Over approximately the last 10 years, the Appellate Division, First Department, under the guidance and direction of Presiding Justice Rolando T. Acosta has developed a unique and forward-looking procedure—the pre-argument conference, that has had the effect of not only improving productivity at the court but at the same time has empowered and prepared judges to be even more laser-focused participants in the upcoming oral arguments at the Appellate Division, First Department. It is a procedure that any appellate court—especially an intermediate appellate court with a huge inventory of appeals might want to consider.