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What Should I Wear to Court?

December 7, 2024/in Litigation /by taulersmith

What you do before your trial could impact the ultimate outcome. If you have a trial that is about to start, you may be asking yourself, “What should I wear to court?” It’s very possible that you haven’t put much thought into what type of clothes you will wear. After all, there are certainly far more pressing issues as you and your attorneys prepare for trial. But the simple truth is that what you wear, and how you look, is going to matter because the judge and the jury will start forming their opinions about you the moment you set foot in the courtroom.

Read this blog to learn how you can prepare for your trial, including what type of clothes you should wear to court.

What Your Clothes Say About You to the Jury

Think of the clothes you wear in the courtroom on the first day of the trial as an opportunity for you to make a good first impression. Before you’ve even had a chance to make an argument, testify on the witness stand, or introduce evidence, you can already show the jurors that you are a serious-minded individual, that you are professional, and that you are someone who respects the legal process.

Your clothing could very well affect the outcome of the trial. Although we like to think that judges and juries decide cases and render verdicts based solely on the law, the reality is that cases are often won or lost based on a host of other factors. One of those factors is what the judge or jury thinks about the litigants, and that may very well be determined by your clothes, your demeanor, and your general appearance.

The Importance of Clothes & Storytelling in a Trial

Throughout the trial, your attorney is going to tell the judge and jury a story with a particular narrative about statutes, legal precedent, and the facts of the case – and hopefully this story will persuade the judge and jurors that they should rule in your favor because that’s what justice demands. But your clothes also tell a story about you, even if you don’t put much thought into your attire. And that story could be just as important as anything else that happens during the trial.

Of course, your attorneys also need to be able to communicate a fact-based story to the jury. Skilled trial lawyers know that a determining factor in most trials is the story that the jury hears. That’s why it is so important for a trial lawyer to possess storytelling skills. For a last-minute trial attorney who takes over the case in the 11^th hour, crafting an effective story for trial can be difficult because there just isn’t a lot of time to weave in various facts and elements of the case. Additionally, developing a good trial story means finding a way to summarize all the case facts for the jury.

How to Choose Your Clothes for Court

One helpful tip for choosing what to wear to court is to dress the same way you would for a very important job interview. Men should probably wear collared dress shirts and slacks, while women may want to wear a nice blouse. Do not wear shorts or any attire that is too exposing. Additionally, make sure that any words, slogans, logos, or symbols on your clothing are court-appropriate – no slurs or offensive language.

Here are a few other tips for what to wear and how to act in court:

Dress conservatively. You should expect the judge and jurors in your case to be traditional, which means that they will expect the parties to dress conservatively and always appear professional.
Grooming matters. In addition to the clothing that you wear, you should also make sure that your hair is well-groomed. You want to look clean and professional, not messy and unkempt. Along those same lines, you should probably do your best to cover any tattoos that might otherwise be visible to people in the courtroom.
Be respectful. What you wear to court matters, and so does how you act. Always be respectful of court officials, jurors, and anyone else in the courtroom on the day of your trial. Be polite when the judge addresses you, and always show respect by addressing him or her as “Your Honor.” Additionally, don’t bring food or drinks into the courtroom, and don’t chew gum either. And make sure that your phone is turned off or silent so that it cannot ring and disrupt the trial, which would reflect poorly on you.

Contact the California Trial Lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP Today

At Tauler Smith LLP, we have the kind of trial experience that most other attorneys aren’t even close to. Our Los Angeles trial attorneys routinely represent both plaintiffs and defendants in courts across the country, including California, New York, Texas, and Florida. Whether your case involves business fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, intellectual property, employment defense, or criminal defense, we can help you.

Call 310-590-3927 or email us today to schedule a free consultation about your case.

