Trials are involved events that require outstanding legal acumen, and the ability to attract and maintain attention-keeping performances. In order to accommodate our “new normal,” remote testimony and electronic exhibit submissions have become front and center. From June 22-June 29, Peckar & Abramson (P&A) undertook one of the first week-long bench trials in Miami-Dade County and learned valuable lessons in providing effective and efficient representation.

Unlike a live trial, submission of exhibits requires a great deal of communication and involvement with the Clerk of Courts to ensure that all exhibits are submitted in a manner that is compatible with the clerk’s new exhibit filing system. Note that every county is different, therefore communicating with the applicable county clerk well in advance of trial to prevent mishaps is highly recommended. In our case, following ongoing communication with the clerk, and some trial and error, the trial team determined that the “best practice” was submitting all exhibits on a USB drive, with each individual electronic exhibit saved as the exhibit number, as well as adding an exhibit label on the document itself so that it would be easily identifiable when screen sharing. Ultimately, communication with the clerk prior to, during, and after submitting exhibits is key to this process.