Who will be in court?
Your assigned specialist is identified before trial preparation begins. That person prepares the presentation and operates the hot seat. Jolie leads the firm and takes trial assignments as her calendar permits; confirm the assignment when discussing your matter.
Travel requires time beyond the days counsel expects to be in court. Discuss arrival, any permitted setup or walkthrough, trial days and the return journey. If the trial window is uncertain, identify what is known and which dates remain subject to change. An availability inquiry does not reserve the calendar.
Trial support across California and beyond
Southern California is our home ground. For trials in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, see the local planning notes for Los Angeles courts, Orange County courts and San Diego courts: where civil trials are heard, what to confirm with the courtroom staff and how equipment gets into the room.
Elsewhere in California and in other states, the preparation is the same: the exhibit list, deposition designations and presentation database are handled before the specialist travels. What changes is the schedule, the equipment plan and the travel terms, which are set out in the engagement.
Prepare before the team travels
Establish the exhibit list, working files and approval contacts early enough to assess the preparation required. Agree on the file-transfer method before sending confidential material. Identify deposition videos, transcripts, designated passages and demonstratives that will need preparation or review.
A pre-travel handoff should make unfinished work visible. List missing files, pending revisions and questions that require counsel’s direction. That helps the team distinguish planned preparation from additional requests arising during trial. Use the preparation checklist to organize the conversation.
Decide how equipment reaches the room
A nationwide assignment does not mean the same equipment package is appropriate everywhere. Discuss what the courthouse provides, what your team already has and what the engagement must supply or coordinate. Confirm access restrictions and receiving arrangements before equipment is shipped or brought to the site.
- Who confirms courtroom connections and audio requirements?
- What must travel with the specialist, and what is arranged separately?
- Who receives and stores any shipped equipment?
- When can setup and testing occur?
- What war-room location and support hours are expected?
Agree travel costs before departure
Review travel dates, transportation, lodging and equipment arrangements alongside preparation and courtroom time. Identify which costs are included, which are separate and how schedule changes will be handled. A nearby assignment and a multiweek traveling trial can have very different cost structures.
The trial presentation cost guide explains the components to discuss. Actual terms are set for the engagement; published service descriptions do not establish a travel allowance, cancellation arrangement or fixed package price.
If the trial schedule changes
Trials can move or run longer than expected. Identify the scheduling contact and discuss how extensions, continuances and urgent preparation changes will be evaluated. Include the agreed contingency and handoff arrangements rather than assuming a substitute specialist or extra days will always be available.
For an initial conversation, share the city, courthouse if known, trial window, expected length and services needed. Discuss your assignment without uploading case files. We can then address availability, the assigned specialist and the work required.
Before we begin
Questions from trial teams.
Do you have offices in every state?
No. Zajac Trial Group is based in Southern California and travels nationwide. Location-specific arrangements are discussed for each engagement.
Can preparation start before the specialist arrives?
Preparation can be planned ahead of travel, with file transfer, scope and timing agreed with your team. Discuss the available materials and deadlines during scheduling.
Is last-minute nationwide travel guaranteed?
No. Availability depends on the dates, location, preparation required and travel arrangements. Contact us with the details so the assignment can be assessed.