Tips to Prepare for a Jury Trial

November 29, 2024/in Litigation /by taulersmith

A lot of lawyers don’t take their cases all the way to trial, so they never get the experience in front of jurors that is needed to actually win at trial. It’s very possible that your previous lawyer developed the case without the expectation that it would go to trial. It’s also likely that an inexperienced attorney won’t be ready to argue your case to a jury. The truth is that some lawyers could use tips to prepare for a jury trial. The Los Angeles trial lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP have extensive experience handling jury trials in both state and federal courts, so we know which arguments are most likely to persuade jurors.

For tips on how a trial attorney can prepare your case for a jury trial, keep reading this blog.

How an Experienced Trial Lawyer Can Prepare Your Case for a Jury Trial in California

These are some of the things that an experienced trial lawyer can do to prepare for a jury trial in a California courtroom:

Communicate to Judge and Jury: Trial lawyers should be ready to argue complicated legal points in support of a motion before the judge and communicate the facts of the case to laypersons on the jury.
Keep the Story Simple: A good trial lawyer will be able to simplify a complex legal matter and weave together the evidence, transcripts, testimony, and arguments to build a compelling and persuasive narrative for the jury.
Ask Witnesses the Right Questions: The best trial lawyers know which questions to ask their own witnesses, as well as which questions will weaken the opposing witnesses.
Strong Closing Argument: The story that a trial lawyer tells in their closing argument needs to be backed up by the facts that have already been communicated throughout the trial. This requires a great deal of anticipation and foresight by the attorney.
Preserve the Record for Appeal: A good trial lawyer will also keep an eye on the trial record so that there will be an avenue for filing an appeal later if the case does not go the way they hope.
Communicate with the Client: Open communication between the attorney and the client is critical in the days and weeks before trial so that there is no chance of a misunderstanding that could damage the chances of success once the trial begins.

An Experienced Trial Lawyer Can Communicate Your Story to the Jury

In many ways, jury trials are preferable to bench trials because a jury trial doesn’t leave the decision in a single person’s hands. But this also means that your lawyer needs to be able to persuade multiple people at once. This can be tough in complex cases such as business fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, or employment defense.

With jury trials, it is important to recognize that jurors are human beings. This means that they may consider the law, but they will almost certainly factor in real-world human elements. If the jurors don’t believe you or your witnesses, they are not likely to find in your favor. This is why it is important to maintain credibility throughout the trial, and one way to do that is by telling a coherent story.

Our California Litigators Know How to Win in Court

The unfortunate reality is that far too many litigators simply don’t know how to win a case in the courtroom. They may understand the applicable statutes, but they never learned the technical skills of preparing a case for a trial. The Los Angeles trial attorneys at Tauler Smith LLP take pride in our ability to uncover buried evidence, develop strong arguments, and prep witnesses to take the stand. Even when the odds are stacked against you and the other side’s evidence seems insurmountable, we will do whatever is needed to give you a real fighting chance to win the case.

Additionally, we are often called upon to take over a case at the last minute. This is when a litigator is truly tested: in the days and weeks leading up to trial, when someone has to get ready to show up to court and actually present the case. In many ways, this is the toughest part of being a lawyer. Our last-minute trial team is stacked with attorneys who know how to effectively argue a client’s case in the courtroom and achieve the desired result. Significantly, we also know how to prepare cases quickly so that you never have to worry about whether we will be ready to win your case at trial.

Contact the California Trial Team at Tauler Smith LLP

The California trial lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP provide high-level service to our clients throughout the entire legal process, from the moment we begin reviewing the evidence in your case all the way through trial. We represent clients in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and everywhere else in the U.S.

Call or email us now to schedule a free consultation about your case.

Why Jury Trial Experience Matters

November 25, 2024/in Litigation /by taulersmith

If you have a looming trial and you are not entirely sure that you are being represented by the right attorney, it is vital to understand exactly why jury trial experience matters. Just because an attorney is called a “litigator” does not mean that they have the type of experience needed to handle a jury trial in a California state or federal court. In fact, many people are shocked when they learn that a lot of jury trials are argued by lawyers with little to no actual experience in the courtroom. These days, far too many lawyers want to settle regardless of the terms of the settlement offer because they are terrified by the thought of having to present their client’s case to a jury. The Los Angeles trial lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP have tried countless cases in front of juries at both the state and federal level, and you can benefit greatly from our experience.

