The day of your Zoom hearing is NOT the day to learn whether or not you have enough technological knowledge to complete your virtual court proceeding successfully.

The virtual nature of Zoom court does NOT create a casual environment as opposed to the formality we expect in a physical courtroom.

If anything, Zoom gives more opportunity for the court officers and the opposing side to evaluate your space and your overall character with greater scrutiny. Zoom offers what no physical courtroom can: a chance to see your home and your life from a camera that never leaves your face.

When you appear before opposing counsel and the judge or general magistrate, you should be composed, calm and competent – and that won’t happen if you’re still learning Zoom controls. You must prepare at least a few days before your hearing so that you can obtain any technology devices that you need (e.g., a charger, a better microphone, earbuds) and become familiar with Zoom specifics, such as turning on your video off and on.

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 One on evaluating your environment for distractions,
• 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.

Take time from your schedule to learn Zoom properly, and consider the issues in the checklist below:

1. Make sure that you have properly installed the most recent version of Zoom on your device. You may wish to install it on a second device as a back-up in case of emergency, like dropping your phone and breaking it an hour before your hearing.
2. Create a Zoom account for free, if you don’t already have one.
3. Try the Zoom tutorial for free: https://learn-zoom.us/show-me.
4. If you already have a Zoom account, learn how to silence notifications from your contacts on Zoom.
5. Make sure your Zoom username and password are accurate and saved in a place immediately available to you. If you’re nervous on the day of your proceeding, you might not remember.
6. Ask your attorney how to find your correct virtual waiting room and your correct courtroom online. You’ll need to understand how to join your online courtroom. Your attorney may Zoom with you and share her screen so that you can see how the website looks.
7. Usually you will be provided a Zoom link and a meeting ID number: make sure that you store both in a place that you can find them later.
8. Prepare the correct settings for your device, including downloading any updates for your operating software.
9. If you are using your phone, do you have enough data left in your plan to handle a whole hearing, including delays and possible conferences with your attorney? Live-streaming video can drain a tremendous amount of data. You may need to purchase additional data to guarantee your presence through the whole proceeding. Better safe than sorry, especially where a judge or general magistrate is concerned.
10. Do you have the right Internet speed for the Zoom hearing?
11. About a week (or more!) before your hearing, check the website for your jurisdiction regarding Zoom hearings: usually courts will provide directions and a checklist specific to the needs of that court.
12. Charge your device and ensure a means of charging during the proceeding so that there is no interruption that is your fault. If your charger is old, now is the time to invest in a new, reliable one.
13. Practice muting your Zoom microphone. If you have a coughing fit or if you and your attorney need to have a private conference, you will need to ensure silence from your microphone.
14. The same applies for turning your video off and on, for the same reasons.
15. Have an action plan already articulated with your attorney about what to do if you have any technical difficulties. You do not want to appear negligently or willfully late to the judge.

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.

If you believe that a dedicated fathers’ law firm is the right one for you, please talk with us.

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.