The trial lawyers of Bisnar Chase take pride in their mission—to ensure that every client gets the compensation and justice they deserve. But not every client starts by hiring our experienced personal injury attorneys.
When a client is looking for new representation or additional courtroom expertise, Bisnar Chase is also adept at providing highly effective last-minute trial lawyer services.
- Over $900M recovered
- Familiar with all California courts
- 99% success rate
- Top-rated litigation lawyers
Bisnar Chase’s outstanding success rate is built on the skills of its dedicated attorneys. If your case is coming to trial and you need new or additional legal counsel, Bisnar Chase can provide superior representation in the courtroom.
Last Minute Trial Lawyer in California
What is a Last-Minute Trial Attorney?
A last-minute trial attorney is a lawyer who steps in to take on a case that involves an impending trial.
They might replace a fired attorney or join an existing legal team to add trial experience on relatively short notice.
This service is not available to every lawyer or firm. It necessitates a significant level of courtroom expertise and the ability to quickly adapt.
It is important to note that the title of ‘last-minute trial attorney’ is slightly misleading. No lawyer can take over a case on the eve of the trial and expect to be successful. The best trial attorneys are well-prepared and know the case better than anyone else.
Read on for a full rundown of the time frames that last-minute legal representation can operate under.
Why Do Clients Look for Last-Minute Trial Attorneys?
There can be many reasons for a client to hire a last-minute trial lawyer. Changing lawyers for trial is not ideal. However, it could be the best action if the new attorney is a better fit for the client and their case.
Sometimes, a client may need a different attorney to handle their case. Perhaps a client and lawyer experience a personality clash, or the client strongly disagrees with the attorney’s strategy. In other cases, a lawyer might have been unhelpful or nonresponsive.
If an attorney switch is made before a trial, it can be as simple as firing one firm, requesting your case file, and handing it over to the replacement. If it is done during a trial, a notification must be filed with the court first.
Sometimes, a client may not be looking for a change of lawyer. If the current legal team has limited trial experience, it may seek a California last-minute trial attorney.
If the legal team feels uncomfortable going to trial, a more experienced trial lawyer could be brought in to take the lead in the courtroom. The personal injury trial lawyers at Bisnar Chase are also comfortable filling this role.
Can You Change Lawyers During a Trial?
It is rare for a client to change lawyers during a personal injury trial. However, it can happen.
For instance, if an attorney falls ill or is otherwise taken out of commission during a trial, a replacement may be brought in and allowed extra time to get up to speed. If this was the case, another lawyer might consider taking over. However, it is more likely that a judge would declare a mistrial in this scenario.
It is highly unlikely that Bisnar Chase would take over a case and step into a trial while it is already in progress. This would only happen in exceptional circumstances.
When is it Too Late to Hire a Last-Minute Trial Attorney?
Bringing in a late-stage case lawyer does not mean hiring someone on your way into the courtroom.
Some law firms might promise the ability to step into a personal injury trial at a moment’s notice and achieve positive results. The truth is that it will rarely work out like that. Even the best last-minute trial attorneys need time to prepare to provide top-quality representation to the client.
So, how late is too late?
At Bisnar Chase, we examine each case carefully before deciding whether to take it on. As such, there are no ‘strict’ timelines, but we do have timeframe guidelines.
- Preferred—90+ days until trial
- Probable—60 days until trial
- Possible (heavily dependent on circumstance)—Within 30 days of trial
As always, the more time we are given to prepare before a trial, the better. However, we know this is not always possible in searching for a last-minute trial lawyer.
The timeline will depend on various factors, such as how much work and pre-trial preparation has been done by the client’s previous representation. If the client’s previous representation has done thorough preparation, our attorneys will need less time to catch up.
Some cases are also more complicated than others. The timeline will depend on how complex or technical the subject matter is and how hard it is to prove damages and liability.
In most cases, at least 90 days is preferred for preparation before going to trial.
However, Bisnar Chase’s last-minute trial attorneys can handle most cases within a 60-day window of the trial. Some cases can even be taken on within 30 days of a trial.
It will always depend on the individual case.
What Does a Last-Minute Trial Attorney Do?
The role of last-minute lawyers will depend on when they are brought in and whether they will be the sole representation or assist another attorney.
Some of the details that go into preparing for a trial include:
- Learning the background of the case
- Developing opening and closing arguments
- Lining up evidence and exhibits showing liabilities and damages
- Preparing witnesses and cross-examinations
- And much more!
A considerable amount of work goes into preparing a compelling case for trial.
In the most extreme short-notice cases, it would be necessary for the previous or current legal team to have already arranged the witnesses and evidence needed for the trial. These things take time.
Even when you work to a slightly longer timeframe, some of this trial preparation may have already been completed by the client’s previous legal representation. The new last-minute attorney will have to review the work, arrange for any evidentiary shortfalls to be filled, and ensure that they are ready to argue the case in court.
If the previous legal team did not complete the pre-trial prep, the new representation will have to handle it. That will mean they will need more time before going to trial.
When a last-minute trial attorney joins forces with the existing team, the preparation is expected to be at an advanced stage. This scenario usually occurs when the current representation is good at preparing a case but does not feel confident in achieving the best result possible at trial. Bringing a more experienced trial attorney on board can improve the client’s results.
