Appearing in court is an unnerving experience whether you are arguing a personal injury case or settling a divorce dispute. You want to make a good impression on the judge and/or jury, so you need to maintain a professional demeanor while arguing your case. Here are three things you should do during every court appearance to increase your chances of winning your lawsuit.
1. Hire an Attorney
While you know you need a lawyer to represent you for a criminal lawsuit, you may not think an attorney is necessary to help settle a personal injury claim or win a civil lawsuit. Hiring an attorney is a significant expense, and you may think that you can save a lot of money on legal fees by forgoing a lawyer and attempting to represent yourself in court. This is never a good idea because the experts at Tully Rinckey Law understand the legal field and are better prepared to argue your case and prepare you for any unexpected legal challenges that may arise.
Although the courtroom may be arguably the most well-known element of settling a court case, there is a lot of work that goes into a lawsuit before you go before a judge. Filing the proper paperwork and gathering evidence requires a lot of time and energy, and if you hire Tully Rinckey to do the job for you, you are free to focus on other aspects of life. Additionally, having a lawyer represent you in court makes you appear more prepared for your case so you make a better first impression on the judge and jury.
2. Dress Appropriately
While clothes can be a great way to express creativity, the courtroom is not the place to display your artistic side. If you have to appear in court, it’s important to have the right outfit to show respect to the judge and present a confident, trustworthy demeanor. You don’t have to wear a formal outfit, but you should not wear shorts or ripped jeans as you would around your friends. Your courtroom clothes should be modest and conservative.
As a general rule of thumb, men should wear slacks and a button-down shirt when they’re in court. Women have the option to wear either a skirt or slacks with a dress shirt, and conservative dresses are also acceptable. Your shoes should be clean, and your hair should be brushed and styled so you present a put-together appearance for the courtroom.
3. Be Respectful
The courtroom can become an emotional space when you do not like the current evidence being presented or the ruling does not go your way. Although it’s easy to let your anger show and address the judge disrespectfully, this always hurts your case. You should always show the utmost respect to the judge because he or she is the most important person in the courtroom. His or her decision will have a direct impact on your life regardless of what type of lawsuit you are currently involved in, so it is best to stay on the judge’s good side. Answer every question respectfully in a confident manner by standing and addressing the judge as “your honor”. You should also take care to use respectful language and avoid cursing for any reason.
If you ever need to appear in court for any reason, there is a good chance that you will be nervous about the experience. Winning a court case does not only depend on the evidence you provide, but your demeanor can also impact the results of the case. Do these three things to set yourself up for success and increase your chances of winning your court case.
