Appellate courts are relatively small and close-knit entities. Therefore, attorneys who practice regularly in appellate tribunals become well known to the court, often enjoying solid professional relationships with court personnel and establishing firm reputations and credibility among the justices. This association often carries with it the invaluable advantages of obtaining more consideration and extra assistance from the court on matters ranging from appropriate courses of actions on procedural issues or the scheduling of oral argument (Mauro & Nicholson, For Appeals: Trial Counsel or Specialist?, Medical Malpractice Law & Strategy, Vol. VIII, No. 7, June 1991). In addition, the appellate attorney is familiar with the predilections and personalities of the judges sitting on the panel for the case, an indispensable benefit that allows for accurate anticipation of questions and discussions in preparation for oral argument of the appeal.