good organization system.
๐ Enter the ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ & ๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป
Whenever I got staffed on a new case, the first thing Iโd do is create a โCast & Chron.โ
(At some firms, we called the โCastโ a โPlayers List.โ)
I used a Word table for both, but any format can do.
In the โCast, or โPlayers List,โ I wrote down the name, title, contact info, and notes for myself about each individual Iโd need to keep track of.
Eventually the list got subcategories for witnesses, corporate representatives, opposing counsel, the judge and clerks, and any other people whom I might need to contact for the case.
โAt first, the List helped me get a handle on things when I was first acclimating.
๐ Most importantly: the process of preparing and constantly updating the List reinforced the names and details into my head, giving me better and faster active recallโsomething that really made a positive impression on the partner and client on more occasions than one.
โ The document also served as a quick and handy reference whenever I needed to contact someone in the case.
Iโve attached the template I always started with as a model.
๐ Amanda
๐ณ๏ธ Let me know if this is helpful, and Iโll do a template for a Chron, too.
