When you go to trial, you always need access to stuff. You may need a stapler. Post-it notes. Pain relievers. Pens for a whiteboard. Whatever.
Different people routinely take different things to trial. But the same people take many of the same things to trial in every case.
Unless they forget.
We have a trial box. In it we keep the stuff we routinely take to trial. We also have a checklist of the things that should be included in the trial box. Before trial, the checklist is reviewed to see if everything is in the box and to trigger us to think about whether anything should be added or removed for this particular trial.
Here is our checklist:
TRIAL SUPPLIES BOX
- Pens (Red / Blue / Black)
- White-Out
- Pencils / Erasers
- Highlighters
- Large Markers (for Flip Chart)
- Dry Erase Markers / Eraser
- Paper Clips
- Binder Clips (Large / Small)
- Stapler / Staples
- Staple Remover
- Scissors
- Tape
- Glue
- Rubber Bands
- Calculator
- Post-It Notes Large
- Post-It Notes Small
- Post-It Tape Flags
- Exhibit Stickers / Labels
- Hole-punch (2 and/or 3 hole)
- Food / Snacks
- Tide To-Go Pen (stain remover)
- Kleenex
- Cough Drops
- Aspirin / Tylenol
All of these materials fit in a single banker’s box and stay there (except the food and snacks) until they are needed for trial. The box is taken to the courtroom on the first day of trial and stays there until the end.
Note that this list does not include any equipment needed for presentations – that is the subject of another checklist.
And another blog post.