DA's apprentice program provides associate lawyers with valuable training and experience.

• Author: McCoyd, Matt
• Position: District attorney

DURING THEIR YEAR-LONG deferral from Atlanta-based AMLAW 100's Alston & Bird, Erica Williamson and Bennett Bryan participated in 11 felony jury trials. Bryan will report to Alston & Bird with six jury trials to his credit and Williamson will have five jury trials to her credit. Obtaining the valuable jury trial experience was made possible by the post-graduate apprentice program offered by DeKalb County, Georgia's District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming. DeKalb County comprises the Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit.

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Modeled loosely on an L.L.M. in Trial Advocacy, the program provides extensive instruction and practical hands-on experience in criminal prosecution, oral advocacy and jury trial advocacy. Designed by DeKalb County Chief Assistant District Attorney Don Geary and DeKalb County Assistant District Attorney Matt McCoyd, the program was created to provide an opportunity for associates who have been deferred by their firms.

Apprentices participate in all aspects of felony criminal prosecution--including jury trials--under either the Georgia Law School Graduate Practice Act, passage of the Georgia Bar, or by special admission granted by the Supreme Court of Georgia's new Extended Public Service Program. Created at the request of DeKalb D.A. Keyes Fleming and the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia, the Extended Public Service Program permits out-of-state attorneys to participate in cases as if admitted in Georgia.

Apprentices work with an investigator creating case files, conducting investigations, collecting evidence and drafting indictments and accusations. They move onto preparing Grand Jury presentments, participating in preliminary and bond hearings before going into a trial line or special prosecution unit, including a white-collar crime unit that prosecutes R.I.C.O., securities or mortgage fraud, embezzlement and other complex criminal cases. While in their units, apprentices prepare and handle indictments, arraignments, motions, pleas and jury...