Keep reading this blog for more information about jury trials.

Jury Trials Are on the Decline in California and Nationwide

The number of jury trials in California, New York, Florida, and across the U.S. has been on a steady decline for several years. Part of the reason for this is the financial cost of going to trial, which can make it tough for litigants to justify moving forward with their cases. Another reason for the decline in jury trials is that far too many lawyers are afraid to take a case to trial because they don’t have enough actual courtroom experience. All of this has resulted in more pre-trial settlements and fewer jury trials.

The decline in jury trials is a problem because they often provide individuals with their best opportunity to get justice in a legal dispute. In fact, many of the most significant civil disputes are still decided by jury trials.

Jury Trials Are Different from Bench Trials

The truth is that your current lawyer’s experience with bench trials, arbitrations, and other types of court proceedings doesn’t necessarily mean that they can effectively represent you in a jury trial. Jury trials are typically won or lost on the basis of the litigation team, which is why you want to be backed by a lawyer who has actual litigation experience and who knows how to communicate your story to a jury.

Litigation Experience in the Courtroom

Trial work is very different from other types of legal work because it requires a high degree of expertise in several areas: the relevant practice area, legal writing, oral advocacy, and litigation. That’s why you want a lawyer with jury trial experience that includes trying cases involving business fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, employment law, and criminal defense.

It is important to recognize that there is a key difference between “litigation” and “experience.” It’s not good enough for a lawyer to promote themselves as a litigator if they do not have meaningful experience trying cases in front of a jury. Many of these so-called litigators will claim that they want to go to trial, but then they will force a bad settlement agreement with the other side at the last moment. Additionally, many litigators who have handled bench trials, arbitrations, and court hearings do not fully understand everything that goes into a jury trial, which requires a particular storytelling style and unique litigation skills. The bottom line is that your lawyer needs to be able to persuade a jury.

Settlements vs. Trials

The truth is that some attorneys just aren’t cut out for trying cases in a courtroom. Most cases settle, which is why most lawyers don’t have significant trial experience – and this is especially true for jury trials. If your case goes to trial, you are going to want an experienced litigator who understands both the literal law and the trial strategy needed to convince jurors that they should find in your favor.

California Attorneys with Jury Trial Experience You Can Count On

If you need to bring in a new lawyer on the eve of trial, it is important that you hire last-minute trial counsel with solid litigation experience. When you hire Tauler Smith LLP to handle your legal matter, you will get attorneys who will never, ever quit on you. We are also not afraid to take on the tough cases that other firms run away from. That’s because our Los Angeles trial attorneys know how to win in court.

Our attorneys are extremely comfortable trying cases because we practically live in the courtroom. When a client hires us to represent them, they can trust that we are not just looking to get a quick settlement offer and avoid trial. Our expectation is always that we will fight extremely hard for our clients and help them win at trial.

Contact the Los Angeles Trial Team at Tauler Smith LLP

The California litigation attorneys at Tauler Smith LLP have experience trying late-notice cases in front of juries. You can count on our skilled last-minute trial lawyers to handle your case because we are battle-tested in both state and federal courtrooms. Call 310-590-3927 or email us now to schedule a free consultation.

Trial Preparation: What Can the Client Do Before Trial?

November 17, 2024/in Litigation /by taulersmith

As experienced Los Angeles last-minute trial attorneys, we know how to quickly prepare a case for trial when we take over in the 11^th hour. But this doesn’t mean the client is uninvolved or has nothing to do as we get ready to argue the case before a judge or jury. So, what does the client do before trial? The Tauler Smith litigation team believes that clients can play a very big role in helping us to prepare cases for trial, whether that involves providing us with valuable information about the case, communicating during settlement discussions, or being involved in strategy conversations.

