Lessons · Law foundations · a civil trial, in order
A civil trial, in the order it happens
A trial runs in a fixed order: opening statements, the case of the side carrying the burden, the other side's case, closing arguments, then the decision.
Hone is a place to practise a career, one idea a day. This is one of its lessons, written out in full and free to read without an account.
What it is for
Sitting second chair means knowing what comes next without being told. The exhibit that has to be in somebody's hand, the witness who has to be in the corridor, the binder that has to be open: all of it follows the order, and the order does not change because the day is going badly.
How to think about it
Learn the spine and build the trial notebook in the same order, so the binder and the day turn pages together.
Worked example
Opening statements: what each side says the evidence will show.Not argument. A map of the case that is about to be put on.
The side carrying the burden puts its witnesses and exhibits on.Each witness questioned, then cross-examined by the other side.
The other side puts its case on.Same shape: witnesses, exhibits, and cross-examination in the other direction.
Closing arguments, then the decision and the judgment entered on it.A jury is instructed on the law before it retires; a judge sitting alone gives reasons.
Your turn
Two sides, one order. Write where the side carrying the burden puts its case on.
The side carrying the burden puts its case on
Solve one, graded on the server
The trap
Expecting the order to be announced. It is assumed, and a binder tabbed in the wrong order costs the minutes at exactly the point in the day where there are none.