Tools of the Trade When Preparing for an E-Trial

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Digital tools were part of legal services across Canada and the US long before COVID-19. Courts, lawyers and mediators have been using digital tools to enhance the entire legal from discovery all the way through to hearings and actual trials. The ability to expand access to court proceedings hampered by distance or scope is now encouraging more people to embrace a wider use of technology across the legal industry.

Adopting technology into the legal world does not come without problems, and not everyone or every place has the ability to adapt to these tools. We have always been aware of this. Technology is a tool that can be made great only when wielded by the right people — and our team is made up of the right people. 

We teamed up with Veritext because they too saw that the future of legal services goes far beyond booking a court reporter. They too focus on the unique needs of each member of a legal team and strive to provide access to the best technology and virtual solutions as well as the highest quality network of reporters and legal videographers, and they pride themselves on providing unmatched expertise in multi-party and complex litigations. Now we can offer our brand of e-solutions expertise to clients across Canada and the US. 

Getting Ready for Your E-Trial

We want you to be eager to adopt our e-solutions, and we are here to help you build your e-trial. Let’s look at the main things to consider when you request a quote:

  • How tech-savvy are you? Will you require technical support, including a courtroom technician available throughout the examinations for discovery and e-trial?
  • Is the courtroom set up to manage the required technology? Is it set up for videoconferencing, and does it have high-speed wifi installed? 
  • Do you need a way to manage your digital documentation in a secure manner? Are exhibits, transcripts and other documents easy to find in a searchable, centralized hub?

The future is here, and the solution to providing fair and equal access to justice for all lies in your ability to welcome new technology and new formats like e-trials.

The technology required to run a successful e-trial is not large or distracting in a courtroom setting.  The basic e-trial equipment comprises a laptop, viewing monitors, a presenter workstation and additional laptops for both the witnesses and the clerk. Additional hardware may include the following:

  • routers to manage both wifi and WLAN networks
  • a wireless device, such as a phone or tablet (for mobile configurations)
  • an all-in-one printer
  • a SMART Board with at least one compatible pen or a tablet with a stylus
  • video cameras and/or external speakers

We also provide a technician to manage the technology throughout the proceedings. 

Talk to us today to learn more about what we can do for you or take our quiz to get you started!