Read this blog for more information about what clients can do to get ready for trial in a California courtroom.

How the Client Can Help Their Lawyer Win at Trial in a California Courtroom

The client has an important role in the lead-up to trial. Although you won’t be involved in the actual legal work or technical trial preparation, you can still contribute in very meaningful ways.

Provide Case Information

For starters, you are an invaluable resource because you will know the facts of the case as well as anyone. Your attorneys may have questions for you as they research and get ready for trial, and you may be asked to fill in gaps in the fact pattern, provide background information on potential witnesses, and offer insights into the case.

Clients are often the best source for evidence since they will probably know the location of relevant documents, in addition to gaining access to those documents once they are located. This can be particularly helpful in business litigation cases and employment defense cases where discovery may cover a lot of evidence, as well as late-notice cases where the trial date is quickly approaching and time is limited.

Settlement Discussions

The client also needs to be involved in any settlement conversations, providing guidance to the attorney. Ultimately, you will have to make the call about whether you find a settlement offer acceptable, and you certainly should not let anyone else sway you because you are the one who will have to live with the decision. Sometimes, it’s better to take the financial settlement being offered and be done with the stress of litigation. Or you might be so personally invested in the case that getting your day in court and seeking justice is most important to you.

Witness Prep

While attorneys typically take the lead when it comes to preparing witnesses to testify at trial, the client is also very helpful in this regard. That’s because the client will probably have some kind of relationship with the witnesses, which can make it easier to encourage their testimony. The client’s familiarity with the other witnesses can also provide insight into how they might react to certain types of questioning.

Additionally, if expert witnesses are needed for the trial, the client may be helpful when it comes to helping prepare the expert. After all, the client will still know more about the particular facts of the case, and the expert can probably benefit by learning the specifics before testifying.

In many cases, the client will also take the stand to testify at trial. Before this happens, the client should be prepared by their attorneys so that they know exactly what to expect and how to frame their narrative while on the stand. Moreover, the client should be prepared for cross-examination so that they won’t be caught off guard by aggressive questioning from the opposing side.

Trial Strategy

Strong communication between the attorney and their client is extremely important. The client should always feel comfortable asking questions about the case. Your lawyer works for you, not the other way around. Your last-minute trial counsel should keep you informed at all times about what is happening. Additionally, if you are unsure about the direction that your attorneys are taking the case, you should definitely speak up and voice those concerns. Clients should always play a role in the trial strategy.

Client feedback can also be extremely helpful. Sometimes, the litigators get so caught up in the legal arguments that they forget the human element at play in a trial. Cases are presented to jurors, and those jurors typically don’t know much about the actual law or the applicable statutes. They need to be persuaded at a human level, and this is where feedback from the client can provide valuable insight: how the client reacts to a particular argument, trial tactic, or theme may be some indication of how the jury will react.

Contact the Experienced Los Angeles Trial Lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP

The Tauler Smith LLP trial lawyers handle cases in California, New York, Texas, Florida, and across the United States. We go to great lengths to ensure that our litigators are in frequent communication with clients throughout the legal process because we want clients to stay informed. We also want our clients to be involved in any important decisions that need to be made before trial.

We will do everything in our power to maximize your chances of winning in court. Call 310-590-3927 or email us to schedule a free consultation.

Is It Too Late to Hire a Last-Minute Trial Lawyer?

November 11, 2024/in Rescue Counsel /by taulersmith

How late is “too late” to hire a last-minute trial lawyer for your case? The answer to this question will depend on the facts and circumstances of the case, including how much work your previous attorneys have already done to prepare for trial. Regardless of the circumstances, though, it is important not to delay because you do not want to hire a new lawyer right before you walk into court for your trial. Even the best attorneys need time to prepare, so your chances of success will improve dramatically if you give your attorney as much time as possible to review the evidence and strategize your case.

