trial preparation from start to finish - … 3a- trial presentation... · 10/5/2017 1 trial...
TRANSCRIPT
10/5/2017
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TRIAL PREPARATION
FROM START TO FINISH
Regina L. Valenti
Senior Trial Paralegal
820 O’Keefe Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana
Telephone (504) 581-4892
Telecopier (504) 561-6024
PREPARING YOUR OFFICE – WHAT TO DO
BEFORE YOU SET FOOT IN COURT
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PREPARING YOUR OFFICE – WHAT TO DO
BEFORE YOU SET FOOT IN COURT
Know Your Case!!!!
Get Organized!!!!
Be Prepared!!!!
Don’t Know
Your Case?
Get
Organized!
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CHOOSING AN ON-SITE LOCATION
Local
Or
Out of Town
CHOOSING AN ON-SITE LOCATION
Is it convenient to work out of your
office? Preferred!
Or do you need a nearby hotel /
conference room?
Will there be space available inside the
courthouse?
LOCAL
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CHOOSING AN ON-SITE LOCATION
Do you have a choice? Is the courthouse in a rural area? Does
the attorney have a personal preference? Is room availability
limited? Need room for witnesses / experts war room.
Out-of-Town
Do you have local counsel who can provide work room space?
If you do have a choice, consider the location first. Will you be
driving to the courthouse? Available parking?
Does the hotel have a business center? Will you bring your
own copier / scanner? Available wireless?
Consider what services are nearby and convenient - copy
service; courier; restaurants, office supply store with late
hours
PREPARATION OF AND
SET-UP OF A ON-SITE
WORK-ROOM
� Plenty of workspace – tables and chairs
� Plenty of supplies – large trial kit for war room and
smaller one for court
� Entire file including trial notebooks, extra exhibits
� Printer/Scanner/Copier with supplies
� Legal research materials – Civil Code, Evidence Code,
Rules of Court
� Small refrigerator stocked with water/drinks
� Coffee pot and Microwave
� Snacks / Fruit – keep it light and healthy
� Napkins, plates, cups, utensils
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WHAT’S IN YOUR TRIAL KIT
PREPARING FOR COURT
Start with YOU!!
Your Trial
Notebook
Don’t leave home
without it
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WHAT’S IMPORTANT??
Practice Makes Perfect
� Visit the Court Room
� Test Your Equipment
� Make the Attorney Practice
� Do it Again
� Do it Again
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Who Sits Where� Where will your attorneys be seated?
� How much room is there on and around
counsel table? How many chairs? Is there
room for the client(s) at counsel table?
� Where is the jury box? In relation to your
counsel table? Any obstruction of view?
� Where will you be seated? Is there room for
your file materials and supplies? Are you
close enough to your counsel table? Can you
see the jurors from where you will sit?
Mine or Theirs
� What equipment is there / available
to use? Do we need to rent / reserve?
� Is there a projector / screen /
monitors/ easels / dry erase boards
/ podium?
� Will our equipment fit / work
logistically? How will it be set up so
that all can see?
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Mine or Theirs� Do you have to worry about control
of electronic display of evidence?
Kill switch? Jury vs. Judge trial?
� Where are the outlets located? Can
we easily access?
� What is the lighting like in the
courtroom? Can it be controlled?
How will it affect our videos /
presentations / display of evidence?
What Else� Sit in EVERY seat – make sure everyone
including YOU can see your screen /
blow-ups, etc.
� Meet the Court Personnel –
REMEMBER THEIR NAMES!
� Be respectful – this is THEIR office
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SUCCEEDING AT TRIALSUCCEEDING AT TRIALSUCCEEDING AT TRIALSUCCEEDING AT TRIAL
WHAT IF YOU DON’T GO WHAT IF YOU DON’T GO WHAT IF YOU DON’T GO WHAT IF YOU DON’T GO
TO TRIALTO TRIALTO TRIALTO TRIAL
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MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERMORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERMORE IMPORTANT THAN EVERMORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER
Court Rules & Practices Court Rules & Practices Court Rules & Practices Court Rules & Practices You Need to Know You Need to Know You Need to Know You Need to Know
About About About About ––––Federal v. Local Courts Federal v. Local Courts Federal v. Local Courts Federal v. Local Courts
or County Courtsor County Courtsor County Courtsor County Courts
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PAPERWORK!
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Stay on Schedule
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Every Case is Different.
Every Court is Different.
Every Judge is Different.
Every Jury is Different.
JURY SELECTION:
YOU ARE THE BIGGEST ASSEST
� You are an extra set of eyes and ears!
� Not trained as a lawyer – don’t see things
the same!
� You hear a story – you ask questions!
� You are a juror!
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WILL A JURY VENIRE
BE AVAILABLE?
� Great jump start on getting to know your
jurors
� Usually get in advance of trial
� Send to local counsel – circulate in your
office
� Google – Google - Google
JURY SELECTION
How many jurors will be seated? How many
will be called and questioned at one time?
Is the Judge the only person allowed to question
the jury or will each attorney / party be given
time to question?
How many challenges will each party be given?
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Important Juror Information
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iJuror – Jury Selection
iJuror – Jury Selection
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Jury Tracker – Tracks Juror
Responses /Attitudes
Jury Tracker – Tracks Juror
Responses /Attitudes
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TIPS FOR WORKING IN THE COURTROOM:
Anticipating the Needs of the Attorney
WORKING WITH OPPOSING COUNSEL,
COURT STAFF, AND THE JUDGE
BE NICE!!!!!!
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The Daily ReCap:
� What Can Stay?
� What Has Changed?
� All Exhibits Logged?
� Noteworthy? Themes,To
Do, Opposition claims
Surviving Trial
� Handle your other cases ‐ ahead of time. Do everything
you can to get them in shape so there are no deadlines /
issues arising while you should be focused on trial
� Have a back‐up at the office. Someone who can handle
your calls ‐ who can handle your emergencies in other
cases should they arise‐ who can check your mail. Most
importantly, have someone you can call who will
answer the phone no matter what time of day or night
it is!
� KNOW YOUR CASE! GET ORGANIZED! BE PREPARED!
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TRIAL PRESENTATION
FROM START TO FINISH
Regina L. Valenti
Senior Trial Paralegal
820 O’Keefe Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana
Telephone (504) 581-4892
Telecopier (504) 561-6024