EBENSBURG — Patrick Kiniry, now Cambria County’s district attorney, still remembers being a young, inexperienced lawyer fresh out of law school in 1972.
But back then, he and other young lawyers had a preceptor – an older, experienced lawyer who helped the “greenhorns” avoid the pitfalls of the legal profession.
They were guided for a year by the preceptor, but that custom has long since fallen by the wayside.
Now Kiniry, as Cambria County Bar Association president, has spearheaded the association’s efforts to set up a mentoring program designed “to help the young attorneys learn the ropes.”
Nine of Cambria County’s young lawyers signed up for the first hour-long session held Wednesday afternoon at the courthouse.
The program includes tips about the “nuts and bolts” of going into court and information from county row officeholders about their offices and fees charged for services.
Also included are copies of Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct for lawyers and the Code of Civility.
Johnstown lawyer Linda Rovder Fleming served as moderator for a discussion titled “I wish I knew that when I started practicing law.”
Twelve members of the bar association serve on the mentoring committee, which is headed by Johnstown lawyer Samuel DiFrancesco.
John B. Lovette III, one of the young lawyers who signed up for the program, said, “I think it will be beneficial to seek the counsel of these older and more-experienced lawyers.
“You come out of law school with ‘book smarts’ and are familiar with the law,” said Lovette, who was admitted to practice law in October 2006.
“But it helps to talk with the experienced attorneys to learn how to practice effectively.”
Cambria’s program is recognized as a one-credit continuing legal education program and can be used toward the 12 such credits required annually for lawyers, Kiniry said.
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