Keep reading for more information about last-minute trial lawyers.

Quickly Preparing a Case for Trial at the Last Minute

A great deal of work goes into preparing a case for trial, especially with complicated practice areas such as business fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, intellectual property, and employment law. Your new attorneys will need to learn the background information and case facts, write strong opening and closing arguments, prepare evidence and exhibits to be introduced at trial, prepare witnesses for direct examination, depose witnesses who may require cross-examination at trial, and develop an overall theme for the trial. If your previous legal team hasn’t done enough work already, it may be necessary to fill in any gaps in the trial prep.

Factors That Affect How Much Time a Last-Minute Trial Attorney Needs

There are a number of factors that determine exactly how much time is needed to prepare a case for trial.

How Much Work Has Already Been Done?

A major factor is the amount of work that has already been completed by the previous attorneys. If your earlier lawyer was thorough in their preparation and carefully mapped out a trial strategy, then it will be easier for our last-minute trial lawyers to get up to speed on the case. We may simply need to review the evidence, sift through the best arguments, and fine-tune the overall approach. On the other hand, the absence of pre-trial work by your previous attorneys will probably mean that your new attorneys are going to need additional time before the case is ready for trial.

Replacing or Assisting the Previous Attorneys?

Another significant factor in determining the case-preparation timeline is whether the new attorneys are being brought in to assist your current attorneys or to completely replace them before trial. Replacing your attorneys with last-minute trial counsel could require more time.

Type of Case

Certain types of cases may require more preparation and lead time than others. For example, a complex business litigation case that involves a lot of documents and testimony may require more time for discovery, as well as extra time to get depositions from witnesses who could be called to testify at trial.

Replacing Your Attorney in a Complex Legal Dispute

Some cases have extremely complicated fact patterns and involve complex areas of the law, which can certainly affect the timeline when it comes to preparing for trial and getting a replacement attorney up to speed.

A more difficult case might require three (3) months to prepare for trial, while other cases might only require a few days to get ready for trial. There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to trial timelines, so a lot will depend on the particular facts of your case. The California last-minute trial team at Tauler Smith LLP treats each case individually and on its own merits. This means we will handle your case based on its unique circumstances.

Los Angeles Parachute Trial Lawyers Prepared to Take Your Case to Trial

The best last-minute trial representation doesn’t necessarily need a lot of time to get a case ready for court, but it can certainly help. As a general rule, the more time your attorney has to prepare for your trial, the better off you will be.

The Tauler Smith litigation team possesses the rare ability to prepare cases with little to no advance time. You need a law firm that knows how to effectively brief your case before it reaches trial and then persuasively argue on your behalf in the courtroom at trial. When our last-minute trial attorneys take on your case in California, Texas, Florida, or anywhere else in the U.S., we immediately get to work familiarizing ourselves with the relevant facts and reviewing the evidence so that we can develop winning arguments. We will also prepare both you and your witnesses so that everyone is ready once the trial begins.

Do You Need Emergency Counsel for an Upcoming Trial? Contact Us Now

Whether your trial is in a few months or a few days, the California last-minute trial lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP can help you. We know how to quickly prepare a late-notice case for presentation to a judge or jury, and we know how to articulate your story in court.

Call 310-590-3927 or email us.

Do You Need a Last-Minute Trial Lawyer?

November 7, 2024/in Rescue Counsel /by taulersmith

How do you know if you need a last-minute trial lawyer? Although changing your lawyer at a late stage might not seem ideal, it might also be your best option if you truly believe that your current counsel is not sufficiently prepared to argue your case at trial. At the end of the day, it’s your case. You deserve to be represented by an attorney who will fight for you and who will give you the best chance of winning. The California last-minute trial team at Tauler Smith LLP handles a wide range of legal matters in emergency situations, including business fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and employment law. We know how to argue your case in court and help you get the best possible outcome.

