Litigation

Trial Notebooks: An Alternative Method

By Evan Schaeffer

As an alternative to an earlier post, "A Method for Organizing a Trial Notebook," here's another method of organization, as suggested in a book by Leonard H. Bucklin--

• The Plan
• Summary
• Pretrial Orders
• Our Witnesses
• Their Witnesses
• Third-Party Witnesses
• Our Experts
• Their Experts
• Exhibit List
• Contacts
• Deposition Summaries
• Deposition Arrangements
• Damages
• Pleadings
• Admissions
• Trial Memo
• Motions in Limine
• Motions and Orders
• Voir Dire and Juror List
• Opening and Closing
• Jury Instructions
• Settlement
• Insurance

The list is from Bucklin's Building Trial Notebooks (James Publishing). I agree with Bucklin that "your trial notebook should be your primary file in a litigation case." As Bucklin adds, "When a litigation case is started, that is also the time to start your trial notebook for that case."

Related post: "Motivating Yourself for Trial: Start a Notebook Early."

Full post as published by The Illinois Trial Practice Blog on July 10, 2008 (boomark / email).