There is nothing more daunting in the practice of law than attempting to try your first case. Most lawyers either don’t try cases, are scared to try cases, or have tried and failed. Some people have been a victim of all three. However, with the right amount of preparation, knowledge and understanding, you can take a lot of the scare, terror and fear out of trying your first case.

Facing the Unknown 

Any good personal injury lawyer can take the unknowns out of the trial component. However, the part that some forget or fail to prepare for is obvious when they walk into the courtroom and don’t understand specifically what to do. Judges have their pet peeves, and the last thing that any lawyer wants is to start out embarrassing himself or herself to the judge or the jury. Possible scenarios to avoid include:

  • Failing to stand in the right place.
  • Submitting an exhibit incorrectly.
  • Asking a question out of turn.
  • Not understanding that the judge does/doesn’t allow backstriking when taking a turn.

Being Nervous Is Normal