Read this blog to find out whether you need a last-minute trial attorney.

Reasons You May Need to Hire a Last-Minute Trial Attorney

There are any number of reasons that a client might start looking for last-minute trial counsel:

Personality clash between the client and their lawyer.
Client and lawyer don’t see eye to eye on how to best handle the case.
The attorney is failing to communicate with the client about what is happening with the case.
The attorney appears to be afraid to take the case to trial.

Attorney and Client Don’t Get Along

You and your current attorney might not be meshing well. Sometimes, there is a personality clash that can’t be overcome. Although it might still be possible for your attorney to win, it’s not ideal to head into trial when the attorney and the client are not on the same wavelength. After all, it’s your case and your story that will be told to the jury – so you should have a say in what happens during pre-trial prep and which arguments get made during the trial.

Disagreement About Trial Strategy

You and your current attorney might disagree over the trial strategy. The attorney may be the legal expert, but you should still have a say in what arguments get made and how your story is presented to the jury. It’s possible that your lawyer has a trial strategy that you are not on board with, and that’s okay. The best thing to do in these situations is often to move on and find a new lawyer who is a better fit.

Lack of Communication

Your attorney needs to keep you informed about the case. It is crucial that you remain involved throughout the legal process, including trial preparation and strategy. If your lawyer is failing to tell you about important developments, or if they are simply non-responsive when you try to contact them, it may be in your best interest to find another lawyer.

Attorney Is Afraid of Trial

Is your current attorney pushing for a bad settlement, even when the other side refuses to make a fair settlement offer? Then you may need a new attorney who is not afraid to take your case to trial and present your side to a judge or jury. Our Los Angeles last-minute trial team lives for trial work, and we’ve got the background and record to prove it.

How Our Last-Minute Trial Lawyers Can Help You Win

When a lawyer takes over a case at the 11^th hour, they need more than just legal knowledge and strong argumentative skills. They must be capable of making lightning-quick decisions and adjusting on the fly to new evidence and unexpected arguments by the opposition. In fact, it is very possible that last-minute trial counsel could be your last hope of prevailing and getting the trial result you deserve.

The skilled California litigators at Tauler Smith LLP can take over your case and prepare for trial on extremely short notice, which is what you need to win. We take pride in putting all our energy, passion, and knowledge into helping our clients get legal justice. Additionally, we have a track record of success when it comes to securing successful verdicts in both bench trials and jury trials throughout the U.S., including California, Texas, New York, and Florida.

Need Last-Minute Trial Counsel? Contact a California Parachute Trial Lawyer

You deserve to be represented by an experienced attorney who is comfortable making arguments in the courtroom and who knows how to persuasively present your story to a jury. The Los Angeles last-minute trial lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP have decades of combined experience representing clients in both federal and state courtrooms. Additionally, we are extremely proud of our track record of success in litigation.

Call 310-590-3927 or send an email now to schedule a free consultation.

5 Signs You Need a Last-Minute Trial Lawyer

November 2, 2024/in Rescue Counsel /by taulersmith

If you are frustrated with your current attorneys, it is important to understand why that is. What are the 5 signs you need a last-minute trial lawyer? Perhaps your current lawyer is not telling the right story about your case and failing to focus on the right things. Or maybe they are trying too hard to settle when it is clear that you want to go to trial. Once you recognize that your attorneys are not getting the job done, it may be time for you to hire replacement counsel to represent you at trial in your business fraud case, breach of fiduciary duty complaint, intellectual property claim, employment law matter, or other legal dispute.

Read this blog to learn the signs you need a last-minute trial attorney to handle your case.

Experienced Last-Minute Trial Counsel Can Prepare Your Case at the 11^th Hour

Sometimes, it becomes clear that your current lawyer just isn’t effective. This can be even more obvious when your current lawyer is not prepared to handle your case during the impending trial. Consulting with emergency counsel about your last-minute trial situation may be just the thing you need to get the case back on track.

