Professional Trial Exhibit Binders in 1 Hour, Not 8
Organize 50-200 exhibits with auto-generated table of contents, bookmarks, and court-ready formatting. Save 7-9 hours vs manual preparation.
Build Your Trial Binder - Try FreeThe Trial Prep Marathon
Trial starts in 5 days. You have 120 exhibits: contracts, photos, expert reports, medical records, emails. You spend 8+ hours stamping each document, creating table of contents, copying everything 4 times, assembling binders with tabs.
ExhibitPrep automates 90% of this work: Upload 120 documents, batch stamp with party-specific labels, combine with auto-generated TOC and bookmarks, download court-ready PDF. Print 4 sets. Total time: 1 hour.
Complete Trial Binder Workflow (9 Steps)
Compile All Trial Exhibits
Gather all admitted and potential exhibits: contracts, photos, expert reports, discovery, correspondence.
Organize in Presentation Order
Arrange exhibits in the order you plan to present them from opening to closing arguments.
Upload in Batches
Upload 10-20 exhibits at a time to ExhibitPrep for optimal performance.
Configure Party-Specific Stamps
Choose "Plaintiff's Exhibit A" or "Defendant's Exhibit 1" with consistent color coding (Yellow/Gray).
Batch Stamp All Exhibits
Apply professional stamps to entire exhibit set with position memory for consistency.
Combine into Master PDF
Merge all exhibits into single document with auto-generated table of contents and PDF bookmarks.
Generate Exhibit List
Create exhibit index from TOC with descriptions for pre-trial filing.
Print Physical Copies
Print 3-4 sets from combined PDF: judge, opposing counsel, your file, extras.
Assemble in 3-Ring Binders
Organize printed exhibits in binders with tabs, cover page with case caption, and TOC at front.
Time & Cost Savings Analysis
100-Exhibit Trial Binder Comparison:
| Task | Manual | ExhibitPrep |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp 100 exhibits | 3 hours | 5 minutes |
| Create table of contents | 2 hours | Auto-generated |
| Combine PDFs + bookmarks | 1 hour | 10 minutes |
| Print 4 sets | 1 hour | 30 minutes |
| Assemble binders with tabs | 1 hour | 15 minutes |
| Total Time | 8 hours | 1 hour |
| Cost @ $300/hr | $2,400 | $14.99 + $300 |
* Recovered billable time: 7 hours = $2,100 for solo practitioners at $300/hour
Trial Exhibit Sets by Case Type & Size
Small Trials (20-50 exhibits)
Contract disputes, small PI cases, landlord-tenant
- • Key contracts/agreements (5-10)
- • Correspondence (5-10)
- • Photos/diagrams (5-15)
- • Financial records (5-15)
Medium Trials (50-150 exhibits)
Employment, personal injury, business disputes
- • Contracts/policies (10-20)
- • Medical/business records (20-40)
- • Correspondence/emails (20-40)
- • Expert reports (10-20)
- • Discovery responses (10-30)
Large Trials (150-500+ exhibits)
Complex commercial, class action, IP litigation
- • Contracts/agreements (50+)
- • Technical documents (50+)
- • Financial records (100+)
- • Expert materials (50+)
- • Discovery/depositions (100+)
Federal Criminal Trials (30-200 exhibits)
Varies widely by offense type
- • Government documents (20-50)
- • Physical evidence photos (10-30)
- • Expert reports (5-20)
- • Surveillance/recordings (5-20)
- • Financial records (varies)
Physical Binder Assembly Best Practices
Use 2-3 Inch 3-Ring Binders
D-ring binders hold pages flatter than O-ring. Calculate: 100 pages ≈ 1 inch thickness. 200 exhibits may need multiple volumes.
Add Exhibit Tabs or Dividers
Numeric or alphabetic tabs (Avery 11-tab sets work well). Place tab on first page of each exhibit for quick courtroom reference.
Include Cover Page with Case Caption
Case name, case number, court, "Plaintiff's/Defendant's Trial Exhibits", party name, attorney info. Professional appearance matters.
Place TOC at Front Before Exhibits
Table of contents on first page(s) after cover. Include exhibit number, description, and tab/page reference.
