When you’re preparing to go to court, your goal is to make a good impression, which includes your appearance and the way you conduct yourself. In fact, your good impression matters even more when you are appearing online for a virtual hearing or another online court proceeding via Zoom.

Why?

Because the camera is set exclusively on you throughout the entire proceeding, and it shows your every expression, the particulars of your environment, and the details of your demeanor, which can extend to your credibility. The Zoom camera shows how much you care about the outcome of the proceeding through how much effort you put into your preparation.

This post will specifically address your environmental distractions.

First, if you are attending your court hearing on Zoom from your home or from your workplace, secure a room where you can shut and lock the door.

Second, evaluate your chosen environment for distractions that are unique to you: will you keep looking at your television, game station or monitor during the hearing? Will you keep looking at the phone that is blinking? Will you see the laundry basket and other chores at home that need to be finished and go on a mental detour?

Third, move or hide those identified distractions. If you are distracted, opposing counsel can exploit your lack of attention and throw you off your game. Plus,you will signal to the judge that you do not really care about the issue at hand.

Fourth, evaluate your environment for noise pollution. Do you have alarms on your devices that will sound during the Zoom proceeding? Are your pets secured in another room with food and water and walked beforehand so that they are not making noise for attention? Do other people know not to use the microwave for a period of time and not to blast music? Can you dim the ceiling fan or the heater so that you are heard more clearly?

This blog post is part of the DADvocacy™ Law Firm’s series on winning your Zoom hearing. Enhance your Zoom skill set through visiting our other posts:

• Part Two on learning Zoom-related technology,
• Part Three on your personal presentation and decorum,
• Part Four for tips to avoid derailing your hearing, and
• Part Five for what to practice with a friend ahead of your Zoom hearing.

The DADvocacy™ Law Firm reminds you that ADA accommodations are available for virtual court proceedings. Please ask your attorney and/or your jurisdiction for details in advance of your hearing date so that accommodations can be properly made.

Remember that the DADvocacy™ Law Firm offers resources to you – for free – in our DIY Toolshed. While such resources can never substitute for the services of a licensed attorney, they can help you to familiarize yourself with the legal process.

Warning: All posts on this website contain general information about legal matters for broad educational purposes only. The information is not legal advice, and should not be treated as such. This blog post does not create any attorney-client relationship between the reader and the DADvocacy™ Law Firm.