Law360, New York (March 20, 2013, 12:08 PM EDT) -- Seasoned trial lawyers know that the jury charge conference is high-stakes and fraught with peril. The charge conference requires a delicate balance between two goals: persuading the court to give the jury a charge that will help you win your case, and preserving all appellate issues in the event that the jury returns the wrong verdict. There is often limited time to prepare for the conference, which comes toward the end of trial while you are also preparing for final witnesses and closing arguments. You may also face an impatient judge who is focused primarily on getting the case to the jury, and does not share your interest in preserving arguments for appeal. Being aware of the major pitfalls of the charge conference, and how to avoid them, can help you make the most of the conference....