Use Sturdy Construction for Courtroom Handling
Heavy-duty binders withstand 1-2 week trials. Consider reinforced pages for frequently referenced exhibits. Spine labels help identify volumes.
Digital Trial Exhibit Management
Attorney Reference (iPad/Laptop)
- Load combined PDF with bookmarks on iPad for instant exhibit access during questioning
- Search functionality finds exhibits faster than flipping physical pages
- Annotate during trial without marking up judge's copy
Courtroom Presentation Systems
- Project exhibits on courtroom screens for jury viewing (ELMO, laptop projection)
- Some federal courts have built-in evidence presentation technology
- Backup: Always bring USB drive + printed binders in case tech fails
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I organize trial exhibits?
Most effective: Presentation order - Arrange exhibits in the sequence you plan to introduce them during trial (opening → direct examination → cross → expert testimony → closing). This makes courtroom handling smoother. Alternative: Chronological order for timeline-based cases. Avoid alphabetical by description - this creates confusion during testimony when you reference 'Exhibit M' but it's not the 13th exhibit introduced.
What goes in a trial exhibit binder?
Complete trial binder includes: (1) Cover page with case caption and party name, (2) Table of contents with exhibit list and page numbers, (3) All stamped exhibits in sequential order with tabs/dividers, (4) Pre-marked but potentially inadmissible exhibits (in case objections are overruled). Each exhibit should have consistent professional stamps. Total typical size: 50-200 pages for small trials, 200-500+ for complex cases.
Digital vs printed trial exhibits - what does court prefer?
Varies by court. Modern federal courts often prefer digital (iPad, laptop projection, courtroom display systems). State courts vary widely - some require printed binders, others accept digital. Best practice: Prepare both. Provide printed binders to judge and opposing counsel, use digital version (iPad) for your reference and potential jury displays. Check local rules and judge's standing orders for specific requirements.
How many copies of trial exhibit binder do I need?
Minimum 3 copies: (1) Judge's copy (required), (2) Opposing counsel copy (courtesy/required), (3) Your working copy. Recommended 4-5 copies: Add (4) Extra for witness reference, (5) File copy for office. For jury trials, some judges require separate jury binders (simplified, only admitted exhibits). Check 2-3 weeks before trial as judges often request specific numbers during pre-trial conference.
When is the trial exhibit binder due?
Typically 1-2 weeks before trial per local rules or judge's standing orders. Federal courts often require exhibit lists 7-14 days pre-trial. State courts vary (3-10 days common). Some judges want physical binders delivered to chambers, others want exhibit lists only with binders brought to trial. Always check: (1) Local court rules, (2) Judge's standing orders, (3) Pre-trial scheduling order. Missing deadline can result in exhibit exclusion.
Can I add exhibits during trial?
Difficult and disfavored. Most courts require pre-marking all exhibits before trial starts. Adding exhibits mid-trial requires: (1) Good cause showing (newly discovered evidence), (2) Judge's permission, (3) Providing copies to all parties, (4) Potential continuance if opposing counsel needs time to review. Better practice: Pre-mark liberally - include all potentially useful exhibits even if uncertain you'll use them. Unused exhibits can stay in binder unmarked; saves hassle of mid-trial additions.
Do I need a table of contents for trial binders?
Absolutely required. Table of contents should list: (1) Exhibit letter/number, (2) Brief description (1-2 sentences), (3) Page number or tab number, (4) Status (admitted, offered, reserved). Place TOC at front of binder before exhibits. ExhibitPrep auto-generates professional TOC from your exhibit labels and filenames. This saves 1-2 hours of manual formatting and ensures accuracy as you add/remove exhibits during prep.
How long does trial exhibit binder preparation take?
Manual process for 100-exhibit trial: 8-10 hours (stamping 3 hours, copying 2 hours, TOC creation 2 hours, assembly 1-2 hours). ExhibitPrep: 1 hour total (upload 15 min, stamp 5 min, organize 20 min, combine/TOC 10 min, print/assemble 10 min). Time savings: 7-9 hours per trial. For solo practitioners billing $300/hour, that's $2,100-$2,700 in recovered billable time.