Last night the Third Circuit Bar Association hosted a reception at the courthouse in conjunction with the court’s May en banc sitting. I counted eight Third Circuit judges there, along with a nice turnout from law clerks, court staff, and attorneys. 3CBA president Andrew Simpson flew all the way from St. Croix just to be there, past president Jim Martin came out from Pittsburgh, and Chief Judge Smith even attended, less than two weeks after his hip replacement surgery. It was a wonderful event.

One observation: a big chunk the lawyers there last night were among the circuit’s most established and successful Philly-area federal appellate practitioners. That’s hardly surprising. But, people, events like this are emphatically not just for the Third Circuit in-crowd.

If you aspire to do more federal appeals, and to do them better, then events like last night’s reception are for you. Recent clerks, younger lawyers, women and minority lawyers, associates, solo and small-firm and non-profit lawyers, just-scraping-by immigration lawyers, etc: events like this are for you.

Getting to chat with judges is fun. You will never believe how kind and friendly Judge Chagares is. Judge Hardiman will make you laugh out loud. Judge Restrepo has a gift for making you feel more clever than you really are. And meeting other lawyers who share your nerdy appellate enthusiasm is inspiring, and mighty useful when you need moot judges, amicus authors, or panicky-filing-day advice, which you will.

I bet it’s common to feel like you’re on the outside looking in when it comes to Third Circuit practice. I long felt that way, certainly, and in some ways I still do. Way too many big Third Circuit arguments still pit one white-haired-white-guy partner against another. Often they’re dynamite advocates, sure, but we know they ain’t the only dynamite advocates in this circuit.

Events like last night’s reception, and groups like the Third Circuit Bar Association, can be vehicles for perpetuating the advantages of the haves—but, for the have-nots, they offer real opportunities, too.

Seize them.