Small Claims Court Case Presentation and Speaking Outline

What a good one includes

• A compelling one-sentence opening statement that clearly defines who you are, the core dispute, and the exact remedy or monetary amount you are seeking.
• A chronological timeline of events that maps out exactly what happened, avoiding emotional language and focusing strictly on verifiable dates and actions.
• Direct cues within the script instructing you exactly when to hand specific, numbered evidence packets or photos to the judge.
• A simplified breakdown of the legal grounds for your claim, such as the specific terms of a breached contract or local landlord-tenant statutes.
• Prepared bullet points addressing and refuting the opponent's likely defenses or counter-arguments with facts.
• An itemized mathematical breakdown of your damages, explaining exactly how you arrived at the final monetary figure requested.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Letting emotional grievances dominate the narrative rather than focusing on the objective, legally relevant facts of the dispute.
• Failing to explicitly cross-reference your spoken points with labeled physical evidence, leaving the judge to hunt through disorganized papers.
• Writing a word-for-word essay to read aloud, which prevents eye contact and makes it difficult to pivot when the judge interrupts with questions.
• Neglecting to practice the outline against a strict five-to-ten-minute timer, leading to an incomplete presentation before your time expires.

Frequently asked questions