Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Legal Research • Billable Hours • Engagement Letter

Motion in Limine

Term from Legal Practice industry explained for recruiters

A Motion in Limine is a common legal tool that attorneys use before a trial begins. It's basically a request to the judge to rule on whether certain evidence or testimony can be used during the trial. Think of it as setting the ground rules before a game starts. Lawyers file these motions to prevent potentially unfair or misleading information from being presented to the jury. This is an important skill for litigation attorneys, as it can significantly impact how a case unfolds. Other similar terms you might see include "preliminary motion," "pretrial motion," or "exclusionary motion."

Examples in Resumes

Successfully argued Motion in Limine to exclude prejudicial evidence in high-profile case

Drafted and won multiple Motions in Limine in personal injury cases

Prepared comprehensive Motion in Limine strategy that contributed to favorable settlement

Typical job title: "Trial Attorneys"

Also try searching for:

Litigation Attorney Trial Lawyer Courtroom Attorney Civil Litigator Criminal Defense Attorney Legal Counsel Litigation Associate

Where to Find Trial Attorneys

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Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: Can you describe a complex Motion in Limine strategy you developed that significantly impacted a case?

Expected Answer: A senior attorney should discuss creating a comprehensive strategy, timing considerations, and how the motions affected trial preparation or settlement negotiations. They should mention experience with both filing and responding to these motions.

Q: How do you approach training junior attorneys on Motion in Limine practice?

Expected Answer: Should demonstrate leadership by explaining their teaching methods, common pitfalls to avoid, and how they help junior attorneys understand strategic timing and argument development.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What factors do you consider when deciding whether to file a Motion in Limine?

Expected Answer: Should explain practical considerations like timing, strength of arguments, judge's typical approach to such motions, and potential impact on the case strategy.

Q: How do you handle opposition to your Motion in Limine?

Expected Answer: Should discuss preparing strong counter-arguments, researching similar cases, and having backup strategies if the motion is denied.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the basic purpose of a Motion in Limine?

Expected Answer: Should explain that it's a pretrial motion to exclude certain evidence or testimony, and understand the timing of when these motions should be filed.

Q: What are the key components of a Motion in Limine?

Expected Answer: Should be able to list basic elements like statement of facts, legal argument, citation to relevant rules of evidence, and specific relief requested.