By JODI SOKOLOWSKI
Buffalo Law Journal

Newly admitted lawyers can face a "baptism by fire" in their first jobs after graduating from law school.

To help new associates understand and manage the demands of their daily law practice, the Bar Association of Erie County's Erie Institute of Law is sponsoring the two-part legal-education seminar "Life After Law School: Basic Practice 101."

"Law school teaches you how to think like a lawyer, but you don't get the day-to-day pragmatics of practicing law," said moderator Stephen Lamantia, a retired solo practitioner. "I wish there was something like this when I got out of law school."

The two-day course, which began March 13 and continues April 3, offers practical tips on topics such as navigating one's way through courts, learning how to e-file and managing stress, and also gives an overview of different practice areas, including real estate, bankruptcy and family law.

"There are very few classes in law school that will actually teach you how to get into court and what to do once you get there. Something like this is a good start," said Raymond Walter, an associate at Magavern Magavern & Grimm who is participating in this year's seminar.

Ethics workshops in the first few weeks of law school are good preparation for students, said Matthew Makowski, an associate at Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP who graduated from the University at Buffalo Law School in May. However, they fall short of what law schools could do in preparing graduates for the real world, said Heather Nikiel, an associate at the Hamburg firm Shaw & Shaw PC who also graduated from UB Law in May.

"Many classes are geared toward the actual practice of law - what you say before the judge. But perhaps a seminar would be helpful to get you over the hump of all the things you have to do in the first year," Nikiel said.

More than 30 practicing lawyers and judges are serving as presenters for this year's seminar. They include Harter Secrest & Emery LLP partner John Elmore, also a member of the 8th Judicial District Attorney Grievance Committee, who gave the presentation, "Top 10 Ethics Do's and Don'ts;" and Roderick Quebral, who spoke on lawyer trust accounts.

Hon. Jeffrey Voelkl, Williamsville village justice, asked attendees of the March session if they expect to have reason to appear in town or village courts. After only a few raised their hands, he said the others are probably wrong.

Walter, who practices in the area of estate planning and administration, agrees. "I anticipate that speeding tickets and minor criminal matters will be coming my way from friends and neighbors," he said.

Presenters for the April 3 session at Shanghai Red's Restaurant include Catherine Wettlaufer, who will speak on Surrogate's Court matters; Hon. Janice Rosa, on expedited matrimonial proceedings; Paul Jones, on pretrial depositions; Glenn Murray, on DWI defense; and W. Clark Trow, on real estate law.

The seminar is applicable for practitioners at all levels, especially for those who may be entering private practice after working in the public sector, said Lamantia, the association's immediate past president and chair of its Admission to the Bar Committee.

The course provides 12 continuing legal education credits for both days, including three in ethics, five in skills and four in practice management/professional practice.

Lamantia credits Paula Newcomb, a former president of the University at Buffalo's Graduates of the Last Decade, with launching the Life After Law School seminars about 10 years ago.

Lawyers can still sign up for the second session. For more information, call Mary Kohlbacher at 852-8687.