There is a well-known Halacha of "Mi’she’nichnas Adar Marbim Be’simha" – "When Adar arrives, we increase our joy." Adar is an especially auspicious month for the Jewish people, and thus if a Jew is embroiled in a court case against a gentile, he should try, if possible, to schedule the trial for the month of Adar. As this month is endowed with special Mazal ("luck" or good fortune), a person stands a better chance of emerging victorious in a legal battle during Adar.

In a leap year, when we have an extra month of Adar, do both months have this special quality, or only the second Adar – Adar Sheni – which is when we celebrate Purim?

Essentially, this question relates to the issue of the zodiacal sign to which Adar Rishon corresponds. The twelve months of the Jewish year correspond to the twelve signs of the zodiac, and the month of Adar corresponds to Pisces (fish). The Sages teach that fish are not subject to the Ayin Ha’ra (evil eye), since they live underwater, and Adar corresponds to Pisces because during this month we are able to avoid the harmful effects of the Ayin Ha’ra. The question becomes whether in a leap year, Adar Rishon follows the zodiacal sign of Adar Sheni – in which case it shares the special auspicious qualities of Adar Sheni – or if it has the same sign as the preceding month, Shebat.

This issue is subject to a debate. The Lebush (Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe of Prague, 1530-1612) maintained that Adar Rishon corresponds to the zodiacal sign of Aquarius, the sign of Shebat, and thus it does not have the special qualities of Adar Sheni. A different view, however is taken by the Kedushat Levi (Rabbi Levi Yishak of Berditchev, Poland, 1740-1810), in a famous passage in Parashat Ki-Tisa, and by Rabbi Sadok Hakohen of Lublin (1823-1900). They note that just as the twelve months correspond to the twelve signs of the zodiac, similarly, the months correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel. The month of Adar, which is under the sign of Pisces, corresponds to Yosef Ha’sadik, who is blessed like fish, and who, like fish, was free from the clutches of the Ayin Ha’ra. Yosef was unique among Yaakob’s sons in that his two sons – Menashe and Efrayim – each formed a separate tribe ("Efrayim U’Menashe Ki’Re’uben Ve’Shimon Yiheyu Li" – Bereshit 48:5). Accordingly, in a leap year, the two months of Adar correspond to the two sons of Yosef, Menashe and Efrayim, and, as such, both are represented by the sign of Pisces. It thus emerges, according to this view, that both Adar Rishon and Adar Sheni share the special properties of the month of Adar, and Adar Rishon is indeed an auspicious time for success in court.

Practically speaking, then, it is certainly preferable during a leap year to schedule one’s court cases for Adar Sheni, which is an auspicious time according to all views, but if this is not possible, there is certainly value in scheduling the case for Adar Rishon.

It should be noted that Rashi (Rabbi Shelomo Yishaki of Troyes, France, 1040-1105), in his commentary to Masechet Ta’anit, indicates that this special quality continues through Nissan, as well. Commenting on the Halacha of "Mi’she’nichnas Adar Marbim Be’simha," Rashi explains that Adar is special because it ushers in the season of miracles, the season of Purim and Pesah. Significantly, Rashi mentions Pesah in this context, clearly indicating that Nissan, too, is an especially auspicious period. It would thus seem that, according to Rashi, Nissan is also a time when one has a greater chance of success in his lawsuits.

Summary: It is advisable for a person facing a legal battle against a gentile to schedule his case for Adar. In a leap year, it is preferable to schedule the case for Adar Sheni, but there is value in scheduling the case for Adar Rishon. According to some sources, the auspicious quality of Adar continues during the month of Nissan, as well.