Trial preparation is vital if you are going to have any chance of winning the case when it is presented to a judge or jury. The Los Angeles last-minute trial attorneys at Tauler Smith LLP know how to prepare a case at the eleventh hour because we have done it before in state and federal courtrooms across the country, including California, Texas, New York, and Florida. Our experienced litigators will provide you with a last-minute consultation to evaluate your case in advance of an upcoming trial. Whether your trial is still a few months away or it is just about to start, we can help you. We will take a hard look at the evidence, witness transcripts, and case briefs, and then come up with an effective trial strategy that is tailored to your particular case.

Red Flags That Your Current Attorneys Are Not Ready for Trial

You need to pay careful attention to your attorneys in the months and weeks leading up to trial. If you determine that your current counsel is not prepared for trial, or that they are simply unwilling to take the case to trial, you should consider getting outside assistance for last-minute trial representation.

There are a number of red flags that you need to be on the lookout for when it comes to your current legal representation. These are a few of the signs that you may need to hire a parachute trial lawyer:

You are not being included in the trial preparation process.
The case is getting more complicated.
Your current attorneys are unreasonably overconfident about winning at trial.
Your current attorneys are afraid to take the case to trial.
Your current attorneys are not prepared to communicate your story to the jury.

You Are Not Being Included in Trial Preparation

Even if you are involved in a complex legal dispute, your attorney should still strive to make sure that you understand everything involved in the case and that you are being included in the formation and development of trial strategy. Your involvement in strategizing for trial can be extremely important because you have unique insight into the case facts, parties, evidence, etc. Additionally, the trial is going to be your opportunity to have your story presented to a judge or jury in an official legal setting, and you should certainly have a say in what kind of story gets told and which arguments are made.

The Case Is Getting Too Complicated

Experienced litigators recognize that your case is supposed to get easier to understand as the trial date approaches. If that is not happening, and if the amount of evidence and number of claims and defenses is greatly expanding, then you need to consider whether your current legal counsel is who you want handling the trial and arguing your case to a judge or jury. The reality is that preparing a strong trial strategy is almost always going to be easier when attorneys are able to focus on a few key arguments that can be presented to jurors in a comprehensible way.

Your Attorneys Are Overconfident

It’s good for a lawyer to be confident about winning a case at trial, but you don’t want your attorney to be so confident that they ignore obvious warning signs. Attorneys need to rigorously test their arguments before trial, and this typically involves anticipating counterarguments that might be raised by the other side. Unfortunately, some lawyers become so enamored with their own case that they can’t recognize possible flaws and weak spots, which is how winnable cases end up being lost once the trial begins. Bringing on new last-minute trial representation who can offer a fresh perspective is often the best move you can make in these situations because it will allow you to challenge your own arguments and then craft the best possible trial strategy.

Your Attorneys Are Afraid to Go to Trial

The flip side of an attorney having too much confidence about a case is an attorney who does not have enough confidence to take a case to trial. Unfortunately, far too many lawyers simply don’t have experience actually trying cases in a courtroom, which causes them to seek bad settlements on behalf of their clients rather than pursuing justice at trial. The California last-minute trial team at Tauler Smith LLP is not afraid to take on late-notice cases and go to trial. We prepare every case with the expectation that it will go to trial, and we do so with meticulous precision.

Your Attorneys Can’t Communicate to Jury

The trial is your opportunity to tell the jury your story so that they understand why you deserve to win. When your lawyer is not capable of developing a jury-friendly story that can be easily understood, things can go off the rails very quickly. Additionally, the failure of your attorney to persuade the jury will open the door for the other side to “educate” jurors and frame the case in a way that is not favorable to you. You always want your story to be the one that gets communicated to the jury, but this requires a compelling theme and strong storytelling skills, which is what effective litigators are best at. A new lawyer can help you craft a clear-cut, unified message and ensure that the jury hears what you want them to hear during the trial.

