Statistics show that the number of people representing themselves in court has increased fivefold since 2011.
This is an unenviable position to be in. Court proceedings can be difficult enough even when you have a lawyer on your side.
However, if you do have to undertake this task, there are certain skills you should learn. Presenting evidence is perhaps the most important.
Read on as we look at how to present evidence in court.
How to Present Evidence in Court
In most cases, the evidence is only half the battle.
If your opposition presents a more credible interpretation of the available facts than you do, you will lose your case. This is why good lawyers are so important!
To ensure that you make the most of the available evidence, make sure to do all of the following.
Decide What Is Necessary & What Is Not
“Evidence” is a broad term. It can describe almost anything, including photographs, emails and text messages, CCTV footage, written documents, fingerprints or other bodily samples, and oral testimony.
Therefore, every case has a huge amount of potential evidence. You will only ever have time to present a fraction of this in court.
Ask yourself what the key pieces of evidence are and work backward from there. If something is only vaguely relevant to your case, you might be as well off ignoring it.
Consider How Your Evidence Relates to Your Argument
You may have a very clear picture of the “rights and wrongs” of your case in your head. However, communicating this picture to a judge and jury might be more difficult than you think.
To be successful in the courtroom, you’ll have to create clear links between the facts of the situation and the reasons why they prove your case.
Be Prepared
To properly present evidence in a courtroom, you’ll need to get acquainted with proper courtroom procedures. There are many rules and pieces of etiquette that you should become familiar with.
To do this, attend a few sittings of your local court before your own court date.
Should I Represent Myself?
There is no law that says you can’t represent yourself, and some people do find success when representing themselves in a courtroom. However, there are huge challenges involved.
If you have no legal experience, you’re going to make mistakes. These mistakes could end up being sufficient to turn a winning case into a loss.
Unless you absolutely can’t afford it, you should try to enlist professional help. An experienced firm could make all the difference in your case.
Making the Most of Your Evidence
When considering how to present evidence in court, the key factor is relevance.
You need to show the judge everything that matters. However, you also have to make sure not to allow this relevant material to get lost among other, irrelevant evidence.
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