11th Hour Trial Lawyers You Can Trust
An 11th-hour trial lawyer, also known as a last-minute trial attorney, is a legal professional who specializes in handling cases with impending trials on short notice. Our attorneys possess exceptional courtroom expertise and can provide expert representation when time is limited. They may join an existing legal team or replace a fired attorney, bringing their trial experience and skills to the table.
However, it’s important to note that last-minute trial lawyers require sufficient time to prepare to deliver top-quality representation. They must familiarize themselves with the case, develop arguments, gather evidence, prepare witnesses, and ensure a strong presence in court.
Our top-rated 11th-hour trial lawyers possess qualities such as meticulous preparation, respect for the court, effective communication, rapport-building abilities, and the skill to tell a compelling story. While availability may depend on the circumstances and our attorney’s caseload, the attorneys at Bisnar Chase strive to provide outstanding representation and help clients achieve the justice and compensation they deserve.
Let our team of litigators work your case. Call 800-561-4887 to speak with a trial lawyer.
Qualities of the Best Last-minute Trial Attorneys
The best last-minute trial lawyers excel in the courtroom. Quality courtroom representation is an art form – a great skill developed through experience. The best trial lawyers will:
- Be prepared. Planning and preparation are the keys to trial success. The best trial attorneys will know their case better than anyone else.
- Respect the court. Showing respect to the judge, jury, and process is important and helps to project the right impression.
- Communicate well. It is important for a trial attorney to communicate with their client throughout a trial and their legal support team. This is especially true when a last-minute trial lawyer has joined forces with another legal team which will have handled the majority of case preparation.
- Build a rapport. A good trial lawyer will have great people skills. They will build a rapport with the room and know how to speak to people, based on their past experience.
- Tell a story. The best trial lawyers are great storytellers. They know how to display a case in its best form, speaking clearly and concisely, while showing passion and authenticity.
- Quickly assess the case. The first step is quickly getting up to speed on the case, including the facts, the law, and the evidence. This may involve reviewing the file, interviewing the client, and speaking to witnesses.
- Develop a trial strategy. Once the case has been assessed, the lawyer needs to develop a trial strategy. This includes identifying the key issues, developing a plan for presenting the evidence, and preparing for cross-examination.
- Build rapport with the judge and jury. Last-minute trial lawyers must quickly build rapport with the judge and jury. This can be done by being respectful, professional, and prepared.
- Be flexible and adaptable. Things don’t always go according to plan in a trial, so last-minute trial lawyers must be flexible and adaptable. They need to be able to think on their feet and adjust their strategy as needed.
- Be aggressive and persuasive. Last-minute trial lawyers need to be aggressive and persuasive to win their cases. They need to be able to present their case clearly and concisely, and they need to be able to persuade the judge.
Will Bisnar Chase Take Your Late-Notice Case?
There is no guarantee that Bisnar Chase will be able to take your case on short notice as the trial approaches.
Last-minute trial attorneys still need time to prepare. They also need to have the resources available to help. This means that the firm’s ability to take on a last-minute case is impacted by the other cases it has in progress. A last-minute case gives no time for the firm to plan ahead.
This is why it is most common for Bisnar Chase’s Orange County personal injury lawyers to join forces with a current legal team to help them in the trial phase of the case. In these situations, the leg work and preparation will already have been completed, and the Bisnar Chase trial lawyers can provide the courtroom expertise that the client and their legal team need.
While Bisnar Chase cannot guarantee its services, the firm believes in helping people. If someone has a personal injury case due to the negligence of another party, we want to make sure they get the justice and compensation they deserve.
If we believe we have the opportunity to provide the client with superior representation, we will always strive to do so.
Bisnar Chase Can Provide Outstanding Last-Minute Representation
Bisnar Chase is made up of an exceptional team of California trial attorneys and staff. During its 40 years in business, our law firm has made a huge difference in the lives of our clients. We are proud of our 99% success rate and have a strong track record in courtrooms across California. We have also collected $900 million for our clients.
We strive to provide superior client representation and offer a ‘No Win, No Fee’ guarantee. This ensures that our services are open and accessible to everyone.
We know that monetary compensation is important and gives our clients the best chance possible of trial success. However, we also focus on the experience and personal touch that we offer. The Bisnar Chase team will do everything possible to make their clients’ legal process smooth and stress-free.
Those needing a last-minute trial attorney in California can contact Bisnar Chase now. Our lawyers have the skills to step in at short notice and achieve excellent client results. Call (800) 561-4887 for a free consultation.
Serving California Since 1978
Bisnar Chase is a top-rated personal injury law firm with a national reputation. The firm has been in business since 1978 and has represented thousands of clients. Based in Newport Beach and with offices across California, Bisnar Chase has recovered nearly $1 billion in settlements and verdicts, emphasizing superior client representation above all.
Brian Chase
Articles and blogs have been reviewed by legal in-house staff. Brian Chase is the managing partner of Bisnar Chase Personal Injury Attorneys, LLP. He is the lead trial lawyer and oversees cases handling dangerous and defective products that injure consumers. Brian is a top-rated injury attorney with numerous legal honors and awards for his work relating to auto defects and dangerous products. His firm has recovered over $900M for its clients. Brian is a frequent speaker for CAOC, Dordick Trial College and OCTLA, covering personal injury trial techniques.