Need Emergency Legal Counsel? Contact an Experienced California Last-Minute Trial Lawyer

If you have lost confidence in your trial counsel and the trial date is looming, you need to act quickly. The California last-minute trial lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP have been practicing in litigation for their entire legal careers. We can discuss your case and help you evaluate your options, whether the trial date is 90 days away or coming up next week.

Call 310-590-3927 or send us an email to discuss your case.

What Is a Last-Minute Trial Lawyer?

October 31, 2024/in Rescue Counsel /by taulersmith

If you’ve got a looming trial and no longer have confidence in the ability of your current attorney to effectively represent you in court, a last-minute trial lawyer may be your best chance to win the case and get justice. But what is a last-minute trial lawyer? And how can they get you ready to win your case at a late stage?

Read this blog to learn how last-minute trial counsel can help you win your case.

How a Last-Minute Trial Attorney Can Help You Win Your Case

Trials are difficult to win under ordinary circumstances. A case outcome can turn on a number of different factors, including the opening statement, the introduction of exhibits and supporting evidence, motions made during the trial, cross-examination of opposing witnesses, and the closing argument. All of this is made even more difficult when you hire a new lawyer to replace your current legal counsel who you no longer trust to handle your case. That’s where a California last-minute trial attorney can step in and be most effective.

A last-minute trial attorney is a legal professional who takes over a case during the later stages (e.g., when there is an imminent trial). If your case is headed to trial and you are not fully confident in the ability of your current counsel to represent you in court, you need to seriously consider making a change before it’s too late.

Quick Preparation

Last-minute trial counsel must be able to get up to speed on extremely short notice because there typically isn’t much time to prepare for trial. Additionally, once the trial begins, your attorney needs to possess significant skill as a litigator because they will have to argue your case and persuade the judge or jury that you are on the right side.

Trial-Ready Lawyers

A last-minute trial lawyer specializes in taking over cases with impending trials. If your case is entering the eleventh hour and trial is about to commence, it is critically important for you to be represented by an attorney who has the ability to try a late-notice case in front of a judge or jury. Not every litigator has the ability to handle a case on short notice because there is so much that goes into preparing for trial.

Courtroom Experience

Once the trial starts, your attorney will need to be exceptional at arguing the case. The Los Angeles last-minute trial team at Tauler Smith LLP has extensive courtroom experience and a track record of success in 11^th-hour trials that you can rely on. When time is limited, you want an attorney who possesses all the requisite legal skills to win your case. Our attorneys have been called in to try cases in courtrooms throughout the United States, including California, Texas, Florida, and New York.

California Parachute Trial Lawyers Who Will Prepare a Winning Trial Strategy for Your Case

A good trial lawyer will not just ask questions about the elements of the claim. Your trial lawyer should also be asking questions about the evidence in the case and the witnesses that they plan to put on the stand at trial – and this should always be done with the jury in mind. If the jurors don’t find your evidence believable or your witnesses credible, then they are unlikely to render a verdict in your favor.

The California parachute trial attorneys at Tauler Smith LLP are uniquely suited to being nimble and working as a team. When you hire us, we will immediately get to work reviewing the facts so that we can understand the case quickly and craft a winning trial strategy. And then we will get the job done once the trial starts because we make a strong impression in the courtroom. Other attorneys, judges, and our peers in the legal profession know what to expect when they see us walk into court: fearless, impassioned representation of our clients.

Contact the Los Angeles Last-Minute Trial Lawyers at Tauler Smith LLP for Immediate Assistance

Do you need last-minute trial representation to save your case from certain defeat? The skilled attorneys at Tauler Smith LLP have decades of experience representing clients in cases involving business fraud, identity theft, breach of fiduciary duty, employment law defense, and criminal defense. We also know how to effectively prepare a case for a last-minute trial at the eleventh hour.

Call 310-590-3927 or email us now.