Supreme Court civil trial preparation
A Supreme Court trial requires months of meticulous preparation. This checklist walks through the standard steps from trial callover to day one.
This is a 12-step preparation checklist for a NSW Supreme Court civil trial. It covers pleadings, evidence, experts, witnesses, court books and counsel briefing.
The checklist
Confirm the listing
Check the judge, date, hearing length and any final callover directions.
Audit the pleadings
Identify the live issues from the pleadings. Amend if necessary before trial.
Finalise discovery
Ensure all discovery and subpoena material has been reviewed and privileged documents withheld.
File and serve evidence
Affidavits in chief, witness statements and expert reports filed and served by the court-ordered date.
Conduct joint expert conclave
Hold a joint experts conclave if directed and obtain a joint report identifying agreed and disputed issues.
Prepare the court book
Court book indexed in accordance with the judge's directions — chronological and paginated.
Draft the trial outline
Draft an opening outline and an evidence summary cross-referenced to the court book.
Prepare cross-examination bundles
One bundle per witness with prior statements, inconsistencies and key exhibits.
Brief counsel
Deliver a full brief to counsel including pleadings, evidence, chronology and issues.
Confirm witnesses
Confirm availability, any interpreters, AVL arrangements and travel.
Consider settlement
Discuss settlement with the client before day one. Late settlement saves substantial costs.
Complete the day-one pack
Counsel brief, court book, chronology, opening, witness list and client instructions available electronically.
When this checklist applies
Use this checklist from the trial callover through to day one. Evidence and expert deadlines must not slip — they are hard to extend.
Common pitfalls
- Filing evidence late without leave
- Failing to hold the joint experts conclave on time
- Court book not paginated to the judge's directions
- Counsel briefed too late for a proper conference
- Forgetting to seriously canvass settlement
Run this checklist on a real matter
Quillio drafts court books, chronologies, opening outlines and cross-examination notes in current NSW format. See /practice-areas/litigation-lawyers.
This checklist is a general guide. Adapt for commercial list, equity list and common law trials.
Use this checklist on your matter.
Quillio can run this checklist on a specific NSW conveyancing matter — confirm each item, calculate adjustments, and generate the supporting documents. The free trial requires no credit card.
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